Transition to Independence Club
The Transition to Independence Club is a program of the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute under its National Center for Blind Youth in Science (NCBYS) initiative, in partnership with the Maryland Department of Rehabilitation Services (DORS). Since 2005, the club's goal is to increase employment readiness, instill independence skills, and build self-confidence of blind or low vision high school students in Maryland. While this program emphasizes the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) industries, it also focuses on other career paths for blind youth through increasing exposure to careers and role models in a variety of fields. Students participate in a variety of challenging and rewarding activities throughout the duration of this comprehensive program. Most students have said the best part of their experience is the opportunity to interact with other blind youth and mentors, and to be part of the movement of the NFB.
To apply to the Transition to Independence Club, please fill out the following registration forms. Please print the application, fill it out, and either mail or fax it to Mary Jo Thorpe. Her contact information is at the bottom of this page. Thank you, and we look forward to meeting you.
Monthly activities are held on the third Saturday of each month at the National Center for the Blind, located in Baltimore, Maryland. Please visit our 2008 calendar for events and activities happening this year, as well as to review the past activities students have enjoyed.
Thank you to our 2008 Transition Club sponsors
Visit the Maryland High School High Tech Web site to learn more about high school high tech programs.
Program Highlights
NFB National Convention
This summer, ten students from the Transition to Independence Club will be selected to attend the National Convention of the NFB in Atlanta, GA. The students will be raising funds needed to attend, thus making it more meaningful to them. During the week students will attend general sessions, division meetings, and teen activities designed as part of the “Convention Youth Track." This year, due to the increased level of interest in the Transition Club, Convention attendance will be determined by students' participation in monthly activities (must have participated in 75 percent of the year’s activities), merit, and submission of an essay about why they should be selected to attend the convention and what they hope to gain from the experience. Selections will be made by May 1, 2008.
Other Job Related Resources and Articles of Interest to Blind Students
NFB-LINK
NFB-NEWSLINE®
White House Internship - to learn more about this opportunity, please read our informational fact sheet (Word doc).
Congressional Internship Experience - read about how one intern landed a full-time job with a senator in Washington, D.C.
Excel Internship Program - for more about the Excel program, read an article in the Braille Monitor.
Open Letter to a Blind Person: How to Get a Job
Summer Internship Sheds Light upon Victories for the Blind
Philosophy in Practice
For more information, please contact:
Mary Jo Thorpe
Educational Program Specialist
Jernigan Institute
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
200 East Wells Street
at Jernigan Place
Baltimore, MD 21230
(410) 659-9314, ext. 2407
(410) 659-5129 (fax)
Support the Transition Club and other education programs by giving to the Imagination Fund!
The Transition to Independence Club is funded under a grant/contract supported by the Office of Disability Employment Policy of the U.S. Department of Labor, grant/contract #E-9-4-3-0065, and by the Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Rehabilitation Services. The program is operated by the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Jernigan Institute's National Center for Blind Youth in Science (NCBYS). The opinions contained in this publication are those of the grantee/contractor and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of Labor.
