Vocational and Transition Services
Vocational and Transition Services are designed to support our blind and visually impaired students by teaching the skills necessary to prepare for and find a job, including providing support in selecting and applying for internships, part-time jobs, and two or four year colleges or universities.
As part of this process, our high school students participate in informational and mock interviews throughout the year, including meeting with Institute staff and Alum during our Where Are They Now Speaker Series!
Through these interviews, students learn how to create informed questions; identify their interests, skills, and abilities, and interact with adults across a variety of careers, increasing their knowledge of career opportunities and the skills necessary to pursue those careers effectively.
As part of this process, students are encouraged to seek out internships and part-time jobs, increasing their learning opportunities and helping them practice their orientation and mobility skills in new environments.
Here on campus, students also have access to internship opportunities (ex: Globe.Gov Internship), apprenticeships, and career training opportunities (ex: Library Assistant, Assistive Tech Assistant, and Teachers Aide).
Staff Highlight: Mary Catechis
Learn More: Internships on Campus
During our 2023/2024 academic year, three of our high school students completed a six month internship with Globe.gov to improve their website's accessibility. To see and listen to our students describe their work, follow this link (fast forward to minute marker 6:34):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNS1FESD9Oo
At the end of their internship, each student had successfully redesigned and rewritten at least one Globe.gov webpage with significant accessibility concerns. Key to the success of this process was each student's ability to provide context and advice on their recommended updates based personal experiences and their previous work in digital accessibility. As part of our overarching Student Wellness Works program, each student was awarded with a stipend for their work.
Career Resources
Resource: Understanding Expanded Core Curriculum with Paths to Literacy
Career Education
“Career Education focuses on the development of knowledge, the refinement of innate talents, and the promotion of skills needed for success in employment. This includes exploring different careers, internship or job experiences, and informational interviews. It focuses on components of activities and behaviors and skills needed to prepare students for all the roles they will play throughout their lives, including the maintenance of economic independence in adult life." (ECC Essentials, Chapter 11).
Follow this external link to learn more and for the source of this information:
https://www.pathstoliteracy.org/career-education-is-januarys-ecc-focus-challenge/
Social Skills
"The area of social interaction contains components and behaviors that are needed to participate in social situations appropriately and to prevent social isolation. These skills are crucial for progressing in school, being integrated into society, and for finding and maintaining employment." (Foundations of Education: Instructional Strategies, Third Edition, Volume 2 Chapter 22)
Follow this external link to learn more and for the source of this information:
https://www.pathstoliteracy.org/social-skills-is-decembers-ecc-focus-challenge/
Independent Living Skills
"Activities of Daily Living (ADL), sometimes referred to as Independent Living skills. ADL/IL skills include instruction in cooking, eating, dressing, cleaning, personal hygiene, time & money management, organization and other skills needed to meet the demands of everyday life. It is the skills necessary to care for one’s self, family, and home and to live as independently as possible."
Follow this external link to learn more and for the source of this information:
https://www.pathstoliteracy.org/independent-living-skills-is-novembers-ecc-focus-challenge/
Self Determination
“Self-Determination focuses on the skills that enable students to advocate effectively for their own needs and goals. Components that are important within self-determination are: self-knowledge, self-advocacy, empowerment, assertiveness, informed decision making, problem solving and goal setting, self-directed and self-regulated behavior.” Allman, Carol B., et al. ECC Essentials: Teaching the Expanded Core Curriculum to Students with Visual Impairments. APH Press, 2014.
Follow this external link to learn more and for the source of this information:
https://www.pathstoliteracy.org/self-determination-is-octobers-ecc-focus-challenge/
Orientation and Mobility
Orientation & Mobility includes skills related to independent and safe travel for students who are visually impaired. “Orientation is knowing one’s position in relation to other objects, people, and places in one’s surroundings and keeping track of how these positions and relationships change as one moves through the environment. Mobility is the physical act of moving from one place to another (Allman, et al., 2014).”
Follow this external link to learn more and for the source of this information:
https://www.pathstoliteracy.org/ecc-monthly-challenge-introduction/