Keys to Work provides tools for future to visually impaired young adults
It’s already a complicated and stressful process to plan one’s future: you need to build a resume, fill out applications, prepare for interviews and learn to live on your own.
Imagine trying to do all these things with a visual impairment.
Social stigmas often can cause people to believe that those with visual impairments can’t lead independent lives. But the Keys to Work transition program is working to prove that wrong.
Five visually impaired young adults from across the state were brought to Oklahoma Cityin June for an all-expensespaid training program sponsored by NewView Oklahoma. Keys to Work uses occupational therapy, orientation and mobility, and assistive technology to teach independent living and job-readiness skills to those getting ready to go to college or join the workforce.
“The program is the opportunity to experience life independently,” said Cathy Holden, NewView Oklahoma senior vice president of rehabilitation and clinical operations. “They are learning things that those with vision often take for granted. Most kids learn things like cooking and cleaning visually, and so those without vision often don’t learn these skills in school to the extent that they need in order to live on their own.”
NewView Oklahoma provides services to Oklahomans of all ages with visual impairments that range from partial to total blindness.
Keys to Work focuses on young people between the ages of 17 and 21. Many participants in this program never learned everyday living skills, including grocery shopping, cooking or cleaning. More time and patience are required to teach those skills to the visuallyimpaired,said Marlene Snow, a NewView occupational therapist.
“I have people coming in saying, ‘My child’s blind. They’re never gonna be able to live on their own, they’re never gonna work,” Snow said. “And I’m like, ‘You can’t put those boundaries on your kids. They’re gonna grow up. They’re gonna be able to experience life just like everyone else. It might just look a little different.’”
The program provides tips and vision enhancement tools to help participants with a variety of daily activities. Over the course of the week, participants learned to use kitchen appliances, navigate public transportation, and make purchases at retail and grocery stores independently. Some of the female participants also worked with NewView employees and makeup artists from DK Salon to learn makeup application. Therapists and aids were there throughout the week to observe and, when needed, guide the participants.
Participants also received job readiness training, which included guidance on resume writing, filling out job applications and general computer skills for the workplace. Assistive technology specialists taught participants how to use specialized tools and techniques for the visually impaired that would allow them to work in an office setting. Near the end of the program, each participant sat down for mock job interviews with local business professionals. Before their interviews, each selected a new business professional outfit and received a makeover from stylists at DK salon.
Among the interviewers was a local lawyer, Ed Abel, who began losing his vision over 40 years ago.
“There are a lot of smart people who are blind. There are a lot of good people who are blind,” Abel said. “And those people can be helped and guided to where they can be productive.”
Participants leave the program with many applicable life skills, but also with a new sense of confidence.
Logan Kleck, a secondyear participate who was born with underdeveloped optic nerves, is set to go to Northeastern Oklahoma College in the fall to study psychology and early childhood development, but is also considering becoming a teacher for the visually impaired.
“How could I not jump on board and do anything and everything?,” Kleck said. “I think it would be good for someone to have a teacher that knows what the deal is and knows what they are going through.”
NewView and its programs are financed solely through donations. For more information, visit nvoklahoma.org.