Professor
Co-coordinator, Blindness and Visual Impairment Concentration
Coordinator, Graduate Certificate in Orientation and Mobility
Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) and Certified Low Vision Therapist (CLVT)
Dr. Kim T. Zebehazy is a Professor in special education in the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education at the University of British Columbia with a focus on blindness and low vision. She started at UBC in 2009 and has been working in the field of blindness and visual impairment for over 25 years. Dr. Zebehazy’s interest in disability began as a teenager in the area of special recreation where the goal was to create meaningful and accessible summer day camp experiences for children with physical and health disabilities. Over 7 summers in this position, the voice and experiences of children with disabilities and their families planted the seed of Dr. Zebehazy’s desire to empower, listen, and promote equity. Dr. Zebehazy was both an itinerant teacher of students with visual impairments (TSVIs) and O&M specialist serving students birth through high school age with and without multiple disabilities. At the university level, she is committed to preparing qualified, reflective practitioners. Her research is applied, focusing on topics that will enhance learning and teaching within the field of blindness and low vision.
Scholarly Interests:
Blindness and low vision, personnel preparation, promoting problem solving and thinking skills, orientation and mobility, instructional strategies, tactile graphics, assessment
UBC Faculty of Education Killam Teaching Prize, 2015
Blind Beginnings Society
- Volunteer 2010-present
- Board Member 2010-2016; 2019-2023
- Secretary 2019-2023
Provincial Resources Centre for the Visually Impaired
- Advisory Board Member 2016-present
Shared Vision Collaboration Network
- Member 2011-present
Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP)
- Subject Matter Expert Committee member, Orientation and Mobility 2015- present
Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field
- Board Member 2023- present
- Secretary 2024- present
U.S. Department of Education Federal Review Panel of the American Printing House for the Blind
- Chair 2014-present
EPSE 320 Classroom Inclusion of Students who are Blind and Visually Impaired
EPSE 513 Foundations of Orientation and Mobility for Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments
EPSE 514 Advanced Orientation and Mobility Techniques
EPSE 546 Assistive Technology for Students with Visual Impairments
EPSE 536 Foundations of Education for Students with Visual Impairments
EPSE 537 Programming in Orientation and Mobility
EPSE 538 Seminar in Orientation and Mobility
EPSE 540 Seminar in Low Vision
EPSE 543 Working with Students with Visual Impairments: Elementary and Secondary Curriculum
EPSE 545 Teaching the Expanded Core Curriculum
EPSE 580 Directed Study
EPSE 590 Graduating Seminar
EPSE 598 Practicum/Internship- TSVI and O&M
University of Pittsburgh, 2006, Ph.D.
- Special Education
- Blindness and Low Vision focus
Western Michigan University, 1998, M.A.
- Orientation and Mobility (O&M)
Western Michigan University, 1997, B.A., Honours
- Special Education, Blindness and Low Vision
- Spanish
Most Recent Grant Project
2020-2024 SSHRC Insight Grant: Investigating the executive functioning (EF) skills of students with visual impairments
This project focused on exploring the executive functioning profiles of students with visual impairments. It included parent input and student participation in direct tasks. Three of the tasks were activities designed by the research team with the goal of offering ways teachers can informally assess and observe their students’ executive functioning skills. Data analysis is underway!
