Transcript Orientation & Mobility Program Content

The VI (Visually Impaired)
Student College Survival Guide
Joe Strechay
Email: [email protected]
What is the ultimate goal of
a student going off to
college?
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To succeed, but what does that
mean?
What areas must any college
student succeed in?
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Attendance (O & M)
Readings
Testing
Note Taking
Studying
Time Management
Volunteer
Experience
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Social Skills
Self Advocacy
Accessing
Technology
Resources
Independent Living
Skills
Employment Skills
The Importance
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These areas are even more important
to students with visual impairments.
Students with visual impairments will
have to be taught how to perform
these tasks in an efficient and effective
manner.
Attendance (O & M)
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Learning the Campus
– Students will need to arrive on campus
early to familiarize themselves with the
campus and routes.
– Enlisting the help of an orientation and
mobility instructor would be beneficial.
– Learning base routes and expanding out
hitting areas of importance first.
– Learning the landmarks, cues and clues.
Attendance (O & M)
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Learn the buildings and numbering
systems.
Learn the classroom set up and
rehearse routes all the way through.
Leave for classes with plenty of time
to spare.
CAMPUSES CHANGE OFTEN!
Plan schedule according to buildings
and times.
Attendance (O & M)
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May be necessary to ask for other
student’s assistance to get to classes.
Be polite and make sure they are in
the class as well. Don’t ware out your
welcome! (Until route is learned)
Be practical and realistic.
Readings
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Reading method must be fast and efficient!
Must know how to get access to reading
materials and be able to adapt or
accommodate for themselves if need be.
Must take the initiative to find out books
prior and plan ahead.
Books can be downloaded online.
Readings
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Students must keep a dialogue with
professors to find out about up coming
readings if added.
Students must know how to access
readings in multiple mediums.
Students must learn to prioritize and
use good Time Management Skills!
Readings
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Bookshare.org
National Library Service
RFB&D
Other websites for audible books
Stay on top of the technology
available! Read AFB’s AccessWorld for
free online.
Time Management
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Make a schedule and live by it! A
planner is a good idea.
Put all readings, assignments and
exams into the planner.
Assign times to study.
Allow time to sleep and eat, staying
healthy is important.
Get assignments done early.
Volunteer Experience
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Volunteer with charities or
philanthropies.
Volunteer to get employment
experience and “your foot in the door.”
Prove your value in these situations!
Being a well rounded individual.
Testing
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Contact the Student Disability Center
on the campus to find out their
procedures.
Student should know what
accommodations they need.
Let professors know what
accommodations are needed right
away.
Testing Accommodations
to be considered
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Time
Size of Print
Having a reader
Electronic format such as on a computer
Lighting
Filling out the answer key (Scantron can be
difficult)
– Use of a CCTV or magnifier
– Utensil or computer
Note Taking
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Speed, accuracy and efficiency.
Must be able to take some sort of
notes.
Recording the class is great, but
doubles the amount of time spent on
the notes. They will have to be
transcribed later.
Method has to suit the student!
Studying
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Introduce the student to multiple
methods.
The student must have a primary
method before college.
Some classes may require a different
method of studying.
Some students do not study well in
groups.
Schedule reader if needed.
Social Skills
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Basic manners
Age appropriate
Conversation skills
Posture and attention
Addressing different audiences
Dress and appearance
Peers will be honest, practice!!! Enlist help
if needed.
Phone conversation skills
Self Advocacy!
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Students must be able to express
themselves and what they want in an
appropriate manner.
Students must know how to advocate for
themselves and this needs to be practiced in
all facets of life.
Students must know when it is appropriate,
it many not always be.
Disclosure statement
Accessing Technology
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Students must be able to use computers,
use the internet efficiently, access online
blackboard sites, access e-journals and
extranets.
Screen readers or magnifiers, note takers or
recorders, and the latest technology.
It is up to us as teachers to make sure they
have the technology and skills to make it!
Resources
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Research the college or university to
see what services they offer.
Contact the Disability Center on
campus.
Visit the school.
Contact a student with a visual
impairment at the school.
Resources
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Contact local organizations.
Look into housing that allows easy
access to the school.
Look at transportation in the area and
the cost.
Get to campus early and get to know
it, weeks or months early!
Resources
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Keep track of the contact information
of all the resources and people you
meet for future reference.
Create a rapport with contacts.
Make sure these people remember
you, make an effort.
Readers and Note Takers
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Practice and role play hiring readers
and note takers.
Make lists of questions.
Have them read or look at their notes.
Create a flyer with first name, phone
number and the service you are
looking for.
Readers and Note Takers
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Have many readers, try to get some
non-students. Churches, super
markets and libraries are great places
to put a flyer.
This is a job, you can fire them if they
don’t meet your needs!
Employment Experience
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First job is not a career.
Create a Portfolio.
Know your materials.
Interviewing skills
Letters of Reference
Be confident and dress to impress.
Practice, practice and more practice…
Employment Experience
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Start Internships early and keep them
coming.
Contact people in fields of interest.
Contact persons with VI in related
field.
Career Connect is a great resource!
Career Centers are great places and
are under utilized.
Research
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This information was compiled by
Joseph Strechay and Tiffany Barbieri
during the summers of 2004 - 2006 at
Florida State University while helping
to run a college transition program.
These are areas that we felt these
students were lacking in when
arriving.
Are our students
prepared?
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Are they prepared to succeed in the
modern college or university or have
we neglected needs that will cause
them to fail!
Let’s prepare them to succeed! We all
care a lot about these students and
want the best for them!!!
Special Thanks to:
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Tiffany Barbieri
Florida Division of Blind Services
Florida State University
Dr. Bruce Menchetti
Wendy Olsen
Wayne Jennings
Lynda Jones
Catherine O’Farrell
Dr. Karen Wolffe
Dr. Silvia M. Correa-Torres
Dr. Sandra Lewis