WTC provides specific services for individuals who are blind or visually impaired, as well as support services for these consumers when participating in other WTC Services. Specific services are designed to assist consumers with gaining skills and appropriate technology needed for independence and employment. WTC’s Staff Specialist for Blind & Low Vision Services provides ongoing support to consumers through individual counseling and group meetings, as well as coordinating services at WTC. These services are offered in the community, at the WTC, and virtually.
Low Vision Support Group
This group is designed to give consumers who are blind or visual impaired the opportunity to meet and interact with other individuals who are blind or have low vision and speak about and share common concerns they face such as: relationships, independence, advocacy, responsibility and technology.
This is a peer-support group model that meets once per week for eight weeks. This group is offered four times a year at the WTC and also offers groups at the local DORS offices as requested. Virtual sessions are also available via Google Meets for consumers who are unable to attend at the WTC sessions. This group has a maximum capacity of eight participants.
Virtual Self-Advocacy Support Group for Pre-ETS and Transitioning Youth
This group provides consumers the opportunity to gain self-advocacy skills in order to overcome everyday life struggles with being blind or having low vision, as well as the opportunity to engage with other individuals of their same age.
This group is offered virtually four times a year using Google Meet. Each group session is 10 weeks in length with meetings once per week for an hour each session. This Support Group has a maximum capacity of six participants. The facilitator of this group will be available for additional individualized sessions with each consumer as needed after the completion of each 10-week group session.
SMILE (Skills to Move Towards Independence, Life & Employment)
This summer program is a collaboration designed for Pre-ETS and Transitioning Youth consumers who are blind or visually impaired. Consumers in this program will participate in activities which focus on career exploration, work readiness, and the development of skills for advocacy and independence. Students will be exposed to college/vocational options, work skills, technology, self-advocacy, independence and social skills instruction, Interest Inventory Survey, guest speakers, community resources, etc. These services are offered in the community, at the WTC, and virtually.