Refereed Journal Articles
Zebehazy, K.T., & Holbrook, M.C. (2025 Jan 6, online release). Understanding braille and braille readers to facilitate inclusion and foster a sense of belonging. Teaching Exceptional Children. https://doi.org/10.1177/00400599241307603
Yousefi, S., Hassanzadeh, S., Zebehazy, K. T., Najafi Fard, T., Murfitt, K., Sedghi Taromi, A., & Lavasani, M. G. A. (2025). The sound localization ability of students with visual impairment in goalball players, non-goalball players, and their peers with typical vision. British Journal of Visual Impairment, 43(1), 205-212. https://doi.org/10.1177/02646196231217406 [2023 Dec 27, online release]
Alraddadi, M.M., & Zebehazy, K.T. (2025). Exploring inclusive teaching practices to enhance effective learning of students with visual impairments in a secondary school in Saudi Arabia using a self-regulated learning framework. British Journal of Visual Impairment, 43(1), 12-28. https://doi.org/10.1177/026461962312017 [2023 Sept 20, online release]
Zebehazy, K.T., & Herzburg, T.S., Botsford, K.C. (2023). Exploring caseload data of vision professionals and their implications. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 17(5), 341-352. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145482X231200869
Zebehazy, K.T., Rosenblum, L.P., & Thompson, K.M. (2023). The impact of COVID-19 on transportation of adults with visual impairments. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 116(1), 794–80. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145482X221143143
Stewart, R., Zebehazy, K.T., & Holbrook, M.C. (2022). Improving braille reading performance through progress monitoring and intervention: A case study. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 116(3), 417–424. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145482X221109561
Zebehazy, K.T., Wilton, A.P., & Velugu, B. (2022). Graphics out loud: Perceptions and strategic action of students with visual impairments when engaging with graphics. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 116(2), 183-193. http://doi.org/10.1177/0145482X221087727 [2022 April 20, Online release]
Gerofsky, S., & Zebehazy, K.T. (2022). Enhancing mathematical noticing of graphs through movement, voice, and metaphor: An intervention with two students with visual impairments. British Journal of Visual Impairment, 40(2), 209–221. https://doi.org/10.1177/0264619620963516 [2020 Oct 14, online release]
Zebehazy, K.T., Correa-Torrea, S., & Botsford, K. (2022). Developing pre-service O&M specialists’ reflective practices to improve problem-solving opportunities during instruction. British Journal of Visual Impairment, 40(1), 75-82. https://doi.org/10.1177/0264619620946071 [2020 July 31, online release]
Rosenblum, L. P., Zebehazy, K. T., Gage, N. A., & Beal, C. R. (2021). Experiences building graphics literacy skills: Interviews with teachers and students, Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 115, 538-549. http://doi.org/10.1177/0145482X211061619
Rosenblum, L. P., Zebehazy, K. T., Gage, N. A., & Beal, C. R. (2021). Pre-algebra students’ performance locating and interpreting data in graphs and maps, Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 115, 550-560. http://doi.org/10.1177/0145482X211061588
Zebehazy, K.T., & Wilton, A.P. (2021). Graphic reading performance of students with visual impairments and its implication for instruction and assessment. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 115(3), 215-227. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145482X211016918
Zebehazy, K.T., Renshaw, R.L., & Zimmerman, G.J. (2021). Orientation and mobility specialists’ positioning practices when teaching street crossings: Is there a standard approach? Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 115(2), 85-94. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145482X211000947
Gee, S., & Zebehazy, K.T. (2020). Supporting students with visual impairments who are culturally and linguistically diverse: The role of the cultural liaison within the educational team. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 114(4), 249–262. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145482X20939471
Zebehazy, K.T., Weber, R., Murphy, M., & Ghani, A. (2020). Students with visual impairments’ performance on abstract and scenario-based tasks and their correlates. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 114(4), 301–314. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145482X20940101
Rosenblum, L. P., Cheng, L., Zebehazy, K, T., Wall Emerson, R., & Beal, C. R. (2020). Teachers’ descriptions of mathematics graphics for students with visual impairments: A preliminary investigation. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 114(3), 331-236. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145482X20923442
