This site provides a good overview on the effect of visual impairments on learning, types of assistive technology, and the kinds of accommodations provided at colleges. Includes a list of scholarships and grants.
Source: Affordable Colleges Online
Paths to Transition Resources
The resources in this section are designed to offer support to families, teachers, and other service providers working with transition-age youth who are blind or visually impaired.
This 185-page guide addresses the importance of self-determination, student involvement in the transition process, instruction and assessment, and much more (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).
Source: Council for Exceptional ChildrenPreparing for Transition Using an Activity-Based Self-Determination Curriculum
Denise Fitzgerald
Jeff Migliozzi
Perkins School for the Blind
Many Thanks to the TSBVI and the authors of the Empowerment Curriculum.
Goal 9 - National Agenda: Transition services will address developmental and educational needs (birth through high school) to assist students and their families, in setting goals and implementing strategies through the life continuum commensurate with the student’s aptitudes, interests, and abilities.
Expanded Core Curriculum: “New” area of the Expanded Core Curriculum emphasizes Self-Determination
What is Self-Determination?
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Ward (1988) defines self-determination as attitudes that lead people to define goals for themselves and their ability to achieve those goals.
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Field and Hoffman (1994) define self-determination as the ability to define and achieve goals based on a foundation of knowing and valuing oneself.
Why is Self-Determination Important?
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Wehmeyer and Schwartz (1997) found that self-determined students were more likely to have achieved positive adult outcomes than peers who were not self-determined.
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Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that students’ Individual Education Plan (IEP) activities must be based upon student preferences and interests.
Are Self-Determination and Quality of Life Related?
A common goal we all share for our students with visual impairments is for them to lead the highest possible quality of life. In order to achieve that goal, we must equip them with the self-determination knowledge and skills they need to be empowered to achieve their chosen goals.
People who are self-determined make or cause things to happen in their lives
Quality of Life Indicators
- Emotional well-being
- Satisfying interpersonal relationships
- Material well-being
- Personal development
- Physical well-being
- Self-determination
- Meaningful work
- Social inclusion
- Peer group with lasting friendships
- Knowledge of rights
Also Essential Are:
- An understanding of one’s strengths and limitations
- Belief in oneself as capable and effective
- The ability to take control of one’s life
(Field et al, 1998)
This includes:
Control over day to day decisions
- What to wear
- What to eat
- What activities to participate it
- How to spend your spare time
- How to go about getting your needs met while respecting the rights, values and beliefs of others
Control over the long-term decisions
- Where to live
- Who to live with
- Where to work
- How to spend your money
- What to do in your spare time
Recognize a Continuum of Supports...
“Individuals with significant cognitive disabilities must choose, to the extent that they are able (with support) the trusted allies with whom to collaborate.” - Turnbull & Turnbull
Conceptual Framework of Self-Advocacy (Test, el al. 2005)
- Knowledge of self - interests, preferences, strengths, needs, learning style, disability
- Knowledge of rights - as a citizen, as a person with a disability (IDEIA)
- Communication - negotiation, persuasion, compromise
- Leadership - how to function in a group, understanding one’s role, standing up for the rights of a group
Here's the Problem!
- Self-esteem issues
- Apparent lack of initiative
- Skill deficits in self-advocacy
- Passive and passive-aggressive communication behaviors
- Unrealistic goals of our students
- Unchallenged goals
- Learned helplessness
- Intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation
- Difficulties with adjustment to disability, especially in teenagers
- How student’s are perceived by others
Recognizing Cultural Differences
“Planning must respect and honor family cultural values including values pertaining to parental authority over child choice…..” - Turnbull & Turnbull
Developing a Shared Vision for the Future
- The student, to the best of their ability will take an active role in planning for their transition.
- The student will be allowed to take risks and to experience failures.
Think About This....
- Do people with disabilities have fewer opportunities to practice skills that lead to self-determination?
- Do people with multiple impairments need additional experiential activities, over time, to support the development of Self- Determination Skills?
