Florida Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired
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Message from the President
February 2026
President’s Message
2026 is off to a fantastic start for FAER! For many years, we have proudly offered scholarships to preservice professionals, and we remain committed to investing in the next generation of educators in visual impairment. At the same time, FAER is equally dedicated to supporting members currently serving in the field. In that spirit, we are excited to launch our new FAER Mini-Grant program, the first of its kind for our organization. These grants will support innovative practices, the purchase of adaptive materials, and individual member needs. Applications opened January 31, and the Mini-Grant Committee is eager to begin its first round of reviews.
Our 2025 Biennial FAER Conference was an extraordinary success! With 28 sessions led by 23 outstanding presenters, the conference was well attended and highly praised. Attendees highlighted the quality of learning, meaningful time with colleagues, and the incredible venue. Thank you to our presenters, participants, and conference committee for an event that continues to inspire our work.
I am also pleased to announce the results of the 2026 FAER Board elections. Beginning January 1, 2026, we welcome Matthew Weihmuller, Member-at-Large (Education), and Samantha Kelly, Member-at-Large (Rehabilitation). We look forward to their leadership and contributions as we continue to strengthen FAER.
At FAER, we value both recruitment and retention. While growing our membership is important, ensuring that every member feels supported and valued is essential. Our work is driven by engaged members through our committees, and we encourage you to get involved and share your unique perspective. Your participation helps shape the future of our profession and strengthens our collective impact.
To learn more about FAER, opportunities for involvement, and ways we support professional growth, please visit www.flaer.org. You may also contact the FAER Board at floridaaer@gmail.com. with any questions or suggestions.
Thank you for your continued dedication to our shared mission. Together, we can accomplish great things.
With optimism and confidence,
Tiffany Conrad FAER President
Board of Directors
President
Tiffany Conrad
After receiving both her Bachelor’s and Master’s in Visual Disabilities from Florida State University, Tiffany served as an itinerant teacher of the visually impaired and orientation and mobility specialist in various counties in Florida including Broward, Lee and Hillsborough. She is currently the Coordinator for the Florida Instructional Materials Center for the Visually Impaired. She is a Nationally Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist through the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals. Tiffany has spent over 20 years dedicated to providing access and increasing levels of independence for all students with special needs.
President Elect
Jessica Smith
Jessica has been working in the field of visual impairments for 8 years. She started as a vision specific paraprofessional in Citrus County while attending classes to become a teacher of the visually impaired at FSU’s satellite campus at St. Petersburg College. She then moved to Hillsborough County and continued her role as a paraprofessional working with students who have visual impairments and brailling materials. She graduated from FSU’s visually impaired education program in December 2020 and continued on to finish her Master’s degree in December 2021 to become an orientation and mobility specialist. She has worked with teens at the Lighthouse for the Blind & Low Vision during the summer transition program as well as year-round activities. She worked as a TVI/O&M in Hillsborough County until May 2022, has taught in Brevard County as a TVI and O&M instructor, worked at the Conklin Davis Center as an O&M specialist, and is currently working with Allied Instructional Services. She is also currently working on obtaining a PhD at Florida State University while teaching courses a with the Visual Disabilities program at Florida State University as a Graduate Teaching Assistant and Graduate Research Assistant. She has been on the FAER board serving as Member at large, education for the last term, as well as on the recruitment committee helping to spread the word about the field of visual impairment education.
Past President
Elizabeth Anderson
Liz is the supervisor for the Florida Instructional Materials Center for the Visually Impaired (FIMC-VI). At FIMC-VI, her mission is to ensure both high quality instructional materials and professional development are provided to stakeholders statewide. As a certified teacher of the visually impaired and certified orientation and mobility specialist (COMS), Liz has taught in Hillsborough County Public Schools and several agencies. She is also a member of the Florida Virgin Islands Deafblind Collaborative Advisory Board.
