Resources: College and Career Readiness

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How are you and feeling about your upcoming graduation from high school? Can college or a career “not come soon enough,” or are you hoping time will slow down because you appreciate the support of home life, and you do not want to say goodbye to your friends? Maybe you are feeling a little of both, which is normal too. However you feel, it is important to prepare for the upcoming transition from high school to college or a career as an individual who is blind or low vision for it to be as smooth as possible.

Resources to equip you for college and/or a career

1.       Discover the Cultivating Independence: Career Resources for Blind Youth – ConnectCenter section. You will find a collection of articles designed to assist teens and young adults who are blind or have low vision in establishing and reaching career goals tailored to your preferences, strengths, and interests.

  • Find activities, starting with ways to begin leading your IEP meeting.
  • Learn from others how to begin preparing now for the future. Read personal stories and tips about preparing for independent living, first jobs and preparing for further education opportunities.

2.       Take full advantage of APH CareerConnect’s virtual career exploration and job-seeking skills training course, the Job Seeker’s Toolkit. It is recently updated, accessible, and free of charge.

  • Explore lessons to help you become more self-aware and reflective.
  • Complete activities to discover your network and interests.

3.       See how others who are blind or low vision are successfully employed in your fields of interest by watching our Career Conversation videos.

  • Join future live Career Conversations (informational interview) and ask questions during the webinar.
  • Watch the recording and discuss with your parents:
    • Is this career one you might be interested in or passionate about?What qualities do I have that would make this a good career option to explore?
    • What challenges might I face in this career? How might I overcome them?

4.       Seek the mentorship of a recent college graduate who is blind or low vision using Envision’s College Success Program as you anticipate the college-readiness and application process.

  • Work with staff to build self-advocacy skills.
  • Connect with other college students who are blind or low vision to prepare for your child’s college experience.

5.       4to24 is a mobile app created to help youth who are blind or have low vision and their parents focus on the necessary steps to prepare for employment and independent living.

  • You’ll receive prompts based on your age.
  • Provides considerations for blind, low vision, or DeafBlind students and offers parent support.

6.       Explore Walking with a Human or Dog Guide – ConnectCenter to learn about the skills you need to handle a dog guide and to learn about the many schools that have programming and information sessions for teens and young adults, including Leader Dogs, Guide Dogs for the Blind, and the Seeing Eye.

  • Discuss handling a dog guide with your O&M provider and join a newsletter for the most up-to-date information and events.

7.       Use tips from APH CareerConnect’s section on Job Seeking Guidance. Learn how to conduct a successful job search and prepare for a job interview.

8. If you want to hear what college life is like from college students, join College Conversations. This webinar is offered four times a year featuring a panel of currently enrolled college students all over the country addressing college life, balancing working and school, socializing and friendships, and campus life and activities.

  • Specific topics will be determined prior to the webinar. Join for those that are of interests to you. Watch the recordings for those you missed.
  • Ask current college students questions you are looking to have answered.

Staying up to date on available and important resources will help you make informed decisions, understand options, connect with local resources, and prepare for your next season—early adulthood! Activating some or all of these resources will help you make a lasting impression as you step into the next phase of your life.