AER Staff

Meet the AER Staff

The AER team is the core of the organization helping to support members of AER and the important work of hundreds of volunteers serving on our Board and Committees.

 

Lee Sonnenberg HeadshotLee Sonnenberg, Executive Director
Lee Sonnenberg joined AER as Executive Director in June of 2022. As the chief salaried executive of AER, he is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Association, direction of the overall activities of the Association, and for advising and making recommendations to the Officers and Board of Directors with respect to all activities and policies. Lee is the father of an adult daughter with low vision. He has been active in blindness and low vision advocacy efforts in Texas for over two decades. He currently serves as President of the Board of Trustees for the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and Treasurer of the Board of Directors for All Blind Children of Texas. He is a certified teacher and has a master’s degree from Texas Tech University. He and his family live in west Texas. Contact email: [email protected] or direct: (703) 665-0725

Elly du Pre HeadshotDr. Elly du Pre, Manager, Accreditation Program
Dr. Elly du Pré began managing the AER Accreditation Program in April 2020. Her career began as an Orientation and Mobility specialist and included management of an assistive technology program, and executive director of Lighthouse of Broward and Florida Agencies Serving the Blind. She also has served on various boards, including ACVREP and Success Beyond Sight, and national committees such as the Access to Quality Services committee of VisionServe Alliance. All these connections shared a common theme—building quality services for people who are blind or have low vision. Being a part of the AER Accreditation Program is a chance to bring together these various lifelong interests and keeps her from just being the crazy old lady with cats in her retirement. Elly lives in Fort Lauderdale, FL and spends her free time outdoors as much as possible. Contact email: [email protected]

Genie Velasquez HeadshotGenie Velasquez, M.Ed., CTVI/COMS, SLT, Membership Specialist
Genie Velasquez is a Teacher of students with Visually Impairments, Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist and Speech and Language Teacher based in Tennessee. She attended Trevecca Nazarene University for her Master's and Stephen F. Austin State University for O&M certification. With experience in both itinerant and residential school settings, Genie has dedicated her career to supporting students with blindness, low vision, and deaf-blindness. She has been an AER member since 2018, and in 2019 she began serving on the Tennessee Chapter AER Board, playing a key role in revitalizing the chapter and contributing to its success of being selected as the AER Outstanding Chapter Award in 2024. Genie is passionate about connecting people with services and other professionals, fostering a strong network of support for students and families and fellow colleagues. She has two adult children attending college, and they enjoy traveling internationally together. Contact email: [email protected] or [email protected]

AngieMatthews HeadshotAngie Matthews, Communications and Marketing Specialist
Angie Matthews joined AER as the Communication and Marketing Specialist in October of 2024. As AER's Communications and Marketing Specialist, Angie works closely with the team to develop strategies that enhance membership engagement and promote AER’s programs. Whether she’s updating the website, creating eye-catching content, or fine-tuning the brand’s message, Angie ensures AER’s brand voice is clear and impactful. Passionate about connecting people with resources, Angie works diligently to enhance AER’s digital presence and find new ways to engage the community. Angie and her family live in northern Indiana. Contact email: [email protected] or you may leave her a voicemail at (703) 721-7013

Larisa DeZayas HeadshotLarisa DeZayas, eLearning and Professional Development Specialist
Larisa joined AER’s staff in March, 2025. She completed her Honour’s BA specializing in Theatre and Drama Studies with a major in Exceptionality in Human Learning from the University of Toronto, and then she earned her certification as an Orientation and Mobility Instructor from Mohawk College in Brantford, Ontario in 1997. Larisa has provided blind rehabilitation services to people across all ages and backgrounds, in Wisconsin and in her home state of Tennessee. She has served on the board and as president of two state AER chapters - Wisconsin and Tennessee - and has also served on a wide variety of committees at state and national levels for AER. She has been a long-time advocate for professional development via collegial engagement, compassionate mentorship, and continuing education. Larisa is married and has two adult children. Contact email: [email protected], [email protected], or you may leave her a voicemail at (703) 660-4559

Accreditation
[email protected]

Professional Development and Continuing Education
[email protected]

Membership Services
[email protected]

General Inquiries
[email protected]

Mailing Address

Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired
PO Box 16288
Lubbock, TX 79490