Treasurer
Matthew Conrad
Matt has over 15 years’ experience in the Corporate Finance & Treasury field. He has worked for different Fortune 500 companies in various sectors in roles that range from entry level Analyst to Director. His areas of expertise include cash management, financial modeling, cash forecasting, and capital structure analysis. Matt is an effective communicator with a proven ability to collaborate with people at all organizational levels. He has obtained the Certified Treasury Professional (CTP) credential and is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
Secretary
Sue Glaser
Sue Glaser has been a Statewide Educational Specialist for Florida Instructional Materials Center for the Visually Impaired coordinating events and workshops for students, families, and teachers since 2008. She served as the Transition Program Coordinator at the Lighthouse for the Blind & Low Vision in Tampa for 21 years, taught as a TVI and O&M instructor in Hillsborough County Schools for 12 years and was the coordinator of Florida State University’s Satellite Program in Visual Disabilities for 17 years, recruiting, advising, and teaching future teachers of students with visual impairments.
Member at Large-Rehabilitation
Rachel Hage
Rachel Hage holds a B.A. in both Entrepreneurship and Marketing with a Minor in French Studies from Florida Atlantic University. She currently works as an independent contractor for Allied Instructional Services as an Assistive Technology Specialist. She first began training as an Assistive Technology Instructor for Lighthouse of Broward from early 2016 until late 2022. She began by teaching Assistive Technology to the transition students at Lighthouse of Broward before instructing AT for the adult rehab programs. Rachel has been a Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialist (CATIS) through ACVREP since 2019. She is dedicated to helping those who are blind and visually impaired to use screen readers, magnification programs, braille displays, computers, smartphones, tablets, and various AT devices. She assisted in teaching those within both the vocational rehab and independent living programs, as well as training those striving towards their academic goals. Rachel has served as a member on the FAER Communications Committee since 2020, and Rehab At Large since 2022. Rachel obtained her Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) in December 2023, as she continues to advocate for accessibility on the web and in the community.
Member at Large - Rehabilitation
Samantha Kelly
Samantha Kelly, oversees the curriculum and implementation of current programs as the Vice President of Programs at Lighthouse of Broward. Her previous experience includes working as a Teacher of the Visually Impaired and Orientation and Mobility Specialist for Broward Schools. Samantha attended Florida State University and earned her undergraduate in Visual Disabilities and her master's degree in Orientation and Mobility and Early Childhood Special Education. She holds a Florida Teaching Certificate in Visual Disabilities and ACVREP certification in Orientation and Mobility and Vision Rehabilitation. She is VIISA certified in Birth to five years and DBS endorsed for Employment Placement.
Member at Large - Education
Ginette Mora
In addition to teaching as a TSVI and O&M instructor with Flager County schools since 2020, Ginette Mora, has also served several Central Florida districts in need on a contractual basis and served O&M, Children's, and Transition program clients through a community rehabilitation provider. Since her time as a graduate student in FSU's Visual Disabilities Program, Ginette has been committed to improving the lives of individuals with visual impairments in Florida through her teaching, volunteering at Camp Abilities Florida and various statewide events for children, and involvement with the Florida Low Vision Initiative.
Member at Large - Education
Matthew Weihmuller
Matt Weihmuller is a jazz saxophonist from Tampa, Florida who is totally blind. He attended
the H.W. Blake High School of the Arts, and then moved to Tallahassee, where he completed
both his undergraduate education (magna cum laude) and Masters of Music degrees at Florida
State University. Matt has been a music instructor at the Straz Center's Patel Conservatory since
2012. He also initiated the Patel conservator's annual Jazz Intensive summer camp focusing
on developing students improvisational skills. Matt joined the Arts4All Florida organization in
2014, where he currently coordinates the Young Performers Program. He performs with several
groups of varying genres, and has enjoyed a number of opportunities to act as a speaker sharing
his unique experiences regarding the subject of diverse learning, including engagements as a
guest lecturer at the Peabody Conservatory at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, the Florida
Music Educators Association, the Florida NFB State Convention, and the Florida AER
conference. His greatest personal goal is to champion the cause of increasing Braille literacy for young blind musicians.
