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Employment/Placement

Olmsted Center has various departments that provide services to people who are blind and visually impaired. Placement services focus on helping the client obtain a job.

Two decades ago, competitive employment for blind and visually impaired individuals was essentially nonexistent. This affected them financially, socially, developmentally and psychologically. However, current advances in modern technology have helped open a world of possibilities. There are eight facets of the placement program available to clients.

Pre-Vocational Services provide skills necessary for vocational clarification, job seeking, on the job behaviors and skills, and life related activities, which support the young adult in job retention. This training will introduce the program participants to the requirements of success in the working world. The main goal of these sessions is to focus on vocational readiness, addressing such issues as career exploration, communication, teamwork, and barriers to employment among other related topics. Your child’s individual education plan (IEP) is also needed to incorporate some of the goals to provide an individualized pre-vocational plan. Participation in this program will enable your child to enter the OnSite program.

The OnSite Program is a summer program that is a continuation of pre-vocational services in which students gain work experience at identified places of interest. Students are at Olmsted Center on Mondays where positive workplace values are reinforced by the continuation of training for career and educational pursuits. Tuesday through Friday, students work at various job sites. This no-cost program provides students with an opportunity to experience professional responsibilities in the workplace.

A Diagnostic Vocational Evaluation is an evaluation that is specifically created for blind and visually impaired clients. This evaluation assists vocational rehabilitation counselors that work for the Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped (CBVH) in doing vocational and educational planning for their clients by measuring cognitive, sensory motor and functional abilities in addition to the client’s vocational interests and aptitudes. This is a thirteen hour test that is conducted over a period of three days. The test is administered to the client and the results are interpreted and scored by the evaluator. The test results are submitted to the CBVH counselor, and a meeting is scheduled to review the results with the counselor and client. At this time, the vocational plan is reviewed.

Work Experience Training is a program in which research is conducted to establish competitive employment interests of clients. This is followed by relationship-building with community employers allowing clients to participate in a work experience much like an internship. The work experience usually lasts for approximately five weeks during the summer for younger clients and 12 weeks for adult clients. Clients are paid for their work experience by Olmsted Center who is funded by the Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped (CBVH). This creates a positive situation for the client who receives compensation and valuable work experience to bolster a resume. Likewise, the employer receives a well-qualified employee at no cost.

A Placement Assessment examines the readiness of a client in vocational and/or job readiness.

The Job Readiness Program provides participants with training to assist in re-entering the work force after an absence and how to obtain competitive employment for the first time. A placement assessment and the job readiness program teach a client the necessary skills to obtain and maintain employment. Clients will learn everything from writing a cover letter and resume to negotiating a raise at an annual review. In addition to these services, Olmsted Center also provides employment counseling.

Placement 1 and Placement 2 Services involve working with the client in terms of job site support. We mediate the relationship between the employee and employer to promote success. Clients are also notified about the Job Club. This club addresses education, employment and socialization.

SEE Program participants include ten blind and or visually impaired students between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one. The students will spend four weeks during the summer learning about the professional working world, gaining technology skills, receiving employment training and developing strong and productive relationships. The staff will also serve as mentors to instill a healthy work ethic, a desire for self-sufficiency, a strong sense of accomplishment and an educational experience that will make each student attractive to potential employers. The SEE Program link at the top of this page will offer more in-depth information on the SEE Program. You may also submit a SEE application on-line.

If you would like to inquire about the placement department at Olmsted Center, please contact Sheri Shaw at 716-882-1025, x230 or via e-mail to sshaw@olmstedcenter.org.