- Do people with disabilities feel they have less personal control in their lives than others do?
- Are self-determination skills linked with the low percentage of people with visual impairment who acquire and maintain employment?
Desired Outcomes of Self-Determination Instruction
- To equip our students with the knowledge and skills they need to be empowered to achieve their chosen goals
- To provide students with the tools to make mid-course corrections as they move toward their goals
- To give students many opportunities to practice these skills
Research Says:
- Most students are not receiving instruction in these skills - (Mason, Field, Sawilowsky; 2004)
- There is an absence of Self-Advocacy goals in transition plans - (Wehmeyer, Schwartz; 1998)
Who Needs Explicit Instruction in Self-Determination?
- All students at all functioning levels
- Teach and re-teach from pre-school to high school
- Incorporate into daily activities
- Start early with choice making and experiential activities
Activity-Based Curriculum was Designed for Blind / VI Students
- Hands-on activities
- Promote team Building
- Promote trust development
- Comic relief/fun encouraged
- Carryover from unit to unit
Sample Activity from Unit 1
- All My Friends Game
- To find out the likes and dislikes of the participants
Sample Activity from Unit 6
- Things I Can Do To Take Care of Myself
- To help students understand that part of self-management is knowing how to take care of yourself
Sample Activity from Unit 16
- Importance of the steps in an Action Plan
- To emphasize the importance of steps in an Action Plan, and help students understand the importance of not leaving steps out
Implementation Ideas
- Create “All about Me” books that grow and travel with the student
- Implement a “skill of the week” program
- Infuse instruction into daily activities
- Implement specific training modules
- Think outside the box
Using the Curriculum: Where and How?
- At home and in the community
- Resource/content mastery rooms
- One-on-one with the TVI
- General education classrooms
- Summer programs
- Week-end programs
- Evening programs
- Meeting only once a month will not provide sufficient continuity
- Having training once a week is effective
- Having an intensive 1-2 week program would be ideal
And Finally, When Self Determined...
People experience a sense of freedom to do what is interesting, personal important and vitalizing. - (Deci & Ryan, professors in Dep. of Clinical & Social Sciences at University of Rochester)
Organization of the units in Empowered
- General information
- Introduction to students
- Unit Objectives
- Key Words
- Materials (worksheets included at end of unit)
- Activities
- Empowerment cheer
- Core activities
- One thing I learned today
Unit 1 Getting to Know Each Other - Sample Activities
- Empowerment Cheer
- All My Friends game
- What I Like Best activity
- All About Me Questionnaire
Unit 2 Self Awareness
Sample Activities
- Compound Word Game
- Multiple Intelligences Survey
- Who Am I Questionnaire
Unit 3 Identifying Strengths and Challenges
Sample Activities
- Strengths and Challenges Worksheet
- Toot Your Own Horn
- Coping or Compensatory Strategies Raffle
Unit 4 Self Acceptance, Coping and Compensatory Strategies
Sample Activities
- How I See Myself worksheet
- Self-Acceptance worksheet
- Burning Bowl activity
Unit 5 Self-Management: Stress Management
Sample Activities
- Stress Monitor - Balloon Activity
- Stress-O-Meter
- One Thing I Learned Today (Take a Deep Breath)
Unit 6 Self-Management: Self Assessment Process
Sample Activities
- Checking-in (role play)
- Anti Brain Drain
- Things I Can Do To Take Care of Myself
Unit 7 Personal Control
Sample Activities
- Looking at My Many Roles
- Do you Have Control? (Personal Control Scale)
- Enhancing Personal Control
- Ways to Gain Control
Unit 8 Basics of Communication
Sample Activities
- Active Listening
- Describe It, Guess It (listening for detail)
Unit 9 Passive, Aggressive, Passive/Aggressive and Assertive Communication
Sample Activities
- Identifying Communication Styles (role play)
- Assertive Communication
- I vs. You Statements
- One Thing I Learned Today (Pass the Pat)
Unit 10 Personal Advocacy
Sample Activities
- How Do You Get What You Want?
