A New Era for Clinical Care, Research, and Leadership: 2026 Envision + VSA Joint Conference

At this year’s Envision Conference, held at the Embassy Suites in Grapevine, Texas, a bold new chapter was announced for the future of vision rehabilitation, research, and leadership development.

In 2026, Envision and VisionServe Alliance (VSA) will leverage their longstanding partnership to host a joint national conference, bringing together clinical rehabilitation professionals, researchers, nonprofit executives, and service providers under a single, unified experience. The news was first shared at VSA’s 2025 Leadership Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona, and reaffirmed during the keynote session of the Envision Conference. For attendees, this exciting joint conference marks a moment of alignment and a strategic step toward greater collaboration across the low vision and blindness fields.

“The joint Envision and VSA conference in 2026 will prove to be a strategic move that unites leadership with frontline rehabilitation professionals dedicated to patient care,” said Michael Epp, Manager of Professional Education at Envision. “By fostering collaboration among CEOs, program directors, researchers, and clinical staff, we create a powerful synergy—driving evidence-based education and research that ultimately enhances care and patient outcomes.” 

For nearly two decades, the Envision Conference has served as a national platform for advancing low vision rehabilitation and care, offering CEU-accredited education and showcasing leading-edge research. It has connected optometrists, occupational therapists, assistive technology specialists, and academic researchers in an environment built for applied learning and multidisciplinary impact.

That spirit of leadership and mentorship was also honored this year through the Envision Oculus Award, presented to Dr. Donald C. Fletcher. A pioneer in low vision rehabilitation and a dedicated participant in the Envision Conference since its inception, Dr. Fletcher has spent more than 38 years advancing the field through clinical care, research, and training. The award recognizes individuals whose careers have made a national or international impact through collaboration, advocacy, research, or education.

VSA’s Leadership Conference, by contrast, has focused on organizational strategy, leadership development, and systems-level insight, drawing nonprofit CEOs, executive leaders, and program directors from across the country. With the joint conference, Envision and VSA aim to bridge silos and foster deeper integration across sectors. The new co-hosted event will feature multiple content tracks that reflect the full spectrum of professional expertise: rehabilitation, research, nonprofit leadership, and emerging trends.

The result will be a more holistic and impactful experience—one that supports individual learning while advancing the collective mission to empower individuals who are blind or visually impaired. When research informs strategy and leadership supports innovation, real change becomes not only possible, but scalable.