Skills for SuccessSkills for Success

Dr. Karen WolffeDr. Karen Wolffe

2109 Rabb Glen Street2109 Rabb Glen Street

Austin, TX 78704Austin, TX 78704

512.707.0525512.707.0525

wolffe@afb.netwolffe@afb.net

Levels of InterventionLevels of Intervention

Informational Level StudentsInformational Level Students

Instructional Level StudentsInstructional Level Students

Advocacy Level StudentsAdvocacy Level Students

Basic Career Education GoalsBasic Career Education Goals

Conveying High ExpectationsConveying High Expectations

Encouraging SocializationEncouraging Socialization

Developing Compensatory SkillsDeveloping Compensatory Skills

Providing Realistic FeedbackProviding Realistic Feedback

Promoting Opportunities to WorkPromoting Opportunities to Work

Conveying High ExpectationsConveying High Expectations

Critical to self-esteem & life success. Critical to self-esteem & life success.

Youngsters need to hear from those Youngsters need to hear from those around them that it is expected:around them that it is expected:– They can and will grow up, They can and will grow up, – Establish families outside of their nuclear Establish families outside of their nuclear

families, families, – Live interdependently, work, and play in the Live interdependently, work, and play in the

community. community.

Encouraging SocializationEncouraging Socialization

Students need to be able to:Students need to be able to:

Develop interpersonal relationships at Develop interpersonal relationships at assorted levels (public, acquaintances, assorted levels (public, acquaintances, friends, and intimates),friends, and intimates),

Understand reciprocity, and Understand reciprocity, and

Understand the nuances of nonverbal Understand the nuances of nonverbal communication. communication.

Compensatory SkillsCompensatory Skills

Braille reading and writing skills, Braille reading and writing skills,

Efficient use of low vision aids, Efficient use of low vision aids,

Orientation and mobility skills, Orientation and mobility skills,

Use of assistive technology, Use of assistive technology,

Career education, Career education,

Social skills, and Social skills, and

Independent living skills. Independent living skills.

Providing Realistic FeedbackProviding Realistic Feedback

Young people nee realistic feedback Young people nee realistic feedback concerning strengths and weaknesses. concerning strengths and weaknesses.

Ultimately the evaluation of students’ Ultimately the evaluation of students’ efforts will be made against a defined efforts will be made against a defined norm not simply against their own norm not simply against their own accomplishments or a perceived level of accomplishments or a perceived level of expertise. expertise.

Opportunities to WorkOpportunities to Work

All children and youth need to be engaged All children and youth need to be engaged in doing chores at home, in the in doing chores at home, in the community, and in school. community, and in school.

They also need volunteer experiences, They also need volunteer experiences, part-time work during and after school, part-time work during and after school, summer jobs, and to participate in summer jobs, and to participate in work/study programs.work/study programs.

ResourcesResources

BooksBooks

– Skills for SuccessSkills for Success (Wolffe, 1999) (Wolffe, 1999)

– Pick Up Your SocksPick Up Your Socks (Crary, 1990) (Crary, 1990)

– Self-esteem and Adjusting with Blindness Self-esteem and Adjusting with Blindness

(Tuttle & Tuttle, 1996)(Tuttle & Tuttle, 1996)

– Get Out of My Life…but first could you drive Get Out of My Life…but first could you drive

me and Cheryl to the Mallme and Cheryl to the Mall (Wolf, 1991) (Wolf, 1991)

ResourcesResources

ArticlesArticles

– In the Darkness There Can Be Light: A In the Darkness There Can Be Light: A

Family’s Adaptation to a Child’s Blindness Family’s Adaptation to a Child’s Blindness

((JVIBJVIB, 4/05), 4/05)

– Effects of Visual Impairment, Gender, and Effects of Visual Impairment, Gender, and

Age on Self-determination (Age on Self-determination (JVIBJVIB, 6/04), 6/04)

ResourcesResources

Internet sitesInternet sites

– www.afb.orgwww.afb.org

– www.careerconnect.orgwww.careerconnect.org

– www.braillebug.orgwww.braillebug.org

– www.tsbvi.edu/recc/www.tsbvi.edu/recc/

– www.aph.orgwww.aph.org

ResourcesResources

OrganizationsOrganizations

– American Foundation for the BlindAmerican Foundation for the Blind

– American Council of the BlindAmerican Council of the Blind

– National Federation of the BlindNational Federation of the Blind

– NAPVI, NOPBCNAPVI, NOPBC

– APH, RFB&D, NLS, NBP, AT vendorsAPH, RFB&D, NLS, NBP, AT vendors

ResourcesResources

PeoplePeople

– STC presenters & participantsSTC presenters & participants

– Successful blind & low vision adultsSuccessful blind & low vision adults

– TVIs, COMs, VRCs, VRTs TVIs, COMs, VRCs, VRTs

– Community-based leaders and group Community-based leaders and group

members (religious, secular, political…)members (religious, secular, political…)