Hi Sarah,
At Mississippi State University we have a graduate certificate program that is
for VR counselors to learn the essentials called Vision Specialist in
Vocational Rehabilitation Certificate program. It includes 4 courses. These
courses are: Physiology of the Eye, Assistive Technology, Resources, and a
Practicum. There is a lot packed into these four courses, so just giving you
the titles does not really give the program justice. Since these courses equal
12 graduate credits, I don’t think the answer to your question is simple. They
need to learn a lot to be an effective counselor to a blind/visually impaired
consumer.
We have RSA funding just like the VRT and O&M programs to sponsor VR counselors
to attend our program. Our program begins in January and includes 2 on-line
courses during the spring semester followed by a 3-week on campus experience.
The final two courses are again on-line and conclude in early August. We accept
applications from June 1 to October 1 each year. Please visit our website, or
contact me directly if you want some more information.
http://www.blind.msstate.edu/training/training/vision-specialist/
Hope this is helpful.
Kendra
Kendra Farrow
Research & Training Associate
The National Research & Training Center on Blindness & Low Vision
Mailstop 9741
P.O. Box 6189
Mississippi State, MS 39762
Phone: 662-325-8694
Fax: 662-325-8989
kfarrow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:kfarrow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
www.blind.msstate.edu<http://www.blind.msstate.edu/>
[cid:image001.png@01D35E26.D9956090]<http://blind.msstate.edu/>
Figure 1: Logo for Mississippi State University
From: visionrehabtherapist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:visionrehabtherapist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Sarah Bussey
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2017 3:00 PM
To: visionrehabtherapist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [visionrehabtherapist] VRCs...what should They know?
Hello!
What do you feel is the most important thing for a Vocational Rehabilitation
Counselor to know when they receive a person on their caseload who is blind or
visually impaired?
I am working on putting together a list of need to knows for VRCs who have
never had the experience!
Thanks for your thoughts!
SB
--
Sarah D. Bussey
Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist
Certified Teacher of Students with Vision Impairments
Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist