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<div align="center"><b>Seeking: Blind Mentors for 2022 LIFE Program<br>
</b></div>
<br>
<div align="center"><b> <br>
</b></div>
<br>
Are you ready to be an agent of change with blind and vision impaired
youth of Virginia?<br><br>
<br><br>
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!<br><br>
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.<br><br>
<br><br>
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.<br><br>
<br><br>
Please see below for the Job Description for further details.<br><br>
<br><br>
<b>Mentoring candidates will:<br>
</b><br>
· 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<br><br>
· Be available from June 12, 2022 to August 12, 2022.
(Mentors will have the week of July 3 off)<br><br>
· Be able to work 40 hours a week, including evenings
and weekends<br><br>
· Be able to communicate effectively with co-workers
and supervisor<br><br>
· Possess maturity, patience, and the ability to work
as part of a team<br><br>
· Be able to maintain professional boundaries<br><br>
· Enjoy teaching and have an enthusiastic sense of
adventure<br><br>
· Reside in the dorm apartments on the VRCBVI
campus<br><br>
· Pass a background check<br><br>
<br><br>
Rate of pay: $15.00 an hour plus room and board at VRCBVI.<br><br>
<br><br>
To learn more or to apply, please contact Amy Phelps by email at
<a href="mailto:amy.phelps@dbvi.virginia.gov">
amy.phelps@dbvi.virginia.gov</a> or by phone at (804) 371-3052.
<br><br>
<br><br>
To apply please email the following to
<a href="mailto:amy.phelps@dbvi.virginia.gov">
amy.phelps@dbvi.virginia.gov</a>:
<ul>
<li>1. A copy of your Commonwealth of Virginia Application for
Employment by going to
<a href="https://virginiajobs.peopleadmin.com/user/new">
https://virginiajobs.peopleadmin.com/user/new</a> to login or create an
account, then proceed to
“<a href="https://virginiajobs.peopleadmin.com/postings/9275">Click
here</a>
<a href="https://virginiajobs.peopleadmin.com/postings/9275%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0to" eudora="autourl">
https://virginiajobs.peopleadmin.com/postings/9275 to</a> 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
<li>Cover Letter
</ol><br>
3. Resume<br><br>
4. Three professional references (provide name and best phone
number to contact)<br><br>
5. 500 word essay explaining why you would be the best candidate
for the position and the role mentoring has played in your
success<br><br>
<b> <br>
</b><br>
<b>All applications must be completed and received by April 1, 2022.<br>
</b><br>
<div align="center"> <br>
</div>
<br>
<div align="center">PEER MENTOR JOB DESCRIPTION<br>
</div>
<br>
<br><br>
<b>KSAs and/or Competencies required to successfully perform the
work:<br>
</b><br>
- Knowledge of and demonstrated proficiency in blindness
skills used in academic, social and employment settings.<br><br>
- Knowledge of basic acceptable behavior as it relates to
youths.<br><br>
- Ability to secure the confidence, respect, and cooperation
of youths and exercise tact, initiative, and good judgment in dealing
with them.<br><br>
- Ability to perceive, observe, and address problems as they
arise.<br><br>
- Ability to participate in and provide guidance to students
in planned confidence-building activities. <br><br>
- Ability to show a high level of initiative, effort,
attention to detail and commitment by completing assignments efficiently
with minimal supervision.<br><br>
- Ability to use Microsoft Office Suite including Microsoft
Word, Internet Explorer, Excel, and PowerPoint proficiently<br><br>
- Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and in
written format<br><br>
<b> <br>
</b><br>
<b>Education, Experience, Licensure, Certification required for entry
into position:<br>
</b><br>
- Prefer applicant with a college degree; currently enrolled
in college and in good standing or equivalent combination of training and
experience.<br><br>
<br><br>
<b>Core Responsibilities:<br>
</b><br>
<b>85% Mentoring/Instruction:<br>
</b><br>
- 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.<br><br>
- 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.<br><br>
- Plans and leads evening and weekend confidence-building
activities; exercises situational judgment and discretion while providing
supervision during group trips and social functions.<br><br>
- Confers with supervisor, case manager, or instructional
staff regarding special problems; attends staff meetings.<br><br>
- Plans, implements, and leads group activities such as
Conversations About Blindness classes to teach advocacy skills and
problem solving.<br><br>
- Collects, records, and reports student data; maintains
logbooks via computer and prepares incident reports and/or related
institutional forms.<br><br>
- 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.<br><br>
- Provides guidance and direction to blind transition age
students.<br><br>
- Provides initial on-the-job guidance for students in their
community-based work experience.<br><br>
- Substitute teaches as needed.<br><br>
<b> <br>
</b><br>
<b>10% Evaluation:</b> <br><br>
- Informally evaluates students on their preparedness for
living independently, employment readiness, and academic success through
observations during class time and during evening activities.<br><br>
- Communicates findings and recommendations both orally and
in written format, as they relate to students’ goals.<br><br>
<br><br>
<b>5% Communication</b>: <br><br>
- Reports to supervisor and center counselor observations
regarding students existing skills, present needs, and any instructional
recommendations and strategies.<br><br>
- Provides accurate written documentation such as journal
entries, final reports, incident reports, etc. <br><br>
- Participates in all assigned student staffing’s to
discuss observations and recommendations for promoting independence,
academic skills and employment-readiness activities.<br><br>
-- <br><br>
<font face="arial" size=4>Sincerely, <br>
</font><br>
<font face="arial" size=4><br>
Amy C. Phelps, CRC, NOMC<br>
</font><br>
<font face="arial" size=4>Assistant Director for Instruction, Virginia
Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired, Virginia
Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired<br>
</font><br>
<font face="arial" size=4>401 Azalea Avenue, Richmond, VA
23227<br>
</font><br>
<font face="arial" size=4><a href="mailto:amy.phelps@dbvi.virginia.gov">
amy.phelps@dbvi.virginia.gov</a><br>
</font><br>
<font face="arial" size=4>Phone: (804) 371-3052 | Fax: (804)
371-3092<br>
</font><br>
<font face="arial" size=4>Facebook:
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/VDBVI">facebook.org/VDBVI</a><br>
</font><br>
<font face="arial" size=4>LinkedIn:
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/virginia-department-for-the-blind-and-vision-impaired">
linkedin.com/VDBVI</a><br>
</font><br>
<font face="arial" size=4><a href="http://www.vrcbvi.org/">
www.vrcbvi.org</a> <br>
</font>
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20220216211349.06626990@comcast.net.1" width=348 height=256 alt="image.png">
<br><br>
<b><u>NOTICE:</u> </b>This email (including any attachments) may include
confidential information. It is intended solely for the individuals or
entities to which it is addressed. If you have received this email in
error, distribution or use of it is prohibited. Please notify the sender
and permanently delete it from your email system. Also, given the nature
of electronic mail and its potential to carry computer viruses, the
Department of the Blind and Vision Impaired and the sender in no way
warrant a virus free transmission. You and your organization should use
appropriate means to check this email and any attachments for potential
viruses and to prevent their execution.<br><br>
<br>
Commonwealth of Virginia<br>
Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired <br>
Established 1922<br>
“Celebrating our past and empowering our future”<br>
<a href="http://www.vdbvi.org/">www.vdbvi.org </a><br><br>
<b><u>Notice:</u></b> This email is for the exclusive use of the
intended recipient(s) and may contain privileged and confidential
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its potential to carry computer viruses, the Department of the Blind and
Vision Impaired and the sender in no way warrant a virus free
transmission. You and your organization should use appropriate means to
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