National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision

Disability and Rehabilitation Research Servicesblind.msstate.edu

The NRTC is a federally funded research and training center at Mississippi State University, designated by NIDILRR as the only HHS-funded center focused on employment outcomes for people who are blind or have low vision. It delivers research, training, and technical assistance to rehabilitation professionals, VR agencies, employers, and B/LV individuals via free digital resources.

Company typePrivate
Founded1982
HeadquartersMississippi State, United States
Headcount11–50
GTM typeB2B and B2C
OfferingServices

What National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision does

The National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision (NRTC) is a federally funded research and training center operated within Mississippi State University's College of Education in Starkville, Mississippi. It holds an exclusive NIDILRR designation as the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Employment of People who are Blind or Have Low Vision, funded under HHS grant #90RTEM0007. The NRTC's mission is to improve employment outcomes for people who are blind or have low vision (B/LV) through research, training, technical assistance, and dissemination of resources. Its audiences include individuals with B/LV, rehabilitation professionals, state vocational rehabilitation agencies, employers, and older individuals who are blind.

The NRTC's product portfolio spans three interconnected websites (NRTC, NTAC-BLV, and OIB-TAC), the 4to24 transition app for youth with B/LV, a National Job Board, the IAT-BVI implicit bias assessment, the Vision Specialist graduate certificate program, the Blindness Experience Training, Putting Your Best Foot Forward youth employment curriculum, the Employment Insights podcast/webinar series, the Lessons for Living curriculum, and a Data Corner tool built on five national datasets (ACS, SIPP, HRS, NLTS 2012, NLSY 1997). Distribution is primarily self-serve digital (free resources, LMS-based courses) with on-site training delivered to state VR agencies and an employer-facing technical assistance channel.

The business model is overwhelmingly grant-funded. Primary revenue flows from NIDILRR (HHS/ACL) and the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA, U.S. Department of Education). Most resources, publications, and courses are provided free of charge. The Vision Specialist Program transitioned from RSA grant funding to a self-pay model starting in 2026, and the NRTC operates a free continuing education credit (CRC, ACVREP, NBPCB, IJCAHPO) course catalog at zero cost to the end learner. The center does not operate as a commercial entity and discloses no revenue figures.

National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision firmographics

Firmographics

Name: National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision
Legal name: National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision
Website: https://blind.msstate.edu
Company type: Private
Founded year: 1982
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 11–50 employees
Short description: The NRTC is a federally funded research and training center at Mississippi State University, designated by NIDILRR as the only HHS-funded center focused on employment outcomes for people who are blind or have low vision. It delivers research, training, and technical assistance to rehabilitation professionals, VR agencies, employers, and B/LV individuals via free digital resources.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision industry classification

Industry

Product category: Disability and Rehabilitation Research Services
NAICS: Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)
SIC: Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
akta.pro primary industry: Vision Assistive Technology (Screen Readers, Braille, Magnification) (EDAKAIAF)
akta.pro secondary industries: Deaf/Hard of Hearing & Vision Services (Audiology, Interpreting, Orientation & Mobility) (EDAJAKAI), Assistive Technology (AT) & AAC Services (EDAJAKAF), Low Vision Rehabilitation (HLAKAKAJ)

Keywords

Blindness rehabilitation training
Vocational rehabilitation research
Assistive technology training
Employment disability services
Vision rehabilitation education

Where National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Mississippi State
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision business model

Business model

GTM type: B2B and B2C
Offering type: Services

Revenue model

Government Grants: Primary funding from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), a center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), under grant number 90RTEM0007. Also receives funding from the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA).
Self-Pay Training Programs: The Vision Specialist Program has transitioned to self-pay model as of 2026 since RSA funding ended. Students can take courses as individual elective credits or complete the full certificate program.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Freemium	Pay-as-you-go	Free Resources - All NRTC products including research publications, fact sheets, training materials, and online courses are free to access
One time/ perpetual license	Multi-year contract	Vision Specialist Program - Self-pay graduate certificate program

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision product offering

Product offering

Core offering

The NRTC conducts research and delivers training, technical assistance, and free resources focused on improving employment outcomes for people who are blind or have low vision. Its offerings include a graduate certificate program (Vision Specialist), on-site and virtual trainings (Blindness Experience Training, Putting Your Best Foot Forward), continuing education courses, a national job board, the IAT-BVI implicit-bias assessment, the 4to24 transition app, and dedicated technical assistance centers (NTAC-BLV and OIB-TAC) for vocational rehabilitation agencies and older individuals who are blind.

