Education and Advocacy

Cleveland Sight Center’s Education and Advocacy team provides information and training to the public to:

  1. Increase participant understanding of the tools and support that is available to individuals who are visually impaired.
  2. Equip participants with the knowledge needed to appropriately interact, serve, and live alongside of individuals who are visually impaired.

Presentations and trainings are available to people who have vision loss, senior centers, assisted living facilities, educators, medical professionals and facilities, emergency responders, customer service representatives, caregivers or anyone who works with any segment of the general public.

To learn more about any of these programs, contact us at 216-791-8118 or info@clevelandsightcenter.org.


Current Presentation Topics

Check out the current presentations we offer below:


Organizations We've Partnered With


Meet Our Team:

Kristen Callahan, Manager of Education and Advocacy: Kristen Callahan has worked for Cleveland Sight Center (CSC) since 2017 and currently holds the position of Manager of Education and Advocacy. In addition to leading a small team of professionals, she serves as a Children’s Case Manager for children 3 years of age through high school graduation. Kristen also currently serves as a board member for the Association of Education and Rehabilitation for the Blind and Visually Impaired (Ohio Chapter) also known as AERO.

Kristen earned her Bachelor of Science in Education from Cleveland State University.  She holds a current 1-8 Professional Teaching License with a K-12 Reading Endorsement. Kristen served as a general education teacher and reading interventionist for 14 years in a variety of public, private, and charter schools. Kristen is incredibly passionate about fostering a community in which each people person feels welcomed and has equal access to navigate the visual world.

Alicia Howerton, Manager of External and Government Relations: Alicia Howerton serves as Cleveland Sight Center’s Strategic Partnerships Manager and is a Cleveland native who has been visually impaired for over 40 years.

She first became involved with Cleveland Sight Center as a client, receiving training in orientation and mobility with a white cane, daily living tasks and eventually, computers skills so that she could reenter the workforce after caring for her children. She developed excellent computer skills and was later hired by Cleveland Sight Center to teach others how to adjust to vision-loss tactically and strategically. Alicia is a remarkable advocate for those with vision loss and acts as Cleveland Sight Center’s primary spokesperson to schools, universities, community groups and elected officials.

 Kerry Ramsey, Children's Case Manager: Kerry Ramsey is new to the Cleveland Sight Center and holds the position of Childrens’ Case Manager, serving families in Early Intervention through Grade 3.

Kerry earned her Bachelor Degree from Ohio State University in Human Development and Family Science with a concentration in Early Childhood Development. She holds a current PK-5 teaching license with a K-12 Reading Endorsement. Kerry also received her Master Degree in Curriculum & Instruction. Kerry served as a general education teacher and reading interventionist for 5 years in both public and charter schools.

Kerry is extremely passionate about helping others and ensuring everyone has access to the resources they need to lead successful lives.

Tom Sawyer, Outreach Specialist: Tom has been an assistive technology resource at CSC since 2008. In his role as an outreach specialist, he educates the community about the programs and services CSC provides as well as the technology and tools available to those who have low vision. He is always looking for opportunities to tell people about the many ways we offer help.