General Information
Vision Impairment Services at the Tennessee Rehabilitation Center
460 9th Ave
Smyrna,
TN 37167
615-459-6811
Brief Description
The Tennessee Rehabilitation Center (TRC) at Smyrna is a state-operated, comprehensive rehabilitation facility and is one of only eight such facilities in the nation. Services are provided on campus and the majority of clients live on campus in residential living units while receiving services. The length of programs of services offered at TRC varies depending upon the individual client's interests, abilities, and needs. All program participants must be eligible clients of the Division of Rehabilitation Services.
The Vision Impairment Services unit at TRC provides comprehensive, individualized evaluation and instruction on the alternative techniques and aids that a person who is blind or visually impaired might use to be independent on the job and at home. Areas include:
Adaptive Communication Skills: Handwriting; recording devices; telephone usage; typing; note taking; basic job-seeking skills
Adaptive Kitchen Skills: All phases of safe meal preparation, including use of the oven and stovetop
Basic Education: Basic math, spelling, and reading; identifying and organizing money; telling time; preparing for the GED; college preparation; acquiring Tennessee Business Enterprises skills
Braille: Reading and writing uncontracted and contracted braille
Home and Personal Management: Cleaning, managing money, doing laundry, sewing, and hygiene
Low Vision: Comprehensive, functional low vision evaluation to explore magnifiers, monoculars, filters, and CCTVs (electronic magnifiers)
Orientation and Mobility: Traveling safely and independently indoors and outdoors
Transitional Skills: Setting goals; investigating career options; evaluating interests and abilities; advanced job-seeking skills; writing resumes and cover letters; completing applications; learning interviewing techniques; job shadowing and mentoring opportunities; acquiring housing and transportation; planning leisure activities; accessing community resources; the ADA as it relates to employment; Social Security work incentives
Assistive Technology: Adaptations for accessing a computer, including the use of screen readers and/or magnification software
Computer Training: Microsoft Office, email, internet
College Prep: note- and test-taking skills, talking to professors, learning about the ADA in relation to education and accommodations
Tennessee Business Enterprises Pre-requisites: acquiring skills needed for entry to the Tennessee Business Enterprises (TBE) blind vendors program, which is Tennessee's blind vending program operating under the federal Randolph Sheppard Act
Self-Employment: exploring self-employment options and meeting the criteria of the state Vocational Rehabilitation Self-Employment Policy
One Day Assessments: A one-day assessment can be scheduled in any area.
Outpatient/Mobile Services: Orientation and mobility; job site assessments; home assessments; computer delivery and set up
Services Offered
- Counseling
- Offers psychological testing and evaluation and individual/group counseling.
- Employment/Job Training
- Provides vocational evaluation, training in job-seeking skills, and counseling
- Recreation Services
- Offers recreational therapy and a variety of activities including community outings, bowling, and arts/crafts.
- Daily Living Skills/Independent Living Skills Training
- Provides training in daily living and communication skills, assistive technology, low vision, adaptive kitchen skills, home and personal management, and orientation and mobility. Offers programs in basic education and adult continuing education.
- Assessment
- Evaluations available as part of various training programs.
- Travel/Orientation and Mobility
- Provides orientation and mobility training.
- Braille and Reading Instruction
- Offers braille instruction.
- Health
- Offers occupational/physical/speech therapy.
- Low Vision Services
- Provides functional low vision assessments.