Northern Illinois University

Department of Special & Early Education

Photo of Jodi Sticken helping students with canes during a class

Visual Disabilities Program

About our program

NIU's College of Education offers one of the nation's preeminent programs in visual disability education. With courses of study at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, the program trains individuals to work as a certified special education teacher with children with visual disabilities, as an orientation and mobility specialist with children and adults with visual disabilities, and/or as a rehabilitation teacher with adults who have visual disabilities.

All of the programs are approved by the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Get a new career — without the student debt!

For all graduate components in our program, students enjoy:

  • FREE tuition
  • FREE fees
  • FREE health insurance
  • Yearly stipend of $5,300

Explore our page to learn more!


Apply Online to the Graduate School

This will take you directly to the Graduate School Application Form

Apply now