Guide
Sean and Isiah’s journey part 2
In part 2 in life after high school, these two young men talk about applying to WSB and preparing for the program.
Welcome to the second week! We have a video and journal.
Welcome to the second week of Sean and Isiah’s journey. Thank you for taking the time to read this post. This week we are talking about what actions we have taken to prepare for our visit in April. For reference, Isiah and I are applying to the assistive technology instructor program. This means we will be teaching assistive technology to other students in the pre-vocational program at World Services for the Blind. To become certified, we have to teach a minimum amount of hours. One of the first actions Isiah and I feel has been the most important is contacting the WSB staff to learn what skills we need to attend the program. We are currently learning about the application process and how we measure up as candidates. To learn how we measure up, we are doing research. We watched a
WSB YoutTube webinar to learn about the program and the schedule. Next Wednesday we will meet with WSB staff to get an evaluation. We need to know where we stand and what skills we need to target to become qualified candidates. We are still taking advantage of the time we have left at our current post-high program by addressing skills that we need for our next step: regular 1:1 meetings with our OM instructor where we identify essential OM skills, working on improving communication skills by communicating with teachers on a regular basis, prioritizing homework and time management skills. One thing that has been very helpful to us is something we call a “Futures Meeting”. A future’s meeting is a meeting in which you as an individual get together with your teachers and advisors to discuss your current progress in the school year. During this meeting we also set short term personal goals about our future and steps we can take to reach those goals. [note from Robbin: a Futures Meeting is a person-centered planning meeting. Great for transition planning!] For example, one of the recommendations in both Sean and Isiah’s meeting was that we start getting a sense of what skills both of us need for this ATI program at WSB. We are doing this next week. We are also learning how to take ownership of the process. Sean has an experience with this. Here’s something that Sean did to take ownership: I emailed one of the recruiters at World Services for the Blind asking about enrollment. They responded and sent me documentation that is required for me to attend there. I asked my mother to read it through because some of the terms I didn’t quite understand. My mom messaged me and asked if she could email WSB and ask some questions of her own. I responded and said, “Will you be able to tell me the questions so I can pass the information on?” Not that I didn’t want my mom to handle it, I knew perfectly well, she was willing. But I know that I have to do it, I have to take ownership for my life.
Another thing we wanted to share briefly is what skills we still think we need to work on, as well as the skills we have that may be helpful to us in the future.
From Sean
One of the things WSB recommends is having some knowledge in braille note takers, so that we can teach them to other students if needed. I definitely need to brush up on my braille reading skills.
There are some skills however I feel that will be extremely helpful in the instructor side of things. I am currently a mentor in the residential program at the school I attend, I think what I have learned in leadership and instructing others will be essential for not only the ATI program at WSB but maybe even the visit in April. Something that I am nervous about? All of it, if I am going to be honest. I know that I am capable but I really don’t know what is reality here. I am going to have a very small fraction of the experience in 3 weeks or so. I would be lying if I said I’m not nervous.
What do you hope to learn on your visit to WSB? What specifics do you want to know? I just really want to feel how it will really be, that is the whole point of this journey. While I am in the class observing, I am really looking forward to reflecting after and going through in my mind how it will be when I am the one teaching students and getting my own instruction. I also want to do this as much on my own as possible, this means going through the airport myself and using my skills I have to be as self reliant as I can.
From Isiah
The skill I have is my cane travel. This will be crucial for my visit to World services for the blind. One thing I need to work on is my public transportation navigation. Something that I am nervous about? My traveling skills, how am I going to make sure that I’m going to make it there when I’m in Arkansas.
What do you hope to learn on your visit to WSB? What specifics do you want to know? I want to learn how their campus is structured. And I want to know. How is this program going to benefit other students in the future?
Thanks again for reading these and watching our videos.
Speaking of videos, Isiah and I will be doing separate videos this week and going forward.
Sean’s Week 2 video:
Isiah’s Week 2 video:
See yall next week.
Sean and Isiah
Resources
- Sean and Isiah’s journey part 1: Introduction to WSB
- Sean and Isiah’s journey part 3: Preparation
- Sean and Isiah’s journey part 4
- Sean and Isiah’s journey part 5: Airport
- Sean and Isiah’s journey part 6: Next steps!
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