Special JVIB Webinar — IDEA at 50: Celebrating Progress in the Blindness Field and Beyond
Wednesday, September 23, 2026 | 7:00 p.m. ET
On Wednesday, September 23, 2026, the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness (JVIB) hosted IDEA at 50: Celebrating Progress in the Blindness Field and Beyond, a special JVIB webinar.
During the webinar, JVIB authors, led by JVIB Associate Editor and Northern Illinois University Professor Stacy M. Kelly, discussed their commentary on decades of collaboration, advocacy, and action-based efforts within the field of visual impairment and the broader disability community that paved the way for federal legislation that codified access, inclusion, and educational success for students with blindness, low vision, deafblindness, and other disabilities over the past 50 years.
Dr. Kelly was joined by Holly Lawson and Amy T. Parker, Portland State University; Frances Mary D’Andrea, University of Pittsburgh; Lanya Elsa, Silence and Light Consulting; and Sean Tikkun, North Carolina Central University. Together, they reflected on this remarkable journey and discussed what the future holds for students with disabilities, their families, and the professionals who serve them, given the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education.
They also answered questions about how to stay informed to support the disability community during this time of transition.
Looking for ways to take action? Explore the IDEA at 50 Amplification Toolkit for three ways to help elevate your voice to decision-makers.
Questions? Email Rebecca Burrichter, Senior Editor of JVIB, at rburrichter@afb.org.
Webinar Panelists
Moderator
Stephanie Enyart
Chief Public Policy & Research Officer
American Foundation for the Blind
Presenters
Stacy M. Kelly
Professor and Coordinator, Visual Disabilities Program
Northern Illinois University
Holly Lawson
Associate Professor
Portland State University
Amy T. Parker
Associate Professor and Coordinator, Orientation and Mobility Program
Portland State University
Frances Mary D’Andrea
Associate Professor and Program Coordinator, Program in Visual Impairment & Blindness
University of Pittsburgh
Lanya Elsa
Silence and Light Consulting
Sean Tikkun
Assistant Professor, North Carolina Central University
About JVIB
The Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness (JVIB) is the international peer-reviewed journal of record in the field, delivering current research, best practice information, and commentary from authoritative experts on critical topics in visual impairment and blindness.
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