APH: Research Staff: Elaine Kitchel

APH Educational Research

Elaine Kitchel

Low Vision Project Leader
E-mail: ekitchel@aph.org

Elaine Kitchel has a Bachelor's Degree in English and Secondary Education from Arizona State University, and Master's Degree in Special Education and Vision from the University of Arizona. She also has certification in Educational Research from Troy State University, Alabama.

Elaine has 12 years teaching experience with students who have low vision, 12 years experience as a rehabilitation teacher, and 11 years experience doing research and development. She serves as the Low Vision Project Leader at APH where she designs products and educational materials for persons with low vision.

Elaine is currently working on research and publications which include: the effects of ultraviolet and blue light on persons with low vision, the effects of light on students with CVI, and appropriate practices for conducting functional vision assessments for very young learners.

Projects include:

a kit of tools and materials to assist practitioners who do functional vision assessments and development of visual skills
an atlas which meets the needs of students with low vision
a lamp designed specially for persons with low vision
methods to determine appropriate print size for readers with low vision

Elaine has extensive training in the field of lighting and she has developed guidelines for effectively lighting the work and play spaces of persons with low vision. Her publications are available upon request.