OIB-TAC January Webinar: Navajo Elders, Blindness, and Cultural Competence: Part 1

Join OIB-TAC on January 16, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. CT, for our next webinar! There are 574 federally recognized American Indian tribes and Alaska Native Villages in the United States, along with many other state-recognized tribes. Beliefs, customs, and cultural foundations vary among the many Tribal Nations. Join us for Part 1 of this enlightening presentation by disability advocate, Sacheen Smith. This webinar explores culturally competent practices when working with Navajo (Diné) Elders who are blind or have low vision. Drawing on key insights from Native Communities on Health and Disability: Borderland Dialogues, the session highlights how cultural worldviews, relational communication styles, and traditional understandings of disability shape the experiences of Navajo Elders.

Participants will learn how oral tradition, cultural silence, family-centered decision-making, and concepts of hózhó (balance and harmony) influence service engagement and trust-building. This guidance emphasizes respectful collaboration with families, recognition of traditional healing perspectives, and strategies that honor autonomy, dignity, and cultural identity.

Attendees will gain practical approaches to enhance service delivery, reduce barriers, and support self-determination for Navajo Elders with blindness or low vision.

Sacheen Smith is a Diné (Navajo) artist, advocate, and presenter dedicated to advancing disability rights, youth empowerment, and creative expression. With decades of leadership in national organizations, she brings her lived experience as a blind Diné woman to keynote talks, policy advocacy, mentorship, and arts education. Her work spans exhibitions, publications, and community initiatives, championing accessible education and uplifting individuals with disabilities across diverse communities. This webinar is supported by the New Mexico Commission for the Blind.

This webinar is available for one ACVREP credit. Visit the following link to find instructions on how to obtain CE credits.

Click here to register for our January Webinar!

Looking For Clients to Participate in Research

The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is conducting a research study seeking U.S.-based adults 55 and older who are experiencing changes in their vision. The aim of the study is to understand what it’s like for older adults to adjust to vision changes and what services can help them. 

Participants can choose between a 60-minute interview and a 90-minute focus group, either in person or virtually. Transportation support will be available for in-person sessions, if needed.

Interested? Please call AFB researcher Angie Whistler at 202-469-6834 to sign up.

If you have any questions or concerns about the study, contact the principal investigator, Dr. Arielle Silverman, at asilverman@afb.org.

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