Living Skills Center for the Visually Impaired

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TRANSITION & PRE-VOCATIONAL: A CHECK LIST FOR THOSE GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL

Transition:

  1. Department of Rehabilitation- meet with rehabilitation counselor for the blind and learn about their services

  2. Supplemental Security Income (SSI)-investigate to determine eligibility, if appropriate

  3. Independent living skills: Visit transition programs such as the Living Skills Center, the Orientation Center, and the California School for the Blind to determine if any of these programs would be a good step while transitioning to college or work

  4.  Transition to College:

  1. Get a copy of LSC “College Success for Persons with Visual Impairments”. Learn the differences between high school and college:

  • Less Braille and large print availability with greater emphasis on tapes, electronic text & human readers

  • More research in many classes

  • Need to advocate for oneself/plan ahead for accessibility (books, tests, etc.)

  • Use of the disabled student services

  • More complicated and changing mobility; limited time with O&M instructor

  1. Learn to use RFB&D and National Library Services

  2. Learn to use a reader-hiring, teaching the reader, scheduling issues

  3. Have a reliable note taking technique –know what information is important; know what to record in class; how to take notes from class recordings, readers and books

  4. Learn how to organize tapes (tone indexing) and notes (hand written/Braille/electronic)

  5. Access as much technology as possible (OCR scanning, electronic note-takers, computers, copy machines for enlarging, etc.)

  6. Practice research techniques in the library and using the computer

  7. For researching purposes, learn to skim materials and teach readers to skim materials

  8. Learn organization techniques-backpack, binders, tapes, papers

  9. Learn to advocate for yourself with the teachers

  10. Learn to network with other classmates

Pre-Vocational:  A high school curriculum might include:

  1. Lifestyle changes associated with work

  2. Reasons for working

  3. Informational telephone interviews

  4. Appropriate work behaviors and attitudes

  5. Job applications

  6. Resumes

  7. Job interviews

  8. Work attire

  9. Communication skills (with other employees, customers, etc.)

  10. Agencies and resources to contact when seeking employment

  11. Skills needed to perform certain jobs (including speed in performing the job)

  12. Exposure to a variety of jobs-(volunteer work; visits to places of employment; visually impaired role models)

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