Kathryn Botsford Joins APH’s ConnectCenter Team

We are very excited to welcome Kathryn Botsford as the ConnectCenter’s Digital Content Strategist, where she will create content and build partnerships for the CareerConnect and FamilyConnect organizations. Both based within APH’s ConnectCenter, CareerConnect is an employment information resource for job seekers who are blind or visually impaired. FamilyConnect is a service for parents, family members, and educators of children who are visually impaired. Her goal is to grow the ConnectCenter to be the premier destination for those who need assistance.

“I would like to see the APH ConnectCenter be the go-to resource for anyone looking for information and resources related to education, employment, and living with vision loss for persons with visual impairment, their families, and the professionals who work with them,” said Kathryn.

Currently living in Portland, Oregon, Kathryn earned her Master’s in Special Education with TVI and O&M certificates from the University of Arizona and her doctorate in Special Education from the University of Northern Colorado. Her areas of specialization include special education, blindness/visual impairments, orientation and mobility, transition for youth with disabilities, and school/family partnerships in special education.

A long-time educator, Kathryn recognizes the importance of providing assistance and services to people with visual impairments of all ages and their families.

“I’ve always said that vision loss is an equal-opportunity disability because it can occur regardless of gender, race or ethnicity, or the presence of another disability. Working in the field with colleagues in vocational rehabilitation and senior services, I’ve also realized that the prevalence of vision loss increases as our population ages,” said Kathryn. “The importance of the ConnectCenter is that it’s a collection of resources for people with vision loss that covers the full spectrum of life: from birth through retirement.”

The ConnectCenter provides the largest collection of information for consumers of blindness and visual impairment.

“Kathryn comes with a wealth of knowledge and experience to make an instant impact within the ConnectCenter. Her ability to identify new and exciting ways to expand and promote the center’s assets will help us achieve our goal of being a one-stop shop resource for all users,” said ConnectCenter Director Olaya Landa-Vialard.

Want to connect with or welcome Kathryn? Send her an email at KBotsbord@aph.org.