Vocational Rehabilitation Training Seminars

Enabling Professionals To Empower Blind And Visually Impaired Consumers

Training Opportunities

The National Federation of the Blind offers customized, high-quality instruction to maximize consumer empowerment and provide successful outcomes.

This is done through the vocational rehabilitation (VR) process in both state and private VR agencies throughout the country.

These courses focus on:

  • teaching emotional adjustment to blindness or visual impairment
  • self-confidence
  • acquisition of competent alternative blindness skills
  • strategies for enhancing employment prospects
  • policies and procedures in the VR field

Experience: Facilitated by dynamic and experienced leaders in the blindness community, these seminars/courses include both practical training and academic instruction.

Flexibility: There is plenty of opportunity to shape the training so that it meets the unique needs of interested agencies. Brief one-time sessions or extended instruction over a period of time can be offered; the depth and intensity of the content presented are up to you. Follow-up training through teleconferencing or in-person presentations can be provided.

Training Objectives

Generally these courses will focus on:

  • Defining the elements of a progressive, effective VR program serving blind and visually impaired consumers
  • Discussion of the concepts of independence and high expectations
  • Discussion and evaluation of the current purposes of VR programs for blind and visually impaired consumers
  • A review of the structured-discovery method for adult learners
  • Hands-on, nonvisual skills-of-blindness instruction
  • Overview of the historic role of VR services for blind and visually impaired consumers, along with review of policies that should exist in rehabilitation programs
  • Familiarization with consumer-oriented aspects of VR policy and procedures, e.g., principles of informed choice, partnering in the IPE process and vocational goal-setting, and cultivation of advocacy skills and the tools of self-empowerment
  • Transition program issues
  • The relationship between effective VR services and consumer mentoring
  • Adaptive technology issues

Training Methods

These training seminars will be presented using a variety of teaching approaches, including:

  • Dialogue
  • Multi-media audio/visual presentations
  • Lectures
  • Seminar discussions
  • One-on-one blindness-skills instruction
  • Role playing
  • Short writing or speaking assignments

Potential Training Targets

Individually tailored classes to meet specific agency needs can be provided for:

  • Residential rehabilitation programs
  • Vocational rehabilitation counselors
  • Vocational rehabilitation administrators
  • Private VR and social service agencies catering to blind and visually impaired consumers

For Further Information

Interested agencies may contact the national Federation of the Blind for additional detail about course content and to negotiate terms for an individually prepared training package and proposal. Professional charges will be determined case by case.

Contact Information

Joanne Wilson

Executive Director of Affiliate Action

1800 Johnson Street

Baltimore, Maryland 21230

(410) 659-9314 Ext. 2335

(410) 659-6893 fax