Thank You for Joining Us!
We would like to extend our gratitude to everyone who participated in the 28th annual VRATE Conference. Your enthusiasm and engagement made it a success!
Stay tuned! Check back soon for updates and announcements about our next conference. We look forward to seeing you again!
29th Annual Expo
The Vision Rehabilitation and Technology Expo (VRATE) offers individuals, families, and professionals from across Arizona free access to educational seminars on best practices in vision loss and includes emphasis on the intersectionality of other disabilities such as hearing loss.
Presentations and workshops will include topics such as using assistive technology; job readiness, advocacy, specialized learning modalities, defining independence, developing critical thinking skills, engaging in the social fabric of the community, and fostering self-determination for sustainable success.
A comprehensive set of exhibitors and vendors will be on hand to provide information, resources, and the opportunity to test out technology designed to be accessible to those living with vision impairments of all abilities.
Registration is Now Open
WHEN: Friday, November 14, 2025
WHERE: Ability 360 Campus, Phoenix, AZ.
REGISTRATION: Click Here to Register
Need additional information, contact us at [email protected] or call 520-784-8097
Keynote Speaker
Jeffry Ricker, Ph.D.
We are thrilled to announce that Jeffrey Ricker, Ph.D., will be the keynote speaker at this year’s VRATE Conference! Join us as he shares his unique perspective on Sight Lost, Blindness Gained: Forming a Disability Identity is Essential For Living a Good Life.
Jeffry is a freelance health and science journalist whose work focuses on disability issues. He currently writes for Psychology Today magazine on topics involving blindness and low vision. He is a member of the American Medical Writers Association, where he cochairs its DEI Committee. And he speaks on various issues, including the following: • the intrapersonal challenges caused by threats to self-concept and personal identity in people experiencing sight loss later in life • the interpersonal challenges caused by stereotypical beliefs about blindness and low vision Ricker was a professor of psychology for 26 years at Scottsdale Community College. He attained the Ph.D. degree in Cognitive and Experimental Psychology at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, with a research specialization in behavioral genetics and evolution. He also received postdoctoral training in Clinical Psychology at the University of Missouri, St. Louis. And he studied the biological and cognitive correlates of schizophrenia as a postdoctoral research associate at Arizona State University, Tempe. He has taught courses in psychology, general biology, behavioral and human genetics, and sociology. Ricker lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he raised his daughter, Katherine, and several dogs.
AI for Accessibility: Full-Day Training
Discover how today’s AI tools can transform accessibility for blind, low-vision, and other disabled users—at school, at work, and in everyday life.
Join us for a hands-on workshop with guided labs on desktop and mobile devices using powerful tools like ChatGPT, Windows Copilot Vision, Microsoft 365 Copilot, and Google Gemini.
- Learn through practical, step-by-step exercises
- Explore real-world applications that enhance accessibility
- Connect with others passionate about inclusive technology
What to bring: Laptop, phone/tablet, chargers, and a headset (recommended).
Space is limited to just 25 participants! Registration is first-come, first-served— start your registration now. Click Here to Register .
Call for Speakers
Are you an expert, innovator, or advocate in the field of assistive technology, accessibility, or independent living? Do you have insights, strategies, or experiences that can help people who are blind achieve greater independence, enhance career opportunities, or improve their quality of life? If so, we invite you to share your expertise at the Vision Rehabilitation and Technology Expo! Click here to start the application
Discover 2025 VRATE
The VRATE Conference continues to grow, download the list of exhibitors and booth assignments.
Schedule of Speakers
2025 VRATE Full Program
Exhibit Hall Breakout Session Schedule
Food Vendors will be onsite including The Pitt BBQ and Rosie’s Kitchen. Click here for menu’s
For Sponsors
For Exhibitors
Discover 2024 VRATE
Plan your day at the 2024 VRATE Conference. Download the full program, including:
Exhibitors name and booth numbers
Schedule of Speakers
Food Vendors will be onsite including The Pitt BBQ and Rosie’s Kitchen. Click here for menu’s
And much more…
Interactive Exhibit Hall Map
New this year, an accessible map of the Exhibit Hall! Thank you to our friends at XR Navigation for creating the first ever interactive map of the VRATE Exhibit Hall. Attendees will be able to explore the map by looking around and navigating to the various exhibitors using audio description. Check it out below.
Direct link to the interactive map (https://xrnavigation.io/vrate24/)
Or download the list of exhibitors by downloading it below.
Testimonial
“My husband has only recently lost most of his vision so seeing so many people with white canes made him realize he is not alone”
“I always learn more each time I attend VRATE and share information with others. It is greatly needed & gratefully appreciated by myself and many others.”
“I always learn more each time I attend VRATE and share information with others. It is greatly needed & gratefully appreciated by myself and many others.”
“I was reminiscing about the VRATE event yesterday and how wonderful it was. Thanks to your meticulous planning, I had the privilege of having two ASL interpreters for all the workshops I wanted to attend. I gained so much knowledge and it boosted my confidence as a DeafBlind person. Knowing that I’m not alone in my vision loss journey truly makes a difference. I want to express my deepest gratitude for your unwavering dedication.”
Things to know before you go
- Ability 360 is a fragrance-free Campus, please be considerate of all.
- Exhibit Hall is located in the gymnasium while conference sessions will be in the Nina Mason Pulliam Conference Center.
- Everyone who registers online will automatically be entered into the raffle drawings.
- Food and beverages will be available for purchase, check out their menus at Ability 360 Food Trucks – Phoenix, AZ | StreetFoodFinder.
Speaker Line Up
The speaker schedule for the 2024 VRATE Conference is now availa
ble. Join us as industry leaders, innovators, and professionals come together to share their knowledge and insights on the latest advancements in assistive technology, vocational rehabilitation, career planning and much more. Register today so you don’t miss the opportunity to hear from leading experts and engage in discussions that shape the future of assistive technology!
Click below for the latest updates.
Note: Speaker Schedule is subject to change.
Sponsors
AIB 
AccessAbility Officer 
ViewFinder 
Beyond Educational Staffing and Therapy (BEST) 
Vanda Pharmaceuticals 
HumanWare TATP 
TATP LLC 
ArchWell Health 
SAAVI 
Clean Logic 
Lions Club
Video
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation Policy: All fees must be paid in full within 30 days of registration, either online or by mail. Full refunds (minus transaction fees) are available only if requested 90 days prior to the conference start date, by emailing [email protected]. Refund requests received 45 – 89 days prior to the start date of the conference, will receive a 50% (minus transaction fees). Any request within 45 days will not be honored for any reason including non-attendance at the event.