[Job-Listings] Seeking: Blind Mentors for 2022 LIFE Program Virginia

[David Andrews]

>
>Seeking: Blind Mentors for 2022 LIFE Program
>
>
>
>Are you ready to be an agent of change with 
>blind and vision impaired youth of Virginia?
>
>Â
>
>The Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind 
>and Vision Impaired (VRCBVI) is seeking blind 
>college students or young professionals to be 
>peer mentors for our 2022 Learning Independence, 
>Feeling Empowered (LIFE) Program.  LIFE is a 
>five-week residential summer program for high 
>school-aged blind and vision impaired youth who 
>want to learn and build confidence in the skills 
>of blindness. Students of the LIFE program 
>participate in daily classes, which include cane 
>travel, Braille, cooking skills, cleaning, 
>access technology, computer skills, and job 
>readiness. During the last three weeks of the 
>program, the students will have the opportunity 
>to participate in a community based three-week 
>work experience.  In addition to classes and 
>the work experience, the students participate in 
>evening and weekend confidence building 
>activities in which the mentors work closely 
>with the students. As mentor, you and your 
>students will challenge yourselves and the 
>misconceptions of blindness by participating in 
>events like rock climbing, white water rafting, 
>improv, swimming, and much more!
>
>If you are enthusiastic about giving back to the 
>next generation of blind and vision impaired 
>youth and you want to have fun while working, 
>then being a mentor in the 2022 LIFE Program is 
>the place for you.  Mentors must be available 
>June 12 through August 12, 2022. The 2022 LIFE 
>Program will take place on the campus of VRCBVI in Richmond, Virginia.
>
>Â
>
>Please note mentors will be hired for the 
>in-person 2022 LIFE program, only. If VRCBVI is 
>required to offer a virtual program, mentors will be notified immediately.
>
>Â
>
>Please see below for the Job Description for further details.
>
>Â
>
>Mentoring candidates will:
>
>·         Possess excellent blindness 
>skills, specifically the ability to travel 
>independently using a long white cane or dog 
>guide while communicating with and monitoring a 
>group of high school age students
>
>·         Be available from June 12, 
>2022 to August 12, 2022. (Mentors will have the week of July 3 off)
>
>·         Be able to work 40 hours a 
>week, including evenings and weekends
>
>·         Be able to communicate 
>effectively with co-workers and supervisor
>
>·         Possess maturity, patience, 
>and the ability to work as part of a team
>
>·         Be able to maintain professional boundaries
>
>·         Enjoy teaching and have an enthusiastic sense of adventure
>
>·         Reside in the dorm apartments on the VRCBVI campus
>
>·         Pass a background check
>
>Â
>
>Rate of pay: $15.00 an hour plus room and board at VRCBVI.
>
>Â
>
>To learn more or to apply, please contact Amy 
>Phelps by email at 
><mailto:amy.phelps at dbvi.virginia.gov>amy.phelps at dbvi.virginia.gov 
>or by phone at (804) 371-3052.Â
>
>Â
>
>To apply please email the following to 
><mailto:amy.phelps at dbvi.virginia.gov>amy.phelps at dbvi.virginia.gov:
>    * 1. Â  A copy of your Commonwealth of 
> Virginia Application for Employment by going 
> to 
> <https://virginiajobs.peopleadmin.com/user/new>https://virginiajobs.peopleadmin.com/user/new 
> to login or create an account, then proceed to 
> “<https://virginiajobs.peopleadmin.com/postings/9275>Click 
> here  
> https://virginiajobs.peopleadmin.com/postings/9275Â 
> Â Â to create and save your application but not 
> apply to a job.”  After completing your 
> application, go to print view where you can 
> email the application or send a hard copy
>    * Cover Letter
>
>3.    Resume
>
>4.    Three professional references (provide 
>name and best phone number to contact)
>
>5.    500 word essay explaining why you 
>would be the best candidate for the position and 
>the role mentoring has played in your success
>
>Â
>
>All applications must be completed and received by April 1, 2022.
>
>Â
>
>PEER MENTOR JOB DESCRIPTION
>
>Â
>
>KSAs and/or Competencies required to successfully perform the work:
>
>-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Knowledge of and demonstrated 
>proficiency in blindness skills used in 
>academic, social and employment settings.
