Our Team
Michael Welter, M.S. COMS, SLE
“His commitment to education drives his desire to help visual & hearing impaired students thrive and excel once they graduate and enter college or the workforce.”
Michael Welter, M.S. COMS, SLE, the owner of Shore O&M formed in 2015, offers orientation & mobility services to students in school districts throughout New Jersey. He proudly has a team of certified professionals who share his vision and dedication to their students' success.
Michael has over 20 years of experience working with students from 3-21 years old, he has a Masters Degree in Special Education and holds several state certifications as an Elementary School Teacher, Teacher of the Handicapped, Teacher of the Deaf or Hard of Hearing, School Orientation and Mobility Specialist, NJ SLE Supervision training and ACVREP certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist.
Michael Welter was born and raised on the Jersey Shore in Monmouth county, but spent years studying in Maryland and Florida. Upon returning to NJ in 2001, he started working as a special education teacher in Holmdel Township School District and continues to work in the district, where he has held positions as Interim Vice Principal, Union Rep, instructor of professional development and also currently creates and manages the district schedules for paraprofessional staff to ensure all students have the help they need.
Kristen Sharpless, COMS, CVRT, ASL Interpreter
Kristen has been serving the Deaf and DeafBlind community by way of American Sign Language Interpreting Services for the past 10 years. She recently graduated from The University of Massachusetts, Boston’s Vision Studies Program with a Dual Masters Degree in Orientation and Mobility and Vision Rehabilitation Therapy. She became an ACVREP Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist in 2019, and an ACVREP Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist in 2020. Kristen currently provides Independent Living Skills and Orientation and Mobility Training for children ages 3-21 across five counties in the state of New Jersey. She has a passion for providing access, equality, and independence for all Deaf, Blind, and DeafBlind children and adults, along with providing resources and support for the parents/guardians of the children she works with.
Angela Smith, M.S., COMS
Angela is a very motivated instructor who thinks outside the box in order to promote access, awareness, and success within the field of Orientation and Mobility. She is a passionate believer in creativity and collaboration among students, staff, parents, and specialists, in order to achieve fulfillment of individualized goals.
Angela grew up Point Pleasant, New Jersey before attending Rowan University School of Theatre and Dance. She worked as a professional performer for 10 years before pursuing her Master’s degree in O&M at Salus University.
Angela has been a Certified O&M Specialist for 5 years and has worked with the NJCBVI, Guide Dogs for the Blind, St. Frances DeSales School for the Deaf, and Shore O&M, in both center-based and itinerant settings on the east and west coasts of the US, and has additional experience working within the prison system and various educational institutions.
Alyssa Goldman, COMS
Alyssa has been serving the Blind and Visually Impaired community for the past 7 years. She completed her undergraduate degree in Special Education at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. She taught Braille and communication skills in New Jersey for about 4 years. She recently graduated from The University of Massachusetts, Boston’s Vision Studies Program Masters Degree in Orientation and Mobility. She became an ACVREP Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist in 2020. Alyssa currently provides Orientation and Mobility Training to ensure safe and independent travel for children ages 3-21 across the state of New Jersey. Alyssa has a passion for providing equal access and helping others reach their goals in all aspects of their life despite any disabilities.