VIPS RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS CERTIFICATION

April 27, 2021 Visually Impaired Preschool Services (VIPS) has received accreditation from the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind an Visually Impaired (AER), the world’s largest professional organization dedicated exclusively to professionals who provide services to persons with vision loss, with the aim to promote and support evidence-based practices, high quality standards, value-added resources and giving voice to issues of critical importance.

VIPS, serving Kentucky and Indiana, is a nonprofit organization that provides early intervention and education services to young children who are blind or visually impaired. VIPS received accreditation for their early childhood intervention, home visitation and
tele-intervention, preschool, itinerant services, and orientation and mobility programs. VIPS is the first agency serving only young children who are blind or visually impaired to be accredited by AER.

This prestigious accreditation comes after an intensive process, including a self-assessment of the program by VIPS team members, interviews with stakeholder groups, and an external review by AER to determine the agency’s strengths and areas of improvement. Along with the accrediting process, AER also provides networking, mentoring, connectivity, awards, and scholarships for professionals to advance excellence within the field, ensuring the successes of individuals who are blind or visually impaired.