>
>-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Knowledge of basic acceptable behavior as it relates to youths.
>
>-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ability to secure the confidence, 
>respect, and cooperation of youths and exercise 
>tact, initiative, and good judgment in dealing with them.
>
>-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ability to perceive, observe, and 
>address problems as they arise.
>
>-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ability to participate in and 
>provide guidance to students in planned confidence-building activities.Â
>
>-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ability to show a high level of 
>initiative, effort, attention to detail and 
>commitment by completing assignments efficiently with minimal supervision.
>
>-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ability to use Microsoft Office 
>Suite including Microsoft Word, Internet 
>Explorer, Excel, and PowerPoint proficiently
>
>-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ability to communicate 
>effectively in both oral and in written format
>
>Â
>
>Education, Experience, Licensure, Certification 
>required for entry into position:
>
>-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Prefer applicant with a college 
>degree; currently enrolled in college and in 
>good standing or equivalent combination of training and experience.
>
>Â
>
>Core Responsibilities:
>
>85% Mentoring/Instruction:
>
>-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Applies knowledge of program 
>rules and practices and blindness skills while 
>providing instruction to students and modeling 
>blindness skills and problem solving skills as 
>related to independent living and academic success.
>
>-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Fosters independence by providing 
>supportive encouragement (mentoring) and 
>instruction in self-advocacy to youths in a 
>one-on-one or small group situation and gives 
>instruction, advice, and assistance.
>
>-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Plans and leads evening and 
>weekend confidence-building activities; 
>exercises situational judgment and discretion 
>while providing supervision during group trips and social functions.
>
>-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Confers with supervisor, case 
>manager, or instructional staff regarding 
>special problems; attends staff meetings.
>
>-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Plans, implements, and leads 
>group activities such as Conversations About 
>Blindness classes to teach advocacy skills and problem solving.
>
>-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Collects, records, and reports 
>student data; maintains logbooks via computer 
>and prepares incident reports and/or related institutional forms.
>
>-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Participates in and provides 
>instruction during selected aspects of the LIFE 
>Programs, including confidence-building 
>activities, ACE Academy, Mock Interviews, 
>Conversations About Blindness, and other aspects of program as assigned.
>
>-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Provides guidance and direction 
>to blind transition age students.
>
>-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Provides initial on-the-job 
>guidance for students in their community-based work experience.
>
>-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Substitute teaches as needed.
>
>Â
>
>10% Evaluation:Â
>
>-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Informally evaluates students on 
>their preparedness for living independently, 
>employment readiness, and academic success 
>through observations during class time and during evening activities.
>
>-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Communicates findings and 
>recommendations both orally and in written 
>format, as they relate to students’ goals.
>
>Â
>
>5% Communication:Â
>
>-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Reports to supervisor and center 
>counselor observations regarding students 
>existing skills, present needs, and any 
>instructional recommendations and strategies.
>
>-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Provides accurate written 
>documentation such as journal entries, final reports, incident reports, etc.Â
>
>-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Participates in all assigned 
>student staffing’s to discuss observations and 
>recommendations for promoting independence, 
>academic skills and employment-readiness activities.
>
>--
>
>Sincerely,Â
>
>
>Amy C. Phelps, CRC, NOMC
>
>Assistant Director for Instruction, Virginia 
>Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision 
>Impaired, Virginia Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired
>
>401 Azalea Avenue, Richmond, VAÂ  23227
>
><mailto:amy.phelps at dbvi.virginia.gov>amy.phelps at dbvi.virginia.gov
>
>Phone: (804) 371-3052 | Fax: (804) 371-3092
>
>Facebook:Â <https://www.facebook.com/VDBVI>facebook.org/VDBVI
>
>LinkedIn:Â 
><https://www.linkedin.com/company/virginia-department-for-the-blind-and-vision-impaired>linkedin.com/VDBVI
>
><http://www.vrcbvi.org/>www.vrcbvi.orgÂ
>image.png
>
>
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>
>
>Commonwealth of Virginia
>Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired
>Established 1922
>“Celebrating our past and empowering our future”
><http://www.vdbvi.org/>www.vdbvi.orgÂ
>
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