NECO was well represented at the Perkins Conference on Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI), “The Collective Power of Us” held July 19–21, 2026 at the Hyatt in downtown Boston. The conference brought together professionals, educators, clinicians, and researchers dedicated to advancing the understanding and support of individuals with CVI, as well as children with CVI and their family members.
NECO faculty members Dr. Nicole Ross and Dr. Jem Martin, along with NECO OD/MS student Annie Lancos, presented during the conference, sharing their work on assessment and validation of measures of both functional vision (i.e., the lived experience with CVI through questionnaires) and visual function (i.e., visual psychophysical testing of primary and higher order visual functions). The longer term goal of the projects is for these measures to help in the diagnosis of CVI. Dr. Martin also presented the collaborative clinical work ongoing at the NECO Center for Eye Care Perkins School for the Blind Clinic. Also in attendance were NECO’s new Low Vision resident, Vickie Kuo, and clinical research coordinator Cecilia Idman-Rait.
In addition to participating in the educational program, NECO hosted a table in the exhibit hall, providing an opportunity to engage with attendees, share information about the College’s programs and clinical services, and strengthen relationships within the CVI community.
Overall, the biannual Perkins CVI Conference was a great success, bringing together professionals to learn from one another, share ideas, and build new connections. It was also a wonderful opportunity for NECO to showcase its ongoing commitment to improving care for individuals with CVI and other ocular conditions at the Perkins School for the Blind.
