Transition Program
Purpose:
This nine-week transition program provides specific training for persons who have left school and want to continue their education or prepare for employment. There are two sequences which can be used singly or together:
- Adult education to obtain the General Educational development (GED) diploma, and
- Vocational readiness in preparation for vocational training and job placement.
The program consists of four areas of evaluation and training: adult education, counseling, adaptive skills, socialization skills, and vocational exploration and observation.
1. Adult Education
This sequence is for the person who is blind who has not completed high school. The academic courses required by the General Educational Development (GED) test are taught by an experienced and certified academic teacher and he assists with taking the standardized test.
2. Vocational Readiness
Counseling:
Daily sessions of individual and group counseling build confidence and self-understanding, and enhance self-esteem. Techniques are taught for organization, stress and time management, problem solving, self-dependence, and goal setting.
Group counseling subjects are oral communication, assertiveness, workawareness, job seeking, and understanding work ethics.
Socialization Skills:
Social and recreational activities after classes provide trainees the opportunity to become well-rounded individuals. The goal is to teach independence in leisure pursuits, as well as the importance of overall social interaction. The schedules include activities for outdoors and indoors, both physical and sedentary activities, and cultural and art activities.
Vocational Exploration/Observation:
Vocational tests and evaluations provide identification of strengths, weaknesses, interests and aptitudes in relation to career paths. The Job Placement Specialist teaches job seeking skills and supervises vocational exploration and job observation.
Adaptive Skills:
Adaptive skills are evaluated. Instruction on an individual basis consists of:
- Orientation and mobility
- Independent Living skills: clothing care, grooming, cooking, housekeeping, and more
- Communication techniques: low vision reading aids, assistive technology, Braille, typing, basic daily living techniques
LWSB Staff
The LWSB professional staff members are trained to work with persons who are blind or visually impaired, and most have graduate degrees in their respective areas of instruction. A licensed professional nurse supervises the infirmary. Doctors who advise our professional staff members are consultant professionals for ophthalmology, general medicine, psychiatry, and psychology.
Admission Requirements
An application is submitted through the referring source to enroll in a Transition Program at LWSB. All arrangements must be completed in advance between the referral source and LWSB.
This nine-week summer transition course is offered on a formal basis each summer from mid-June through mid-August. The course is also available throughout the year on an individual basis upon request.
About LWSB
LWSB is a private, not-for-profit rehabilitation center founded in 1947. Clients are served from all 50 states and other countries.
The residential center provides personal adjustment training, psychological testing and counseling, prevocational evaluation and vocational training.
LWSB is fully accredited by the National Accreditation Council of Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Impaired (NAC).
The Campus at LWSB
The campus complex is located near the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, off Interstate 630. Along with two dormitory buildings that house 91 people, four other buildings for training and administration surround a tree-shaded courtyard. Privacy and security are provided for the clients.
Laundry facilities and lounge areas are located in each dormitory building. A full service cafeteria serves three meals each day.
Facilities for recreation, physical fitness and shopping are easily accessible by foot or public transportation. A recreation program provides a wide variety of activities after class time.
