Dr. McDonnall is the director of The National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision at Mississippi State University. She has more than 25 years of experience in the field of rehabilitation for persons with disabilities and has been conducting research involving individuals who are blind or visually impaired for 16 years. Her research in the field of blindness and visual impairment has involved a wide array of populations, with topics ranging from barriers to employment to the needs and challenges of seniors with hearing and vision loss.