- Ways to Be a Good Advocate - worksheet
- Thumbs-up, thumbs-down (role-play getting needs and wants met)
- Four Basic Steps to Self Advocacy
Unit 11 Decision Making
Sample Activities
- Identifying the Differences
- Using the Decision Making Process
- Decision Making Bowl
Unit 12 Values
Sample Activities
- Values Collage
- My Values worksheet
- Everybody Who Shares game
Unit 13 Dreaming About Your Future
Sample Activities
- Pulls
- Dream, dream, dream
- Roadblocks
Unit 14 Setting Long-Term Goals
Sample Activities
- Turning a Dream into a Goal
- Building Blocks for Success
- Considering the Options for Long-Term Goals
- One Thing I Learned Today (Hula Hoop)
Unit 15 Setting Short-Term Objectives
Sample Activities
- Stairway to Success
- Creating Short-Term Objectives
Unit 16 Making Action Plans
Sample Activities
- Movin’ Forward
- Importance of Steps in an Action Plan (s’mores)
- Action Plan Guideline
Unit 17 Problem Solving
Sample Activities
- Is It a Problem??
- Sticky Wicket
- Letting Go
- Problem Solving Strategies
Unit 18 Problem Solving II - Goal Assessment and Revision
Sample Activities
- ABC order
- Triggers/Trigger Happy
- Hold the Line
Unit 19 Conflict Resolution
Sample Activities
- Steps in Conflict Resolution
- Thinking Blockers and Unlockers
- Station to Station
- One Thing I Learned Today (Tug of War)
Unit 20 Rights and Responsibilities
Sample Activities
- I Know My Rights
- Identifying Rights and Associated Responsibilities
- Personal Bill of Rights
Unit 21 Knowledge of Resources
Sample Activities
- Matching a goal to the resources
- Do’s and Don’ts of asking for help
Unit 22 Advocacy within Systems
Sample Activities
- Chain of Command
- Phone-a-thon
- Knotty Problem
Unit 23 Where the Rubber Meets the Road
Sample Activities
- Treasure Box
- Don’t Weave Home Without It
- Who Ya Gonna Call? (resource book)
Units of Empowered
- Introduction and Orientation
- Unit 1 - Getting to know each other (likes and dislikes)
- Unit 2 - Self-Awareness
- Unit 3 - Identifying Strengths and Challenges
- Unit 4 - Self-Acceptance, Coping and Compensatory Strategies
- Unit 5 - Self-Management: Stress Management
- Unit 6 - Self-Management: Self-Assessment Process
- Unit 7 - Personal Control
- Unit 8 - Basics of Communication, Including Active Listening
- Unit 9 - Passive, Aggressive and Assertive Communication
- Unit 10 - Personal Advocacy
- Unit 11 - Decision Making Process
- Unit 12 - Personal Values, Shared Values and Respecting Others’ Values
- Unit 13 - Dreaming about the Future
- Unit 14 - Setting Long-Term Goals
- Unit 15 - Setting Short-Term Goals (objectives)
- Unit 16 - Making Action Plans
- Unit 17 - Problem Solving
- Unit 18 - Problem Solving II
- Unit 19 - Conflict Resolution/Negotiation
- Unit 20 - Rights and Responsibilities
- Unit 21 - Knowledge of Resources
- Unit 22 - Advocacy within Systems
- Unit 23 - Where the Rubber meets the Road
This article suggests bringing a buddy to an IEP meeting, and also lists strategies for parents to try if it appears that the meeting will be stressful; also available in Spanish.
Source: Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI)The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) offers resources on advocacy for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Resources are organized into the following categories:
- Technology
- Employment and Rehabilitation
- Education
- Civil Rights
- Health
- Policy Research
Identifies various types of transition assessment, guidelines for conducting an assessment, and criteria for selection of assessment tools.
