Sandra Rosen

Sandra Rosen

( She/Her/Hers )
Emeritus Faculty
Special Education (SPED)
Phone: (415) 338-1245
Email: srosen@sfsu.edu

Dr. Rosen is coordinator of the Program in Orientation & Mobility (O&M) and advisor for the Orthopedic Impairment Added Authorization (OIAA). She is internationally known for her work in the field, including the development of new teaching approaches in O&M and methods of teaching mobility to people who have both physical and visual impairments. Dr. Rosen has also helped develop O&M professional preparation programs in other countries and is a frequent speaker at international conferences. Her current research interests include sensorimotor functioning in people who were born blind and O&M for people who have dual visual and health/physical impairments.

Educational Background

1986    Ph.D. Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee

                  Education and Human Development

1978    M.A. San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California

                  Education of Exceptional Children - Orientation and Mobility

1976    B.S. University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois

                  Allied Health Services - Physical Therapy

Selected Publications

  • Zhang, Y., & Rosen, S., Huang, S., & Han, L. (in press) Culture-based Development Model of Inclusive Higher Education in Mainland China: History, Current Situation, and the Future. In L Dukes & J Madaus (Eds.). Invited book chapter, Research Handbook on Higher Education and Disability. Northampton: Edward Elgar Publishing.
  • Rosen, S. & Riddering, A. (in press), Kinesiology and Sensorimotor Functioning for Students with Vision Loss. In B. Blasch, & W. Wiener (Eds.). Invited book chapter, Foundations of Orientation and Mobility (4th Ed.). New York: American Foundation for the Blind.
  • Rosen, S. & Crawford, S. (in press), Teaching Orientation and Mobility to Learners with Visual, Physical, and Health Impairments.  In B. Blasch, & W. Wiener (Eds.). Invited book chapter, Foundations of Orientation and Mobility (4th Ed.). New York: American Foundation for the Blind.
  • Rosen, S. & Riddering, A. (in press), Improving Sensorimotor Functioning for Orientation and Mobility. In B. Blasch, & W. Wiener (Eds.). Invited book chapter, Foundations of Orientation and Mobility (4th. Ed.). New York: American Foundation for the Blind.
  • Rosen, S. (2020). Step-by-Step: An Interactive Guide to Mobility Techniques (2nd ed). Louisville: American Printing House for the Blind. This is the first and only interactive computer program used in the professional preparation of O&M specialists.
  • Zhang, Y., Rosen, S., Chen, M., Du, J., Cheng, L., Liu, C. (2020).  Students’ Perception of Classroom Environment in China and Its Relationship to Creativity of Students Who Have Visual Impairments. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities.
  • Zhang, Y., Rosen, S., Shuheng, X. (2019). International Experience of Orienteering Teacher Training and Its Enlightenment to China, Chinese Journal of Special Education, 11 (Serial No. 233), 51-56.
  • Rosen, S. & Pogrund, R. (2018).  Motor Development. In R. Pogrund & N. Griffin-Shirley (Eds.). Invited book chapter. Partners in Orientation and Mobility: Collaboration with Other Professionals Working with Children with Blindness or Visual Impairment. New York: American Foundation for the Blind.
  • Cmar, J. & Rosen, S. (2018). Environmental adaptations. In R. Pogrund & N. Griffin-Shirley (Eds.). Invited book chapter. Partners in Orientation and Mobility: Collaboration with Other Professionals Working with Children with Blindness or Visual Impairment. New York: American Foundation for the Blind.

Grants/awards

  • 2022    Distinguished Faculty Award in Service, San Francisco State University
  • 2020    Distinguished Service Award, Council for Exceptional Children, Division of Visual Impairment & Deaf-Blindness
  • 2019    Renaming of Berdell Wurzburger Award to "Berdell Wurzburger and Dr. Sandra Rosen Award" in recognition of their distinguished contributions to the field of O&M and the professional preparation of O&M Professionals. California Assn. of Orientation and Mobility Specialists, Northern Chapter
  • 2016    Lawrence E. Blaha Award, Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, Orientation & Mobility Division
  • 2012    Meritorious Achievement Award, Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, Northern California Chapter
  • 1994    Berdell "Pete" Wurzburger Award, California Assn. of Orientation and Mobility Specialists
  • 1990    Access Award, American Foundation for the Blind
  • 1988    Award for Outstanding Service, Texas Chapter of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER)