"Can't Touch This" Virtual Transition Programming for Students with Visual Impairments

The need for virtual learning has existed in serving transition-aged students for quite some time for many programs, such as those in rural areas or with limited resources. The pandemic in the spring of 2020 made virtual learning a need for everyone! Motivating and encouraging teenagers to participate in supplemental career education services after school hours and on the weekends and securing authentic, meaningful work-based learning experiences can be challenging enough, but doing it through a virtual platform with little experience by all involved can seem insurmountable. “Can’t Touch This” will provide an overview of a virtual summer transition program and strategies for planning and implementing transition services to students with visual impairments aged 14-22. Ideas will be presented on teaching job readiness skills, developing and implementing work-based learning experiences, fostering career exploration, and maintaining student engagement and participation via virtual learning.

Instructor: Sue Glaser

Instructor’s Title: Transition Program Coordinator

Instructor’s Affiliation:  Lighthouse for the Blind & Low Vision

Primary Core or ECC Area: Career Education

Target Audience:  teachers of students with visual impairments, Transition, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors, Transition Specialists.

Pre-requisite knowledge: Understand the needs of transition-aged students, job readiness skills, career exploration, work-based learning experiences.

Lesson Plan Goal:  Participants will learn how to develop and incorporate a job readiness and career education program into a virtual format for transition-aged students with visual impairments.