Source: National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center (NSTTAC)This document helps parents prepare their children for legal majority. It explains guardianship, the transfer of rights, and considerations about graduation.
Source: National Center on Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET)
The Advocacy and Governmental Affairs staff of ACB (the American Council of the Blind) advocate on a wide variety of issues for people who are blind and visually impaired. Efforts are focused on issues related to accessibility and health care, with information on legislative action, policy and more.
For more information, see: https://acb.org/content/advocacy
APH has recently released a new math app!
The ARC of Massachusetts has a comprehensive webpage on Advocacy and Self-Advocacy: http://thearcofmass.org/resources/advocacy/. While a number of the resources are specific to Massachusetts, much of the information is applicable to residents of other states as well. The site includes a wide range of resources, such as:
- Center for Public Representation (CPR)
- Disability Info
- Disability Law Center
- The Disabled Persons Protection Commission (DPPC)
- Governor’s Commission on Intellectual Disability
- Massachusetts Advocates for Children
- Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong (MASS)
- Massachusetts Aging and Disabilities Information Locator
- The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination
- Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC)
- Massachusetts Families Organizing for Change (MFOFC)
- Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
- The Massachusetts Office on Disability (MOD)
- Medicaid Reference Desk
- New England ADA & Accessible IT Center
ADDP's mission is to promote and ensure the strength of the community-based provider community and its members so that our members can be successful in improving the quality, access and value of community based services. To that end, the ADDP is committed to enhancing the political, financial and professional/educational health of member organizations that care for people with disabilities, including developmental disabilities and acquired brain injuries, and their families.
For more information see: http://addp.org/
Boston Center for Independent Living (BCIL) is "a frontline civil rights organization led by people with disabilities that advocates to eliminate discrimination, isolation and segregation by providing advocacy, information and referral, peer support, skills training, and PCA services in order to enhance the independence of people with disabilities."
Career Readiness Assessments Across States: A Summary of Survey Findings by Jennifer McMurrer, Matthew Frizzell and Shelby McIntosh (2013) is a summary report describing how states are defining career readiness and which assessments states and districts are using to measure this attribute. The report is based on a survey administered in the summer of 2013 to state directors of career and technical education (CTE) or their designees about career readiness assessments. A total of 46 states completed the survey, counting the District of Columbia. Also available on this site are four related papers containing additional details on the main topics covered in the summary report, including the responses of specific states, and profiles of major career and technical assessments.
An overview of the elements of community-based rehabilitation; in English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese.
Source: World Health Organization (WHO)An overview of the elements of community-based rehabilitation; in English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese.
Source: World Health Organization (WHO)A helpful checklist of features to consider when searching for a living situation for an elder with visual impairment. Includes environmental, staff, and policy issues.
Source: VisionAwareCOFAR, Inc. is a statewide nonprofit organization in Massachusetts established in 1983 to advocate on behalf persons with intellectual and other developmental disabilities, such as autism, and on behalf of their families and guardians.
For more information see: http://cofar.org/
The mission of EYE Retreat is to provide an opportunity for youth with visual impairments to experience a glimpse of post secondary outcomes (employment, college, etc.) through development of mentoring relationships, real world applications, and identification of available resources.
The 2016 EYE Retreat will be held July 23 to July 30 in Raleigh, NC. It is designed to teach students all the college success skills they will need. In 2015, they hosted 51 students from 2 countries and 8 states. Their mission is to provide a mock college experience for students with visual impairments to prepare them for higher education through peer mentoring and real world skills. Go to http://goo.gl/forms/cLXiIYc0Km to apply. Slots are limited.
For more information, see: http://www.eyeretreat.org/
A discussion of community-based rehabilitation, a description of projects in Uganda, and recommendations that are applicable to projects in other locations. Also available in PDF.
Source: Community Eye Health JournalThe necessity of understanding and integrating local culture into community-based rehabilitation programs. Also available in PDF.
Source: Community Eye Health Journal