As an educator, researcher and activist, Ann MacCuspie has had a positive and strong influence on blind and visually impaired youth. A former director with the Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority, she established a national benchmark with the development of a curriculum for visually impaired children. She has also designed programs to help integrate blind children into mainstream schools and communities. Her expertise has been sought by professional organizations and she has taught the next generation of teachers in this specialized field. She is greatly respected for encouraging blind and visually impaired youth to focus on their abilities and to be their own advocates.