AER Orientation and Mobility Division

Join us this evening at 7PM Eastern in the Kentucky Ballroom as the AER Orientation and Mobility Division celebrates our 2026 awardees!

Reception to follow.

Join Us in Celebrating Excellence in Orientation & Mobility!
The AER Orientation and Mobility Division is proud to recognize the outstanding recipients of the 2026 O&M Division Awards:
✨ Lukas Franck – Janet Barlow Environmental Access Service Award
✨ Jamie Maffitt – Sandy Kronick Distinguished Service Award
✨ Rev. Dr. Gene Bourquin – Lawrence E. Blaha Memorial Award
These individuals represent the dedication, leadership, service, and innovation that continue to move our profession forward.
Join us at the Awards Ceremony on Thursday, July 30, at 7:00 p.m. during AER 2026 in Louisville, Kentucky, followed by a reception where we can celebrate these remarkable honorees together.
Congratulations to all our recipients, we look forward to recognizing your contributions and sharing in this special evening of celebration and community.

Explore the AER 2026 Exhibit Hall!

One of the best parts of AER 2026 is connecting with the organizations that are driving innovation, education, and services throughout the blindness and low vision field.

Be sure to visit:
✨ Blazie Technologies
✨ Chadwick Optical
✨ Governor Morehead School
✨ Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Stop by their booths to discover new products, learn about programs and opportunities, ask questions, and connect with experts who are making a difference every day.

Exhibit Hall Hours:
Grand Opening: Thursday, July 30 | 12:00–5:00 p.m.
Friday, July 31 | 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 1 | 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

You never know, the conversation you have in the Exhibit Hall may lead to your next great idea, collaboration, or resource!

Discover More in the AER 2026 Exhibit Hall!

The Exhibit Hall is where ideas become connections. Meet organizations that are advancing education, rehabilitation, technology, and opportunities for people who are blind or have low vision.

Be sure to stop by and connect with:
✨ Southern Oregon ESD
✨ Western Pennsylvania School for the Blind
✨ World Services for the Blind
✨ American Printing House for the Blind (APH)

Learn about innovative programs, explore new products and services, discover valuable resources, and build connections with organizations making an impact across the field.

Exhibit Hall Hours
Grand Opening: Thursday, July 30: 12:00–5:00 p.m.
Friday, July 31: 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 1: 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Take time to explore—you may leave with a new idea, a new resource, or a new partnership that will make a difference long after the conference ends.

Don't miss the last in our AER Orientation and Mobility webinar serries: Volume 2, Chapter 17 Teaching Orientation and Mobility to Learners with Visual, Physical, and Health Impairments

Join Anne T. Riddering, PhD, OTRL, CLVT, COMS for this important session in the Foundations of Orientation & Mobility Chapter Author Webinar Series.

Based on Volume 2, Chapter 17: Teaching Orientation and Mobility to Learners with Visual, Physical, and Health Impairments, this webinar explores how chronic health conditions can influence safe and effective travel.

Discover how thoughtful observation, collaboration, and adaptation can help learners travel more safely and independently.

Join us July 9, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Register Now: https://zurl.co/WHLgH

Join Us in Celebrating Excellence in Orientation & Mobility!
The AER Orientation and Mobility Division is proud to recognize the outstanding recipients of the 2026 O&M Division Awards:
✨ Lukas Franck – Janet Barlow Environmental Access Service Award
✨ Jamie Maffitt – Sandy Kronick Distinguished Service Award
✨ Rev. Dr. Gene Bourquin – Lawrence E. Blaha Memorial Award
These individuals represent the dedication, leadership, service, and innovation that continue to move our profession forward.
Join us at the Awards Ceremony on Thursday, July 30, at 7:00 p.m. during AER 2026 in Louisville, Kentucky, followed by a reception where we can celebrate these remarkable honorees together.
Congratulations to all our recipients, we look forward to recognizing your contributions and sharing in this special evening of celebration and community.

The Cogswell-Macy Act would strengthen educational services, accountability, and access to qualified professionals for students who are blind, have low vision, are deafblind, deaf, hard of hearing, or deafdisabled. Take 30 seconds to urge your Members of Congress to cosponsor and support this important legislation.

