GaAER Mission

The Georgia Chapter of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) is a state chapter of AER International, a membership organization dedicated to providing support and assistance to professionals such as rehabilitation teachers, counselors, orientation and mobility specialists, and technology specialists who work in all phases of education and rehabilitation of blind and visually impaired children and adults.

The purpose of the Georgia Chapter of the Association shall be to render all possible assistance to the promotion, development, and improvement of all phases of the education and rehabilitation of individuals who are blind or visually impaired. The chapter will:

• Increase public understanding of the social and economic gains to individuals and the state through providing opportunities for all individuals who are blind or visually impaired to become self-sufficient and self-supporting.

• Provide a forum on a state and/or local level for the discussion of all issues relating to services for persons who are blind or visually impaired, the prevention of visual impairments, and provide publications and training relating to this purpose.

• Encourage an interdisciplinary approach to programs and services to persons who are blind or visually impaired. This will be accomplished by maximizing the knowledge and skills of all related professionals.

• Foster research to advance the knowledge and skills for the improvement of services to all persons who are blind or visually impaired.

• Assist in the development of professional standards for personnel engaged in providing specialized programs and services to all persons who are blind or visually impaired.

• Assist in the development of professional standards for specialized programs serving persons who are blind or visually impaired.

• Initiate, collaborate, and cooperate with other groups in the development of programs for the benefit of persons who are blind or visually impaired.

• Increase public understanding of the etiology of visual impairment and its impact on individuals and society.