Gunn, S.M., Lajoie, K., Zebehazy, K.T., Strath, R.A., Neima, D.R., & Marigold, D.S. (2019). Mobility-related gaze training in individuals with glaucoma: A proof-of-concept study. Translational Vision Science & Technology, 8(5), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1167/tvst.8.5.23
Zebehazy, K.T. (2015). Functional literacy for students with visual impairments and significant cognitive disabilities: The perspective of teachers of students with visual impairments. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 39(4), 259-273. https://doi.org/10.1177/1540796914566712
Correa-Torres, S.M., & Zebehazy, K.T. (2014). Lessons learned from Hispanic mothers in the United States: Recommendations for personnel preparation and research in visual impairment. British Journal of Visual Impairment, 32(3), 191-199. https://doi.org/10.1177/0264619614539954
Zebehazy, K.T., & Wilton, A.P. (2014). Straight from the source: Students with visual impairments’ perceptions about graphic use. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 108(4), 275-286. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145482X1410800403
Zebehazy, K.T., & Wilton, A.P. (2014). Charting success: The experience of teachers of students with visual impairments in promoting graphic use by students. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 108(4), 263-274. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145482X1410800402
Zebehazy, K.T., & Wilton, A.P. (2014). Quality, importance, and instruction: The perspective of teachers of students with visual impairments on student graphic use. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 108(1), 5-16. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145482X1410800102
Zebehazy, K.T., Zigmond, N., & Zimmerman, G.J. (2012). Ability or access-ability: Differential item functioning of items on alternate performance-based assessment tests for students with visual impairments. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 106(6), 325-338. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145482X1210600602
Zebehazy, K. T., Zigmond, N., & Zimmerman, G. J. (2012). Performance measurement and accommodation: The situation of students with visual impairments on Pennsylvania’s alternate assessment. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 106(1), 17-30. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145482X1210600103
Zebehazy, K.T., Zimmerman, G.J., & Zigmond (2012). Considerations in adapting alternate assessments for students with visual impairments. Insight: Research and Practice in Visual Impairment and Blindness, 5(2), 123-131.
Zebehazy, K.T., & Smith, T.J. (2011). An examination of characteristics related to social skill ability of youth with visual impairments. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 105(2), 84-95. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145482X1110500206
Zebehazy, K.T. (2009). What did that alt tag say? An exploration of access to visually based web course explanations. AER Journal: Research and Practice in Visual Impairment and Blindness, 2(2), 63-75.
Invited Articles and Knowledge Translation
Zebehazy, K.T.,& Weber, R.C. (2022) Assessing the exectuve functioning (EF) skills of students with visual impairments. Visual Impairment and Deafblind Education Quarterly, 67(3), 44-57. http://dvi.uberflip.com/i/1476599-vidbe-q-67-3-summer-back-to-school-issue-2022/59
Ferrell, K.A., Correa-Torres, S.M., Zebehazy, K.T., & Monson, M. (2019, July). Lessons from the Special Education Elementary Longitudinal Study: Global relevance for the education of students with visual impairment. The Educator: Publication of the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment, 33(1), 18-26.
Weber, R.C., & Zebehazy, K.T. (2018). Promoting problem-solving in students with visual impairments. Visual Impairment and Deafblind Education Quarterly, 63(2), 19-24. http://dvi.uberflip.com/i/954144-vidbe-q-63-2-spring-2018/0?
Zebehazy, K.T. (2016). Becoming a professional in visual impairment in Canada. Profile: University of British Columbia. Visual Impairment and Deafblind Education Quarterly, 61(1), 21-25.
Zebehazy, K. T., & Butler, D.L. (2015). Supporting student problem solving and critical thinking in the ECC. Visual Impairment and Deafblind Education Quarterly, 60(2), 31-50.
Zebehazy, K.T. (2014). Successful graphics users with visual impairments: Strategies and implications for instruction and assessment. Division on Visual Impairment Quarterly, 59(3), 44-53.
Zebehazy, K.T., & Correa-Torres, S.M. (2013). Connecting with families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds: A self-reflection process. Division on Visual Impairment Quarterly, 58(2), 40-51.
Zebehazy, K.T. (2012). Book review: The multisensory handbook: A guide for children and adults with sensory learning disabilities by Paul Pagliano. International Journal of Orientation and Mobility, 5(1), 53-55.
