New Sight Center Project Empowers Independence for Sight-Impaired Job Seekers
TOLEDO, OH – Motivated by a unique mission to empower independence and enrich the lives of people who are blind or visually impaired, The Sight Center of Northwest Ohio is pleased to announce a new resource for sight-impaired job seekers called the Blind Ambition Project.
Currently, the unemployment rate of people who are blind or visually impaired is over 60% in the United States. Furthermore, Cornell University's 2017 US Disability Status Report found that people who are visually impaired, in particular when compared with sighted peers are more likely to be unemployed or underemployed, have lower annual earnings and are more likely to live in poverty.
Thanks to a grant from the Sisters of St. Francis (Sylvania) Foundation Donor Advised Fund of the Toledo Community Foundation, The Sight Center will be pilot-testing the new model starting on April 14, 2022.
This project, based on nationally recognized best practices, will empower people who live with vision loss to gain, advance or transition to meaningful employment that utilizes their skills, knowledge, interests and experience. This will be accomplished through a series of intensive workshops, personal mentoring, and ongoing group job club activities.
Through this program, participants will learn the necessary skills to give them the tools and confidence for economic and social empowerment.
Commenting on the new project, Interim Executive Director Dani Moran said, "We want to empower people to find the kind of employment they really want and that they enjoy.
Population to be Served
This pilot project will serve working age adults who are blind or visually impaired who reside in the metropolitan Toledo area. Specifically, the focus will be on those who are seeking to become newly employed, those who are trying to transition from a sighted career to a sight-impaired career, and those seeking to gain meaningful part-time employment while retaining current disability benefits.
Implementation
The Sight Center will host an intensive quarterly workshop series consisting of three weekly day-long workshops. Personal mentoring will be available for those completing the series. A post-workshop job club consisting of peers and professionals will serve as an ongoing support for those still in employment search mode.
Throughout the workshops and ongoing activities, participants will gain knowledge and confidence in areas that will include:
- Identifying personal strengths, abilities and experience
- Presenting those strengths to potential employers
- Targeting the industries and specific employers that could benefit from their strengths
- Activating personal networks to support the job search
- Understanding the needs and responsibilities of employers
Participants
This project will serve working age adults with a vision impairment who live in the Metro Toledo area. Specifically, the focus will be on those seeking to become newly employable, those trying to transition from a sighted career to a sight-impaired career, and those looking to gain meaningful part-time employment while retaining disability benefits.
Registration
Registration is free but space is limited. Attendance at all three sessions is required. Lunch will be provided, and transportation assistance is available. To register for the 3-session April series, please complete the online form at www.sightcentertoledo.org/events/blind-ambition-session-1/ or call 419-720-3937.
Session #1 Overview
What: The Blind Ambition Project – April 2022 Class
Dates: Thursdays April 14, April 21, and April 28
Time: 9AM to 3PM
Where: The Sight Center, 1002 Garden Lake Parkway, Toledo, Ohio
Webpage: www.sightcentertoledo.org/events/blind-ambition-session-1/
Future Workshops
Additional Blind Ambition workshop classes will be held in June, August and October of 2022.
Questions
Contact Tim Tegge at 419-720-3937 x3804 or [email protected].
ABOUT THE SIGHT CENTER
Motivated by a mission to empower independence and enrich the lives of people who are blind or visually impaired, The Sight Center of Northwest Ohio offers a unique blend of programs and services that can help people of all ages work, learn, play and live independently with permanent vision loss. With certified and credentialed staff, national accreditation, and nearly a century of blindness and low vision expertise, The Sight Center stands alone as the only comprehensive low vision resource center in the entire region. Founded in 1924 as the non-profit Toledo Society for the Blind, the agency serves an 18-county region in Northwest Ohio as well as parts of Southeast Michigan and Central Ohio. For more information visit www.sightcentertoledo.org or call (419) 720-3937.
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Press Release Contact Name: Tim Tegge
Press Release Contact Email: [email protected]
Press Release Contact Phone: 419-720-3937 x3804
Organization Name: The Sight Center of Northwest Ohio
Website or Link: www.sightcentertoledo.org
Organization Address / City / State: 1002 Garden Lake Parkway, Toledo, Ohio 43614