The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) is the organization of professionals who serve children and adults who are blind or who have low vision. With membership from the United States and Canada, AER’s mission is to develop and promote professional excellence through support of those who provide services to people with visual impairments. Professional excellence is promoted through a biennial conference, topical meetings, a job listing, various newsletters, and subscriptions to two journals, RE:view, and the Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness.
Florida AER (FAER) is the local affiliate of AER. In addition to holding an annual statewide conference and publishing a quarterly newsletter, it sponsors a student chapter at Florida State University. The FAER Student Chapter provides students who are majoring in visual disabilities an opportunity to become aware of the benefits of membership within a professional organization and to develop leadership skills. Each year, student members support a charitable cause, sponsor a professional activity, and conduct fundraising activities to support their activities and attendance at the state conference.
For more information about FAER, contact Dr. Sandra Lewis, Chapter Sponsor.
Student Advisory Committee (SAC) is a group of students who act as liason between faculty and students for the Rehabilitation Counseling and Services Program. Two students from each of the degree levels (B.S., M.S., Ph.D) are elected by thier peers at the beginning of the Fall Semester. They are a fully functioning group that provides input in matters dealing with the Rehabilitation Counseling and services degrees. Rehabilitation Counseling and Services' graduate students are expected to join and actively participate in the national rehabilitation professional organizations, such as the American Rehabilitation Association, National Rehabilitation Counseling Association, etc. Big Bend Rehabilitation Association is a local affilitate of the Florida Rehabilitation Association. It is composed of professionals working in rehabilitation. The Association invites students to any of it's meetings.
The worldwide mission of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is to improve educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities. CEC, a nonprofit association, accomplishes its mission, which is carried out in support of special education professionals and others working on behalf of individuals with exceptionalities, by advocating for appropriate governmental policies; by setting professional standards; by providing continuing professional development; by advocating for newly and historically underserved individuals with exceptionalities; and by helping professionals achieve the conditions and resources necessary for effective professional practice.
Membership in Student CEC is appropriate for any special education student in any of the special education programs at Florida State University. For more information, contact Dr. Barbara Edwards, Department of Special Education, Rehabilitation, and Counseling Services, Florida State University.
Student Rehabilitation Association (SRA) is composed of both graduate and undergraduate students in the Rehabilitation Counseling and Services Program. Officers are elected in the Fall. The activites of the group vary with student interest.