Take Action Now: https://zurl.co/loXyH

Don't miss the upcoming AER Orientation and Mobility Webinar: Volume 1, Chapter 5 Kinesiology and Sensorimotor Functioning in Orientation and Mobility and Volume 2, Chapter 4 Sensorimotor Facilitation in Orientation and Mobility

Join Anne T. Riddering, PhD, OTRL, CLVT, COMS for a two-part exploration of sensorimotor functioning as part of the Foundations of Orientation & Mobility Chapter Author Webinar Series.

Based on Volume 1, Chapter 5 and Volume 2, Chapter 4, this session examines how sensory information and motor skills work together to support effective movement throughout the lifespan.

Join us June 25, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Register Now:https://zurl.co/E1C8n

Congratulations to Our 2026 O&M Award Recipients!

The AER Orientation and Mobility Divisionis very pleased to announce the 2026 recipients of the Janet Barlow Environmental Access Service Award, the Sandy Kronick Distinguished Service Award and the Lawrence E. Blaha Memorial Award.

Lukas Franck was selected as the 2026 Janet Barlow Environmental Access Service Award recipient.


Jamie Maffitt was selected as the 2026 Sandy Kronick Distinguished Service Award recipient.

Rev. Dr. Gene Bourquin was selected as the 2026 Lawrence E. Blaha Memorial Award recipient.



Congratulations to our award recipients!

We are grateful to those that made nominations for these awards. It is always challenging to decide between individuals who have been nominated, whose work and contributions have brought so much to the field. We are also very grateful to the Awards Committee for their time in soliciting nominations, making challenging choices, and arranging recognition for the recipients. The Awards Ceremony will occur on Thursday, July 30th, 2026, at 7pm at the 2026 Association for Education & Rehabilitation of the Blind & Visually ImpairedInternational Conference in Louisville, KY with a reception immediately following. We look forward to being able to come together in person and celebrate these distinguished award recipients!

Announcing our 2026 Blasch Scholarship Recipients!

The AER Orientation & Mobility Division would like to congratulate our 2026 recipients of the Donald Blasch Scholarship; Mathew Gabriell Almodovar Morales and Beth Carillo.


Mathew Gabriell Almodovar Morales

My name is Mathew Gabriell Almodóvar Morales, I am 26 years old and I am originally from Añasco, Puerto Rico. I have a Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology with a concentration on Refereeing and Personal Training from the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez. I have a Master's degree from The Ohio State University in Kinesiology with a concentration in Adapted Physical Education and an Orientation and Mobility Certification from OSU as well. I have been working with communities with disabilities since 2021 in community-based programs in Puerto Rico and the USA (mostly PR) and have presented and worked in different workshops/conferences across Puerto Rico, United States and Colombia. I am compromised to providing opportunities and advocacy for individuals with disabilities specially communities that lack of services and opportunities the most in order to continue supporting and serving them.

Beth Carillo

I am a graduate student in Orientation and Mobility at Portland State University with over ten years of experience in public education. I work at Tacoma Public Schools providing 1:1 support for a student who is blind and have promoted blind awareness and White Cane Day for a more inclusive community. I interned at the SOAR Program through the Lighthouse for the Blind in St. Louis, MO, supporting college-bound students. My master’s research focuses on tactile symbology and tactile map development for Sound Transit and will present this work at SOMA/SWOMA. I am excited to begin an internship at the VA Blind Rehabilitation Center in June 2027. I am committed to promoting independence and access as a future COMS. It is an honor to receive this scholarship, and I am deeply grateful to my family and Dr. Amy Parker for their support.

The O&M Division presents two scholarships in the amount of $1000.00, annually when funds are available to two outstanding students who are enrolled in AER accredited programs. Thank you to all of the applicants and the judges that helped make this years scholarship selection an engaging success.



Eric Shaw
Blasch Scholarship Committee Chair

Upcoming O&M Foundations AER Webinar: Volume 2, Chapter 6
Orientation and Mobility Services in the Early Childhood Years

Join Wendy Sapp, Ph.D., COMS and Tanni L. Anthony, Ph.D. for this engaging session in the Foundations of Orientation & Mobility Chapter Author Webinar Series, focused on supporting our youngest learners through exploration, play, and purposeful movement.

June 11, 2026 at 7:00 PM

Register Today: https://zurl.co/QUzDB

Based on Volume 2, Chapter 6, this webinar highlights how O&M services during the first six years of life lay the foundation for future independence and mobility skills.

Discover how creativity, collaboration, and child-centered instruction can help young learners confidently explore their world.