[NFBV-Announce] Seeking:Blind Mentors for 2021 LIFE Program

Thu Mar 18 16:59:07 UTC 2021

We all know and value the role of mentors in our lives. I am blessed to say
that I have been surrounded by blind mentors who continue to guide me in my
beliefs about blindness and the abilities of blind people. However, many of
our young people across the commonwealth of Virginia have never meet
another blind person, much less had a mentor. Being a mentor in the LIFE
program will allow you to play a vital role in the life of a blind or low
vision teen. I'm not going to lie, being a mentor in our LIFE program is a
lot of hard work but also tons of fun! Most importantly, as a mentor, you
will get to see our teens challenge their beliefs and watch them grow in
their skills and confidence. Who wouldn't want to be a part of that?!?!

Please share this with your network and help us to recruit for the best
pool of mentors we have ever had! We have extended the application deadline
to April 15. If you have any questions, please let me know.

*Seeking: Blind Mentors for 2021 LIFE Program*

Are you ready to be an agent of change with blind and vision impaired youth
of Virginia?

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!

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.

Please see below for the Job Description for further details.

*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 13, 2021 to August 13, 2021

·         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

·         Enjoy teaching and have an enthusiastic sense of adventure

·         Reside in the dorm apartments on the VRCBVI campus

·         Pass a background check

Rate of pay: $12.98 an hour plus room and board at VRCBVI.

To learn more or to apply, please contact Amy Phelps by email at
amy.phelps at dbvi.virginia.gov or by phone at (804) 371-3052.

To apply please email the following to amy.phelps at dbvi.virginia.gov:

   - 1.   A copy of your Commonwealth of Virginia Application for
   Employment by going to https://virginiajobs.peopleadmin.com/user/new to
   login or create an account, then proceed to “Click here
   <https://virginiajobs.peopleadmin.com/postings/9275>
https://virginiajobs.peopleadmin.com/postings/9275
   <https://virginiajobs.peopleadmin.com/postings/9275%20%0d>  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

   1. 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

*All applications must be complete and received by April 15, 2021.*

PEER MENTOR JOB DESCRIPTION

*KSAs and/or Competencies required to successfully perform the work:*

-       Knowledge of and demonstrated proficiency in blindness skills used
in academic, social and employment settings.

-       Knowledge of basic acceptable behavior as it relates to youths.

-       Ability to secure the confidence, respect, and cooperation of
youths and exercise tact, initiative, and good judgment in dealing with
them.

-       Ability to perceive, observe, and address problems as they arise.

-       Ability to participate in and provide guidance to students in
planned confidence-building activities.

-       Displays a high level of initiative, effort, attention to detail
and commitment by completing assignments efficiently with minimal
supervision.

-       Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite including
Microsoft Word, Internet Explorer, Excel, and PowerPoint.

-       Demonstrated strong oral and written communication skills.

*Education, Experience, Licensure, Certification required for entry into
position: *

-       Prefer applicant with a college degree; currently enrolled in
college and in good standing or equivalent combination of training and
experience.

*Core Responsibilities:*

*85% Mentoring/Instruction:*

-       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.

-       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.

-       Plans and leads evening and weekend confidence-building activities;
exercises situational judgment and discretion while providing supervision
during group trips and social functions.

-       Confers with supervisor, case manager, or instructional staff
regarding special problems; attends staff meetings.

-       Plans, implements, and leads group activities such as Conversations
About Blindness classes to teach advocacy skills and problem solving.

-       Collects, records, and reports student data; maintains logbooks via
computer and prepares incident reports and/or related institutional forms.

-       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.

-       Provides guidance and direction to blind transition age students.

-       Provide initial on-the-job guidance for students in their
community-based work experience.

-       Substitute teaching as needed.

*10% Evaluation:*

-       Informally evaluates students on their preparedness for living
independently, employment readiness, and academic success through
observations during class time and during evening activities.

-       Communicates findings and recommendations both orally and in
written format, as they relate to students’ goals.

*5% Communication*:

-       Reports to supervisor and center counselor observations regarding
students existing skills, present needs, and any instructional
recommendations and strategies.

-       Provides accurate written documentation such as journal entries,
final reports, incident reports, etc.

-       Participates in all assigned student staffing’s to discuss
observations and recommendations for promoting independence, academic
skills and employment-readiness activities.

-- 

Sincerely,

Amy

Amy C. Phelps, CRC, NOMC

Assistant Director for Instruction

Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind & Vision Impaired

401 Azalea Avenue

Richmond, Virginia 23227

Phone: 804.371.3052

Fax: 804.371.3092

*Trouble knocked at the door, but hearing laughter, hurried away. *

*~ Benjamin Franklin*

Facebook: VDBVI <https://www.facebook.com/VDBVI>

Worldwide Web: Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision
Impaired <http://www.vrcbvi.org/>

YouTube: VRCBVI
<http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwsqnBw28gUNgMMSkH_eYci37g9XY6Qzd>

*NOTICE:* *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.*
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbv-announce_nfbnet.org/attachments/20210318/9d7e992b/attachment.html>