UA Little Rock Alum Eric Yarberry Elevates Support for the Visually Impaired

When Eric Yarberry thinks of UA Little Rock, three words come to mind: empowering, accessible, and transformative. The president and CEO of World Services for the Blind (WSB) says his time at the university shaped not only his education but the trajectory of his career.

Raised in Des Arc, Arkansas, Yarberry earned a bachelor’s degree in English at UA Little Rock before completing a master’s degree in professional and technical writing.

“Quality writing changes things,” he said. “Learning how to use language as a tool helped me connect with the people we serve at World Services for the Blind and with partners in the community. It made me intentional about my words, because what I say and write has the power to drive people to positive change.”

WSB is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower blind and visually impaired individuals in the United States and around the world to achieve sustainable independence.  Yarberry brings more than a decade of experience working with blind youth and adults, as well as valuable lived experience as a person with a visual impairment.

Graduate school offered him numerous opportunities to expand his knowledge and skills.

“For me, teaching in grad school was the perfect blend of learning and doing,” he said. “I knew the PTW program opened doors in grant writing, nonprofits, and communication-heavy roles. What you learn in professional and technical writing stays with you long after you graduate.”

As a full-time graduate student, Yarberry held several roles on campus at different times — teaching beginning composition classes, working in IT, and assisting in the Writing Center.

“Working in the Writing Center taught me how to meet people where they are,” he said, noting that in a state where many people struggle with literacy, “people are putting a lot on the line when they ask for help. Learning how to support someone by creating a friendly environment when they are vulnerable has shaped how I teach and how I lead at World Services for the Blind.”

The Little Rock resident said he feels fortunate to have earned his master’s degree.

“I was the first person in my family to earn a bachelor’s degree, let alone a graduate degree,” he said. “My dad was a single father who raised my brother and me. He never finished college, but he pushed me constantly. His question was always, ‘What’s next?’”

Yarberry said he enjoyed his graduate school experience.

“I knew it would be tough, but I also knew it would give me a skillset that made me employable,” he said. “So I leaned into the challenge.”

Yarberry met his wife, Emily, while they were both attending UA Little Rock, and she was one of his biggest supporters when he was in graduate school.

“She was in the Donaghey Scholars Program,” he said. “She kept me focused. She made sure I didn’t lose sight of what I was working toward.”

While seeking a graduate assistantship, he wanted a position where he could use what he learned in class. Some of his favorite memories come from teaching Composition I and II.

“My students were mostly older than me, taking classes during their workday, and many had never been taught by someone who was blind,” he said. “Once that wore off, it just became about working as a team to build stronger writers and communicators. I loved those classes. I hope I inspired them, but they definitely inspired me.”

As Yarberry’s career has evolved, so have the opportunities for leadership and advocacy.

He was selected as a 2025 Arkansas Business 40 Under 40 honoree, joined Leadership Greater Little Rock Class XLI, and serves on boards including the Arkansas Association for the Education and Rehabilitation for the Blind and Visually Impaired, VisionCorps, and Penny Forward. He is also treasurer of the Arkansas School for the Blind Alumni Association and works to strengthen statewide and national partnerships supporting blind and visually impaired individuals.

Yarberry said UA Little Rock prepared him well for life after graduate school.

“Right after finishing the program, I stepped into the role of director of education and training at World Services for the Blind,” he said. “Teaching nontraditional students gave me a strong understanding of what people need in order to learn, adapt, and succeed.”

He said his coursework also taught him the foundations of curriculum design. “As part of the practicum I took for teaching, we dug into how to build a course from the ground up — everything from a syllabus to learning outcomes,” he said.

The Disability Resource Center on campus played an important role in his time at the university.

“I still stay connected to the Disability Resource Center,” he said, adding that it has a wealth of resources. “Working there as an undergraduate student gave me the chance to support others the same way people had supported me.”

Yarberry said his education has strengthened his ability to serve the visually impaired community he is part of.

“It’s an underserved community, and UA Little Rock opened doors for me,” he said. “That gave me the ability — and the responsibility — to give back and help move the community forward.”