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"Views"
Program Report
by Eva Johnson, Public Service Executive I, RCBVI |
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Accessible
PDF You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print this document. If you do not have Acrobat Reader, you can get it free at Adobe. T H VIEWS (The Visually Impaired Experience Work Success) E KSBVI held its first program designed specifically for blind or visually impaired transition age youth focusing on employment from June 11-19, 2004. This one-week crash course in teenagers becoming better prepared to enter the world of work is a partnership between Kansas School for the Blind (KSB) and KSBVI. KSB has been offering its Summer Employment Program for transition aged youth in their home communities for the past seven years. This successful summer work program was missing an important skills training component so a partnership with KSBVI was forged. This one week program referred to as VIEWS stands for Visually Impaired Experiencing Work Success which, of course, is the ultimate goal. The resources and expertise available through KSBVI and the RCBVI was directed at a combination of confidence building experiences, team building projects and specific work related training, along with recreational and social events for a fast-paced, energetic and challenging week. To challenge one's beliefs and perhaps self-limiting behaviors, the 14 youth and several staff from both KSB and KSBVI walked a precarious path upon a suspended wire, 30 feet off the ground and then took a breathtaking ride down a zip line to the ground. There was never a possibility of falling due to a harness and ballast system as well as the supervision of instructors who guided use every step of the way. We must realize that although we are blind or low vision, there are so many different things we can do if we don't limit ourselves. The students also divided into three teams to each write and present a skit on the VIEWS experience. The effort of the students working together resulted in three very entertaining productions. SRS Personnel staff spent many hours teaching the students about the art of self presentation, interviewing skills and all aspects of marketing their skills. Personality assessments were completed and new insights were obtained. The students learned that they were not the only kid in the world who has difficulty seeing, which was an encouraging revelation. The VIEWS students also had a dance, sang together, went shopping together and thought about their futures together. Upon leaving the program each youth returned to their home community to enter a job that was developed for them based on their individual interests and skills. Some of these kids will finish high school next year, some have already graduated and are planning to attend college and others will return to the RCBVI for additional skills training specific to the blind. To be able to work with teens who are getting ready to begin their adult life is one of the most exciting things our staff has had the privilege to be involved in. We know that the VIEWS Program was a huge success and we look forward to next year's VIEWS students. It is exciting to work with teens and help them to achieve their hopes and dreams and to instill in them the knowledge that they too can be a vital part of society and work alongside everyone else. |
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