PSU - Visually Impaired Learner and Orientation & Mobility Programs

A group of PSU O&M students enjoyed visiting The Seeing Eye in New Jersey. (ID: 10 Caucasian women and 1 man pose in front of brick pillars marking the entrance of the Seeing Eye campus)

So proud of our colleague and friend, Dr. Julie Esparza Brown!

🎉 Huge congratulations to Professor Julie Esparza Brown, who has received Portland State’s highest honor for senior faculty: the 2026 Presidential Career Research Award!

A visionary leader for multilingual equity, Julie has spent over four decades ensuring that a student’s heritage language is viewed as an asset rather than a deficit. Her pioneering work at the intersection of multilingualism and disability—including the development of the PLUSS Framework—has fundamentally changed how educators support diverse learners and prevent the over-identification of students in special education.

We are so proud to celebrate her lifelong commitment to creating more inclusive classrooms!

All PSU Research Award winners will be celebrated on campus on May 8.

🔗 Learn more about Julie’s transformative research: https://www.pdx.edu/education/news/two-college-education-faculty-honored-transformative-research

Aloha, HI O&M Community! So much joy in the picture as HI has truly "grown its own" O&Ms. PSU loves this partnership. Pictured: Sherri Martinez, Matt Martinez, Amy Downard, Kira Swearingen, Jeannie Camacho, Hazelle Baniga, Mo Nozaki.... all making a difference through service! Mahalo, HI team!

We love seeing our students in action! Here is Zach doing some great teaching with his mentor at the Minnesota State Academy for the Blind! 😎 Go Zach!

We are so proud of Brooklyn Hufstader! Here’s an image of Brooklyn demonstrating the Rosen Method technique to develop muscle memory for O&M positions. She led a session at PNWAER with Rajiv Panikkar and Amy Parker in mid-March. This week Brooklyn passed the COMS exam!

One of our graduates, Teacher of the Blind and Low Vision and Orientation and Mobility Specialist, Brenda Kruger shared this fantastic story about a student that she serves in Central Oregon! Way to go, Junior!

Blind Ridgeview High student thrives in highly visual engineering class, hoping to inspire A Ridgeview High School student who is blind is inspiring classmates by taking on an extremely visual class -- engineering. He's also learned to play piano and performed for his school. Junior Perez says his journey shows others they can try anything they set their minds to.

We are really excited to host our annual Mobility Matters on Thursday, February 26th, 2026. It is not too late to join us but tomorrow is the LAST DAY to REGISTER!

We have a fabulous line-up of presenters and panelists. We are offering ACVREP credits and Washington clock hours as well! Grab a cup of coffee and join us from the comfort of your office.

Speakers include: Amos Miller, Dr. Penny Rosenblum, Mike May, Greg Stilson, Chancey Fleet, Dr. Sandy Rosen, and more!

(ID: young, blind, Latina women explore the Glide mobility tool at PSU)

Check out our agenda and session descriptions!
https://sites.google.com/pdx.edu/mobility-matters-2026/home

We got great news this weekend! Saundra Manuel passed her COMS exam on Friday!

Transportation Innovations- Partnerships Leading to Improvements in Wayfinding!

Join us on February 26th for the 9th annual Mobility Matters conference. This year we’re hosting a number of panels including Transportation Innovations- Partnerships leading to Improvements in Wayfinding, a panel hosted by the Port of Portland’s Walter Marchbanks, Trimet’s Michael Corrente and Sound Transit’s Kathy Maloney.

Alt Text: A black flyer. Text at the top reads "Transportation Innovations- Partnerships leading to Improvements in Wayfinding”. Below is another text block listing the names of the panelists: “Michael Corrente, Walter Marchbanks, Kathy Maloney”. Beside the text is a green frame with three photos. A black and white photo of Michael Corrente outdoors in the snow, smiling at the camera in a hoodie and beanie. A photo of Walter Marchbanks outside wearing a dark green sweater over a dress shirt. Kathy Maloney is wearing a colorful blouse and a black blazer, her dark hair is cut in a short bob. The center of the poster is a photo of someone reading a set of tactile maps, their hands on a braille key. Below the photos is text reading “9th annual Mobility Matters Summit. Charting New Paths: Self-Determination, Disability-Driven Access, and Mobility.
At the bottom of the flyer is a link to the google site and the logo for Portland State University’s Special Education department. https://sites.google.com/pdx.edu/mobility-matters-2026/home

More joy in celebrating the wonderful Amanda Winkler!