Product overview

The National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision (NRTC) operates as a research and training institution at Mississippi State University, funded by NIDILRR as the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Employment of People who are Blind or Have Low Vision. The organization offers a multi-faceted portfolio of products and services centered on improving employment outcomes for people who are blind or have low vision. The core offerings include three interconnected technical assistance centers (NRTC, NTAC-BLV, and OIB-TAC), the 4to24 transition app, a National Job Board, professional certificate programs (Vision Specialist), training programs (Blindness Experience Training, PYBFF), online courses through a learning management system, the Employment Insights podcast/webinar series, the IAT-BVI implicit bias test, and various resource libraries covering braille, employment, accessibility, transportation, transition, deafblindness, and data. The ecosystem is designed to serve multiple audiences including individuals with visual impairments, rehabilitation professionals, VR agencies, employers, and families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

NTAC-BLV: National Technical Assistance Center on Blindness and Low Vision - provides resources and technical assistance for employers and individuals with visual impairments
OIB-TAC
IAT-BVI
4to24 App
Employment Insights

Products and services

Vision Specialist in Vocational Rehabilitation Certificate Program A graduate-level certificate program consisting of four courses designed for professionals working in vocational rehabilitation settings to expand their knowledge of serving individuals who are blind or have low vision. Covers medical aspects, assistive technology, resources, and practical supervised experience.
Blindness Experience Training An interactive 8-hour training program designed for individuals with little prior experience working with people who are B/LV. Helps participants recognize misconceptions and gain foundational understanding of how individuals who are B/LV live and work independently. Available onsite or as Train the Trainer.
4to24 App A free mobile application for youth who are blind or have low vision and their parents, covering ages 4 to 24 years from preschool age into young adulthood and early career. Provides information, activities, and links to resources about skills and experiences helpful to B/LV youth.
National Job Board A free online job board designed for organizations to share professional job opportunities and for professionals seeking employment in the blindness and low vision field. Lists positions including Vision Rehabilitation Therapists, O&M Specialists, VR Counselors, and Assistive Technology specialists.
IAT-BVI (Implicit Association Test for Blindness and Visual Impairment) An Implicit Association Test developed by the NRTC to measure implicit attitudes about the competence of individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Examines how readily a person associates the concept of competence with vision level (sighted or blind).
Putting Your Best Foot Forward (PYBFF) Job search skills training program for transition-age youth who are B/LV. Includes five units with 40 hours of content covering topics such as preparing for an interview, disability disclosure, resume development, online job searches, and improving self-presentation.
Employment Insights Podcast/Webinar Series A training and technical assistance project featuring webinars and podcasts focused on enhancing employment outcomes for individuals who are B/LV. Each episode focuses on providing employment-related information through interviews with people who are B/LV.
NRTC Online Courses Continuing education courses available through NRTC's learning management system on topics such as assistive technology, braille, blindness and low vision overview, family support facilitation, and neuropsychological evaluation. Offers CRC, ACVREP, NBPCB, and IJCAHPO credits.
Lessons for Living Curriculum A comprehensive curriculum of 19 lessons for rehabilitation professionals to share information on how to safely and efficiently complete tasks with vision loss. Topics range from understanding eye conditions to organizing, kitchen tasks, computer use, low vision, and leisure pursuits. Available in English and Spanish.
Data Corner Customizable data tables from Current Population Survey (CPS) and American Community Survey (ACS) providing comprehensive labor force statistics for the U.S. population including labor force data and national prevalence estimates for persons with self-reported visual difficulty.

