Join AER
The following information came directly from the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) website.
AER Member Benefits
AER offers its members a wide
variety of services and
professional support, including:
Networking - Learning
from peers is probably the most valuable benefit of membership in
AER. The networking opportunities through active involvement
in the association on the chapter, division, and international level
can aid in professional growth, career advancements, and continued
education. Communication and networking
on the local level are achieved through automatic membership in
Chapters.
Division
memberships enable members to focus on specific topics of expertise,
including Administration and Leadership, Vocational Rehabilitation
Counseling & Employment Services, Multiple Disabilities & Deafblind,
Psychosocial Services, Information & Technology, Low Vision, Infant
& Preschool, Orientation & Mobility, Education Curriculum, Vision
Rehabilitation Therapy, Division on Aging, Itinerant Personnel, and
Personnel Preparation.
International
and regional conferences provide the opportunity for professional
development as well as support.
Professional and Career Development -
To enhance career development, AER members have access to
AER Job Exchange, the most up-to-date and active
on-line listings of job openings in the field.
Continuing
Education is an important part of professional development. One of
AER's goals is to develop ongoing continuing education opportunities
for its members. In the past several years, AER has produced a
number of on-line continuing education programs that are approved
for continuing education credit through the Academy for
Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals
(ACVREP).
There’s also the Members Only section of the AER web site that includes articles covering field-specific topics, survey results, and other helpful resources and tools.
Publications - AER provides members with opportunities for professional growth and development through continuing education, regional, national and international conferences, and several publications. The AER Report keeps members informed about Association news and policy. The new AER Journal: Research and Practice in Visual Impairment and Blindness provides information on excellent research that can be applied in a practical setting and best practice examples that contain enough detail to be implemented by other practitioners.
Insurance Programs - A professional liability insurance program is available to AER members, along with a comprehensive insurance program package with many other important insurance coverages, administered by Forrest T. Jones & Company.
Special Discounts - AER members receive discounts on special AER publications, certain AFB publications, conference registration fees, car rentals and hotel discounts, and education programs.
Professional Recognition
– AER recognizes its members’ outstanding contributions to the field
through biennial awards including the C. Warren Bledsoe Award, the
Allen, Bauman, McAulay and Shotwell Awards, and the AER Outstanding
Chapter Award.
Scholarships - AER
provides two scholarships to students who are legally blind and are
studying for a career in the field of services to the blind or
visually impaired. The scholarships are named in honor of William
and Dorothy Ferrell. They are awarded in the even number years.
Recruitment – AER
recognizes the critical need for additional professionals to join
the field. With the aging population and increase of
individuals with visual impairments, it is vital to keep the field
in the spotlight and encourage young people to enter the field.
AER dedicates a significant commitment of time, energy and
resources is devoted to the problem of professional personnel
shortages. Recruitment materials have been developed and are
distributed nation-wide for use at college recruitment and job
fairs.
Advocacy - Finally,
through its lobbying efforts, AER gives professionals and consumers
in the field a collective voice on Capitol Hill to keep the focus on
the importance of maintaining specialized blind services for
consumers of all ages. AER participates in campaigns aimed at
educating the public and decision makers at the state and federal
levels about the importance of specialized services for visually
impaired people.
Membership in AER means support and development of the professionals in the field of providing services to individuals with visual impairments. Join today!