[nfbmi-talk] Fw: Transition Planning Resource

[Elizabeth Mohnke]

Simply passing along the information for those who may be interested.

Elizabeth

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From: "Alan A. Chase" <aachase1 at gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2013 4:50 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 Association
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>