By: Carmen Willings teachingvisuallyimpaired.com Updated June 9, 2019
Career education for students with visual impairments needs to begin as early as possible and include self-awareness and career exploration activities, job seeking skills instruction, information about job keeping, and encourage opportunities for gaining work experience. Teaching skills in the area of career education can provide students with visual impairments of all ages with the opportunity to learn first-hand the work done by members of the home and community.
The students need to gain an understanding of the many jobs that are available from the bank teller, to the gardener, to the social worker, to the artist, and much much more. The student who is blind or visually impaired should have the opportunity to explore a wide range of careers in a systematic, well-planned manner as they will not be able to casually observe these jobs as their sighted peers can.
Areas the student may need specific instruction in include: knowledge of relationship between work and play; understanding of the value of work; knowledge of characteristics of valued workers; awareness of the variety of jobs people hold; awareness of jobs people with visual impairments often hold; job acquisition skills (want ads, resumes, applications, interviews); typical job adaptations made by workers with visual impairments; in-depth knowledge of a variety of jobs of interest; work experience; laws related to employment; and management of readers and drivers.
Career Resources
Career Connect is an employment information resource developed by the American Foundation for the Blind for job seekers who are blind or visually impaired. Provides employment information, career exploration tools, and extensive job-seeking guidance for students and adults with vision loss and the professionals who work with them.
LiveCareer is a career website that not only helps persons find jobs but offers a free career resource center. They feature hundreds of professional cover letters to assist persons in making cover letter writing easier and less stressful. Cover letters are job title and industry-specific so students can obtain relevant guidance.
O*NET Online, from the Department of Labor Occupational Information Services, provides tools for career exploration and job analysis. Tools include Ability Profiler, Interest Profiler, Computerized Interest Profiler, Work Importance Locator, and Work Importance Profiler.
Project Aspiro is a comprehensive career planning and employment resource for individuals who are blind or partially sighted. The web resource includes career planning advice, information about education, profiles of people enjoying meaningful careers, and much more.
YouthRules! is an initiative of the United States Department of Labor to promote positive work experiences for teens by distributing information about young workers to youth, parents, employers, and educators.