RALEIGH, N.C. – A free job training program offers a return to independence for people who have lost their vision. For Maggee Jespersen of Raleigh, the program has been a godsend. 

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“I really want to get a job,” she said.

 

The program is funded by federal and state tax dollars and is run by the N.C. Division of Services for the Blind.

 

Students come from all over the state for training at the center.   Jesperson and her service dog, Worster, have been coming for classes since September.

 

“I’m taking two classes of computer and two classes of Braille at this time and I’m hoping to get a customer service job,” said Jespersen, who has had low vision all her life.

 

Each spring, students take a break for a week to allow staff members to use the facility and experience the training programs the way their clients do. Complete with blindfolds, caseworkers and other staff from the seven district offices spend their days at the center, located on the campus of the Governor Morehead School for the Blind.

 

They do everything just like the students – practicing skills like cooking and reading Braille, and learning about assistive technology, including specialized computer programs. 

 

Olivia Rowe, who works with teens in the Fayetteville district office, found that without sight, even familiar tasks became difficult. 

 

“Even though my experience told me that I knew how to use that keyboard,” said Rowe. “I’m now visually impaired, so it’s a different use that I have to undertake.”

 

Clients, or consumers as they are called, have a variety of vision problems, from limited vision to total blindness. And many have lost their sight as adults, making job retraining even more important, said Assistant Director Mary Flanagan.

 

“If an individual is interested in becoming employed or if they are already employed and are having difficulty keeping their job because of their vision loss, they should contact us,” said Flanagan.   

 

Training programs can last several months, so students are eligible to stay on campus in dormitory style housing at no charge. The ultimate goal is to get them back into their local communities where they can be productive and taxpaying citizens.

 

In addition to the blindfolds, staff members also tried simulators for other vision problems, like macular degeneration. You’ll have a chance to try it too, and find out more about the vocational rehab program at our Health and Fitness Festival coming up this weekend at the State Fairgrounds. Click here for more details on the activities and free health screenings we’ll be offering.