Congratulations to Michele Schutz, assistant professor, Special Education, on receiving $2.5 Million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Education for the project, "EMPOWERing Transition-Aged Youth with Visual Impairments: Equipping More Professionals for Work and Education in Rural Communities." Schutz will be co-PI of the project, along with colleagues from Vanderbilt and Baylor.
"The transition from high school to adulthood is complex for all students," says Schutz, "School and adult service systems often fall short of providing experiences, resources, and linkages critical for successful transitions to those with disabilities, particularly those with low-incidence disabilities like blindness and visual impairment. Further, these limitations in support are even more pervasive in meeting the needs of those who live in rural and remote communities. Thus, our project intends to address some of the unique gaps hindering access to quality services for this population."
EMPOWER aims to equip transition-aged students with visual impairments (VI) living in rural communities, their families, and the transition professionals who serve them with virtual support to improve postsecondary education and employment outcomes.