Quantifiable outcome

Studies have identified that approximately half of people with B/LV are out of the labor force, and that working for pay during high school predicts future employment for youth with visual impairments
+2 more outcomes

Companies that use National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision

Customer profile

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner for Project 7: Investigation of Online Job Application Accessibility. AFB conducted the study evaluating accessibility and usability of job-application websites of 30 Fortune 500 companies. AFB provided expert usability testers and created personalized report cards for each company summarizing accessibility issues found.
Mississippi State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe NRTC is housed within Mississippi State University's College of Education. MSU provides institutional infrastructure, graduate programs, and administrative support for the center's operations and training activities.
Vocational Rehabilitation AgenciescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorState VR agencies serve as key distribution partners for NRTC research findings, training programs, and resources. The NRTC conducts surveys with VR agency administrators and provides technical assistance to help agencies implement evidence-based practices for serving B/LV consumers.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

National Industries for the Blind (NIB): NIB is a national nonprofit that creates employment opportunities for people who are blind. It is a direct peer in workforce and employment outcomes for the B/LV population, the same primary mission as NRTC.
VisionServe Alliance: VisionServe Alliance is a network of nonprofits serving people with vision loss. It is a direct peer in supporting B/LV service agencies through training, technical assistance, and best-practice resources similar to NRTC's NTAC-BLV and OIB-TAC.
Lighthouse Guild: Lighthouse Guild provides integrated services including vision care, rehabilitation, and training for people with vision loss. It is a direct peer in vision rehabilitation services and training for B/LV individuals and professionals.
National Federation of the Blind (NFB): NFB is the largest U.S. advocacy organization for blind Americans, with substantial employment, training, and grant programs. It is a direct peer in serving the B/LV community and influencing employment-related policy and practice.
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB): AFB is a national nonprofit focused on expanding possibilities for people with vision loss. AFB is a direct peer in B/LV research and accessibility, and is actively partnered with NRTC on Project 7 evaluating Fortune 500 job-application accessibility.
Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired: Hadley provides distance education and training for people with vision loss and the professionals who serve them. It is a direct peer in delivering continuing education, braille, and adjustment-to-vision-loss training.

Broad incumbents

American Printing House for the Blind (APH): APH is a large, established nonprofit that develops and distributes educational materials and assistive products for the B/LV community. It is a broad incumbent with overlapping educational and braille resource offerings, though operating as a product distributor rather than a research center.
Perkins School for the Blind: Perkins is a historic institution serving children and young adults who are blind or have low vision. It is a broader incumbent in B/LV education and transition services, with deeper K-12 focus and overlapping transition-age youth programs.

Regional players

Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults (HKNC): HKNC provides training and support for deaf-blind individuals and the professionals who serve them. It is a partially overlapping peer in serving deafblindness resources, an area NRTC also addresses, but is federally designated for a distinct (combined deafblind) population.

Emerging players

Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute: Smith-Kettlewell conducts vision-related research and rehabilitation engineering. It is a partially overlapping peer in research and assistive technology development, with a smaller scope than NRTC and greater focus on sensory substitution and device research.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision subsidiaries and ownership

Company hierarchy

Subsidiaries2 records

National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision

What does National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision do?

Is National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision a public or private company?

National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.

When was National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision founded?

National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision was founded in 1982. It employs 11 to 50 people.

Where is National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision based?

National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision is headquartered in Mississippi State, United States, in the North America region.

How does National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision make money?

Two revenue lines are on record. Government Grants are the primary driver. The others are self-Pay Training Programs.

Who are National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are National Industries for the Blind (NIB), VisionServe Alliance, Lighthouse Guild, National Federation of the Blind (NFB), American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) and Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Broad incumbents are American Printing House for the Blind (APH) and Perkins School for the Blind. Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults (HKNC) is listed as a regional player. Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute is listed as an emerging player.

Does National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision have an API?

No public API is recorded for National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision.

What industry is National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision in?

National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision's product category is Disability and Rehabilitation Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAKAIAF, Vision Assistive Technology (Screen Readers, Braille, Magnification), with a secondary code of EDAJAKAI, Deaf/Hard of Hearing & Vision Services (Audiology, Interpreting, Orientation & Mobility). Its NAICS code is 6243 and its SIC code is 8731.