CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Dr. Mary Beth Calhoon, an associate professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning, brought her expertise in special education and learning disabilities to a national conversation on transformative mobility aids for the blind and visually impaired community. She joined the White Cane Conversation, a one-of-a-kind virtual event, on October 31, 2025.
The live podcast, hosted by Thriving Productions, focused on building bold, thriving futures and featured a discussion on innovative tools that empower individuals with visual impairments.
Dr. Calhoon’s participation stemmed from her role on the Board of Directors for SafeToddles, a nonprofit dedicated to pediatric blindness. The organization provides a patented pediatric belt cane, an innovation that gives toddlers and children with visual impairments the ability to detect obstacles and travel safely.
This public engagement aligned seamlessly with Dr. Calhoon’s scholarly work at the University of Miami. As a principal investigator on the RAMP-UP Project and a prolific researcher, she consistently sought evidence-based strategies to support students with learning disabilities. Her recent publications, including “Putting the Cart Before the Horse: Restoring the Academic Core in Special Education” in Insights into Learning Disabilities and studies on reading and vocabulary interventions in the European Journal of Special Needs Education and Language Teaching Research, underscored her commitment to restoring academic rigor and implementing effective practices for all learners.
The White Cane Conversation offered a powerful platform to connect research, innovation, and real-world impact, demonstrating the School of Education and Human Development’s commitment to community-engaged scholarship that transforms lives.
Event Details:
- What: White Cane Conversation
- When: October 31, 2025
- Hosts: Kristin Smedley, Marybeth Calhoon, "SedonaDave," and Mike Mulligan
- Podcast: Reimagining Mobility for the Blind Together: White Cane Innovations for Independence at Every Age
To learn more about the SafeToddles pediatric belt cane, visit www.safetoddles.org.
