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<div align="center"><b>Seeking: Blind Mentors for 2021 LIFE
Program<br><br>
<br><br>
</b></div>
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 2021 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 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, high ropes courses 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 2021 LIFE Program is the place for you.
Mentors must be available June 13 through August 13, 2021. The 2021 LIFE
Program will take place on the campus of VRCBVI in Richmond, Virginia.
Please note mentors will be hired for the in-person 2021 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><br>
</b>· 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 13, 2021 to August 13,
2021<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>
· 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: $12.98 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" eudora="autourl">
https://virginiajobs.peopleadmin.com/postings/9275</a> 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
<li>Cover Letter
</ol><br>
3. Resume<br><br>
4. Three professional references<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><br>
All applications must be complete and received by March 15,
2021.<br><br>
</b><div align="center"> <br><br>
PEER MENTOR JOB DESCRIPTION <br><br>
</div>
<br><br>
<b>KSAs and/or Competencies required to successfully perform the
work:<br><br>
</b>- 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>
- Displays a high level of initiative, effort, attention
to detail and commitment by completing assignments efficiently with
minimal supervision. <br><br>
- Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
including Microsoft Word, Internet Explorer, Excel, and PowerPoint.
<br><br>
- Demonstrated strong oral and written communication
skills.<br><br>
<b> <br><br>
Education, Experience, Licensure, Certification required for entry into
position: <br><br>
</b>- 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><br>
85% Mentoring/Instruction:</b> <br><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>
- Provide initial on-the-job guidance for students in
their community-based work experience. <br><br>
- Substitute teaching as needed. <br><br>
<b> <br><br>
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>
On Tue, Mar 2, 2021 at 10:22 PM David Andrews
<<a href="mailto:dandrews920@comcast.net">dandrews920@comcast.net</a>
> wrote:<br>
<dl>
<dd>Can you send me your message again, the attachment was
corrupted. It <br>
<dd>is generally to include the text of the announcement in the body of
the e-mail.<br><br>
<dd>Dave<br><br>
<br><br>
</dl>-- <br><br>
<font face="arial">Thanks, <br><br>
Amy <br><br>
<br>
Amy C. Phelps, CRC, NOMC<br><br>
Assistant Director for Instruction<br>
</font>(804) 371-3052<br>
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