Reasons to Join AER

AER membership is essential for you! Gain that professional edge that you are seeking.

Image: Join UsInvest in YOURSELF!

Recognizing your existing skills and developing new ones will not only help prepare you for your current role, it will also give you an advantage. When you join a group of like-minded professionals, you gain access to a world of wisdom and experience. You create amazing relationships with people who can help you grow in ways you could never imagine. And, these same colleagues can help you tap into new and exciting opportunities you would otherwise never know existed.

Get Free Resources
AER members receive an online subscription to JVIB, the only peer-reviewed journal dedicated 100% to the field at no cost! AER members receive a monthly e-newsletter, The Voice, that provides a monthly connection to information, division and chapter newsletters, and, critical topic position papers. Our Canadian members receive a special quarterly e-newsletter, AERODYNAMICS.

We also offer virtual educational sessions, leadership development resources, 3 FREE division memberships.

Receive Top-tiered Professional Development & Earn CE Hours
Have you visited our online educational platform, where members receive deep discounts on webinars? Earn those much-needed CEs in the comfort of your own home, or where ever and whenever it is convenient for you. Visit www.aerelearning.org, log into your AER profile, and get started!

Receive Valuable Discounts
From professional liability insurance, hotels, car rentals, training, books, you name it, AER members receive budget-saving discounts! AER has partnered with top hotels, car rental companies, insurance carriers, and many more to provide members with the best savings. Take advantage of discounts on professional liability, homeowners, auto, pet, life and so many other types of insurance; and travel-related discounts on hotels including Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton, Holiday Inn, Omni, Drury, Westin, and Choice Hotels and on car rentals: Alamo, Auto Europe, Avis, Budget, Hertz, National, and Payless. AER members also receive discounted conference registrations to the AER International Conference and local chapter conferences!  

Access Scholarship & Awards
AER is dedicated to encouraging, supporting, and promoting our members to the fullest. We offer a range of awards recognizing the outstanding achievements and dedication of our members at all levels. To advance the field and support our members, AER offers scholarships to those seeking degrees in related fields of study.

Network Locally & Globally
Network, network, network! Ever had a question, wondered what to do, needed to hear from an expert, or simply was looking for a new job? AER allows members to make the right connections. Whether it’s connecting via one of the many professional Listservs, attending conferences, or simply connecting for a specific reason, AER connects you to your colleagues like no other. AER is the 1 place that gives you a chance to network locally, regionally, and internationally. AER networking is a career booster and can help you achieve!

Access the Latest Research & Best Practices
AER gives members a chance to gain access to research and practices that change performance and improve client outcomes. We make available models of effective practices and research that is focused directly on the needs of Educators, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, Vision Rehabilitation Therapists, Low Vision Therapists, Assistive Technology Specialists, Administrators, and other professionals in the field.

Develop Leadership Skills
Any person in any position at any level in the field benefits from having sound leadership skills. Whether you are new to the field or a seasoned professional, you’ll practice a variety of skills, including communication, management, negotiation, collaboration, and more. AER offers you an opportunity to grow those essential skills through AER’s premier “AER Lift” training; and through other training and technical assistance offerings. In addition to preparation, AER gives you a chance to practice your skills. As an AER member, you can showcase your leadership skills by volunteering to serve on the International Board, Committees, and Divisions. If your interest is in serving locally, AER Chapters need you too! What better way to be heard than to be right in the mix of it all as a board, division, or chapter leader?

Opportunities for Practice Based-Learning
AER has 16 divisions which are professional learning communities. Each division provides practice-based learning and focuses on a specific area. As an AER member, you can join 3 divisions FREE; and can join more for as low as $10 each. Some divisions are position specific like our Orientation and Mobility, VRT, and Low Vision divisions; and others are subject or domain focused like our Infant & Preschool, Education Curriculum, Itinerant Personnel, Aging, Administration and Leadership, Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling & Employment Services, Multiple Disabilities & DeafBlind, Psychosocial Services, Information & Technology, Personnel Preparation, International Services & Global Issues, Physical Activity & Recreation and Neurological Visual Impairment divisions. No matter the subject, AER has a division that addresses your needs. AER Divisions

Advance the Profession through Advocacy
AER works to advance and promote the field by advocating for professionals and those who are served by our members. AER is a “listening” professional association. Our aim is to champion and move forward your needs so that you can perform your job under the best conditions and help those with vision loss to achieve their goals and have the greatest chance to live independently. Membership gives you a chance to add your voice to the issues that matter most!