[Cabs-talk] FW: [Nabs-presidents] Transition Planning Resource

[Angela Fowler]

FYI

-----Original Message-----
From: Nabs-presidents [mailto:nabs-presidents-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Alan A. Chase
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2013 1:51 PM
To: nabs-presidents at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Nabs-presidents] Transition Planning Resource

All,

On behalf of North Carolina, I wanted to share this resource with you.
Please distribute to your members, divisions, and chapters!


The Envisioning Youth Empowerment Retreat (EYE Retreat) is sponsored
annually by The Governor Morehead School Alumni Association on the campus of
The Governor Morehead School for the Blind and North Carolina State
University.  It began in 2009 with the goal of helping to teach transition
skills through advocacy and leadership development to blind and visually
impaired students.  15 participants attended in 2009, 32 attended in 2010,
24 were present in 2011, and 29 participated in 2012.  Participants have
came from Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, California,
Connecticut, Georgia, and all over North Carolina.



The EYE Retreat is unique in that it was developed and is operated by
individuals who are visually impaired.  Each year six to eight group leaders
are selected to serve as mentors for the incoming participants.
Only 30 slots are available for participants and we have already filled
about one third of those slots.



Participants typically arrive on Monday to unpack, meet their group leaders,
and participate in icebreakers.  Tuesday begins four days of activities
designed to expose participants to post secondary options and related
skills.  For example, in 2011 and 2012, participants engaged in a mock
course at NC State University to simulate how to prepare for a college
course and how to interact with a professor.  Also, in 2011 and 2012,
participants were able to meet and interact with blind businessmen to learn
about creating, maintaining, and growing a business.  Besides those skills,
participants also learned how to ride the city buses, use assistive
technology, and access resources to help while on a college campus.  But,
most importantly, they learned social interaction skills and built lasting
friendships with other blind youth.



Program evaluations from the last two years indicate that the EYE Retreat is
meeting or exceeding its intended goals.  For instance, in summary, on the
2011 pre-assessment 13 individuals indicated they did not know the skills to
be successful in higher education or starting their own business.
On the post assessment, these responses improved to seven saying they still
could not start their own business and two indicating they still could not
be successful in higher education.  Additionally, participants noted
comments expressing how they learned the most from traveling to NC State
University, the assistive technology demonstrations, and field trips.
Finally, participants have indicated a desire for the program to grow to
either accept more participants or provide multiple weeklong sessions.

The EYE Retreat is based on research that describues what skills and
activities are needed in order to be most successful in post secondary
setting transition.  Please visit our webiste at
www.eyeretreat.edublogs.comfor more on our curriculum and to register!


--
*Alan A. Chase, M.Ed.*
Occupational Course of Study Teacher, New Hanover County Schools Program
Coordinator, Envisioning Youth Empowerment Retreat President, North Carolina
Association of Blind Students Secretary, Governor Morehead School Alumni
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