Zebehazy, K.T. (2011). Call to action: Contributing to research through your everyday teaching experiences. The Educator: Publication of the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment, 23(2), 38-44.
Book Chapters
Zebehazy, K.T., & Lawson, H. (2024). Blindness and low vision. In J.M. Kaufman, D.P. Hallahan, & P. Cullen Pullen (Eds.) Handbook of special education (3rd ed., pp. 420-455) Routledge.
Zebehazy, K.T., Couturier, J.A., & Ratelle, A. (2024). Teaching orientation and mobility for adverse weather conditions. In W.R. Weiner, R. Wall Emerson, & B.B. Blasch (Eds.), Foundations of orientation and mobility: Volume II: Instructional strategies and practical applications (4th Ed., pp. 582-622). APH Press.
Holbrook, M.C., & Zebehazy, K.T. (2022). Reading approaches for braille readers. In N.J. Dale, A. Salt, J. Sargent, & R. Greenaway (Eds.), Children with vision impairment: Assessment, development and management. MacKeith Press Practice Guides.
Zebehazy, K.T., & Lawson, H. (2017). Blindness and low vision. In J.M. Kaufman, & D.P. Hallahan (Eds.), Handbook of special education (2nd ed.) (pp. 358-376). Routledge, a division of the Taylor & Francis Group.
Zebehazy, K.T., & McCarthy, T. (2017). Moving from assessment to instruction. In M.C. Holbrook, T. McCarthy, & C. Kamei-Hannan (Eds.), Foundations of education: Volume II: Instructional strategies for teaching children and youths with visual impairments (3rd ed.) (pp. 165-202). AFB Press.
Barclay, L., Zebehazy, K.T., Kamei-Hannan, C. (2017). Overview of assessment. In M.C. Holbrook, T. McCarthy, & C. Kamei-Hannan (Eds.), Foundations of education: Volume II: Instructional strategies for teaching children and youths with visual impairments (3rd ed.) (pp. 35-62). AFB Press.
Kamei-Hannan, C., Barclay, L., & Zebehazy, K.T. (2017). Informal assessment techniques. In M.C. Holbrook, T. McCarthy, & C. Kamei-Hannan (Eds.), Foundations of education: Volume II: Instructional strategies for teaching children and youths with visual impairments (3rd ed.) (pp. 63-107). AFB Press.
Zebehazy, K.T., Fox, L.A., & Peel, C. (2017). Independent living skills. In M.C. Holbrook, T. McCarthy, & C. Kamei-Hannan (Eds.), Foundations of education: Volume II: Instructional strategies for teaching children and youths with visual impairments (3rd ed.) (pp. 699-752). AFB Press.
Zebehazy, K.T., & Weber, R.C. (2017). Problem solving and critical thinking. In M.C. Holbrook, T. McCarthy, & C. Kamei-Hannan (Eds.), Foundations of education: Volume I: History and theory of teaching children and youths with visual impairments (3rd ed.) (pp. 456-470). AFB Press.
Bozeman, L., & Zebehazy, K.T. (2014). Personnel preparation in visual impairment. In P.T. Sindelar, E.D. McCray, M.T. Brownell, & Lignugaris-Kraft, B. (Eds.), Handbook of research in special education teacher preparation (pp. 353-368). Routledge, a division of the Taylor & Francis Group.
Zimmerman, G.J., & Zebehazy, K.T. (2011). Blindness and low vision. In J.M. Kaufman, & D.P. Hallahan (Eds.), Handbook of special education (pp. 247-261). Routledge, a division of the Taylor & Francis Group.
Zimmerman, G. J., Zebehazy, K. T., & Moon, M. L. (2010). Optics and low vision devices. In A. L. Corn & J. Erin (Eds.), Foundations of low vision: Clinical and functional perspectives (2nd ed.) (pp. 192-237). AFB Press.