[nabs-l] STEP Program offered by Junior Blind of America

[Hannah Chadwick]

Hi all,
So I just wanted to clarify since I've been to the STEP programs at Junior
Blind of America. There is STEP 1 and STEP 2, and they are both summer
programs that focus on helping young adults with job interviewing skills,
career research, and during STEP 2, the students are placed on a work site.
They are expected to travel to and from work using public transportation.
STEP 1 is 3 weeks and provides students with various info on the topics
mentioned above. STEP 2 is 7 weeks and students have the opportunity to do
an internship.
 I would be glad to provide more info on the STEP programs, however, I think
that Miso is referring to the Independent living program that Junior Blind
also offers.
The Davidson Program for Independence, DPI is a residential program for
blind individuals who wish to learn skills such as orientation and mobility,
technology, cooking, Braille, and of course independent living skills. I did
not attend DPI so I don't know specifically what they do and how they run. I
did have friends who attended both the STEP programs as well as DPI. They
told me they learned a lot and they found it very helpful. I'm sure there
are pros and cons to attending any residential program. Please don't
hesitate to contact me off list if you have further questions.
All the best, Hannah
-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Brandon Keith
Biggs
Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 9:48 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] STEP Program offered by Junior Blind of America

Hello,
It depends where you are at in your living skills. I had been living on my
own for a few months before I went to the Step 2 program and I found it only
good for the few hours of work experience they provided. They aren't very
inventive when it comes to giving each person a unique work environment, but
you do get to do an internship. I did not like however, the step 1 folks
were mentored by the step 2 people for both sessions and the step 2 people
had to sit through classes the step 1 participant's were taking.
Step 1 is a ton of classes on how to give an interview, talk about yourself
and act professionally dressing wise and so on. When I went it was very
lecture based and very little real-time experiences, but I could tell some
people really needed the learning. I could already cook, clean, do laundry
and had had a summer job the year before in a much freer environment, so I
found STEP oppressive, but I did learn how to deal with authority in a
mature way and even though I won't repeat it, I am glad I went.
The campus is also very oddly situated, so it takes for ever to go anywhere
and they expect people to work around the schedule they set up, so for
example, I had a 2 hour commute on Para transit to and from work and I had
work to do at home. They were not very accommodating for those of us who
wanted to become work junkies, working till 10, grabbing food, then waking
up at 6 and leaving. They wanted you to actually be around with other people
and do tasks like instruct the other students on how to use the computer for
example.
Personally, the YES2 program in Washington state is more my cup of tee than
the STEP2 program, but I know plenty of other people who really loved it and
or who would really like it.
You can email me off list if you have any more questions.
brandonkeithbiggs at gmail.com
Thanks,

Brandon Keith Biggs
-----Original Message-----
From: Miso Kwak
Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 3:55 PM
To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nabs-l] STEP Program offered by Junior Blind of America

Hello,
I would like to know if any of you have participated in the STEP program
offered by Junior Blind in California.
If you have the experience, could you comment on how it was?
Would you recommend it?
I am trying to select a summer program that will help me improve my
independent living skills (mobility, home management, etc) and realize that
there are a few different options available, so I just want to hear from
someone if anyone on the list has experience with Junior Blind's STEP
program.
Thank you.
Miso Kwak




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