VRATE 2018
Vision Rehabilitation & Assistive Technology Expo
Vision Rehabilitation & Assistive Technology Expo
The 22nd Annual VRATE Expo will be held on Friday, November 16th, 2018 at the Glendale Civic Center from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Mark your calendar now
VRATE 2018 is free to attend. Pre-Register On-Line to avoid the lines or you may register when you arrive at VRATE. Looking forward to seeing you there.
REGISTER TODAY!
Mike Armstrong lost his eyesight in 1996 due to a retinal disease. In spite of his total blindness he has climbed Kilimanjaro, hiked the 807 mile Arizona Trail, road a tandem bike across Arizona and Hiked the Mount Everest Base Camp Trail in 2017. He also led two groups of blind hikers in and out of the Grand Canyon in May of 2016. He has black belts in 5 martial arts systems with a Master’s Degree (6th Dan) in Karate. He is seriously involved in the nonvisual system out of Indonesia called Vibravision. He was inducted into the World Karate Hall of Fame, Masters Hall of Fame, and was named instructor of the year for the American Kyokushin Karate Organization in 2010. He currently is the Health and Wellness instructor for SAAVI and owner and head instructor for Blind Tiger Martial Arts Academy. Mike is happily married with two children and lives a full life of adapted sports and recreation.
Bill Boules is a certified Vision Rehabilitation Specialist, with over 22 years in the field. He holds masters’ degrees in Vision Rehabilitation Therapy and Orientation and Mobility, from Western Michigan University along with advanced graduate certificates in gerontology, disability studies and autism spectrum disorders from the University of Maine. He is certified in all four areas of Vision Rehabilitation. His podcast “The field of Vision” has helped to promote independence amongst people who are blind or visually impaired. His work with assistive technology and blindness has been featured on NPR, CTV News and PC Magazine. Bill specializes in the rehabilitation of people with dual sensory impairment, where blindness is the primary cause of disability. He has presented at conferences, such as, AER, AVRT, and MOA in an effort to educate professionals in the field. Bill Boules believes in the abilities of people who are blind. It is through exploration, education and empowerment that bill believes that people in our community can continue to grow and be recognized as talented, hard-working and professional.
Free parking is available.
Multiple dining options nearby