Welcome to our series, Made with Moodle. Every month, we spotlight someone using the Moodle platform in creative, impactful ways. Have a story of your own? We’d love to hear it →
“We knew we had great content—Tech Connect became the way to share it widely and effectively.”
For Cory Ballard, Director of Adult Vision Rehabilitation at Vision Forward Association, the mission was clear: make assistive technology education more accessible for people who are blind or visually impaired. With Moodle Workplace, Cory and the team launched Tech Connect, a fully accessible online learning platform designed to meet that need.
“We wanted a central hub to organise and promote our assistive technology content in a clear and user-friendly way.”
Based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Vision Forward has been serving individuals with vision loss for more than a century. With programs that span early childhood through adulthood, their focus is on what people can do—not what they can’t. And Tech Connect is a natural extension of that philosophy.
“Our learners include anyone who is blind or visually impaired, as well as those who support them—teachers, family members, and service providers. Whether you’re using assistive tech yourself or helping someone else learn it, Tech Connect is designed for you.”
Built with accessibility at its core, the Moodle Workplace-based site gives users a simple, intuitive way to find resources, take courses, and track progress toward goals like the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP) certification. And with features like surveys and user tracking, Moodle Workplace also helps the Vision Forward team continuously improve the learning experience.
“We chose Moodle Workplace for its overall accessibility—both frontend and backend. It was important that everyone had the ability to access Tech Connect.”
One of the most engaging pieces of Tech Connect is Tech Connect Live!—a biweekly YouTube broadcast hosted by Cory and his colleague Luke Scriven. Every other Thursday, they go live to demo the latest in assistive tech, field questions, and create an inclusive space for conversation and community.
“Today, it’s easier than ever to create and find videos. But we wanted to use Moodle Workplace to offer a centralised, accessible space where people could easily find and engage with our resources.”
Whether it’s a live show or a structured course, everything Vision Forward creates is aligned with their mission: to empower, educate, and enhance the lives of individuals impacted by vision loss through all of life’s transitions.
“Moodle helps us make that mission real—by giving us the flexibility to design something that truly fits our learners’ needs.”
Want to join the conversation?
Anyone can sign up for Tech Connect Live—a free, fun, and informative biweekly session featuring the latest in assistive technology.
