The National Federation of the Blind career mentoring program is an important initiative that connects blind and low-vision students with successful blind role models who help them navigate their path from education to career success.
Currently active in Illinois, Maryland, Mississippi, and Nebraska, the program features multiple monthly virtual modules on a variety of pre-employment transition topics and in-person seminars and workshops lead by successful adult blind role models that assist mentees in preparing for higher education and competitive employment.
Interested in Becoming a Mentee?
As a mentee, you will be matched with a network of successful blind mentors who will guide, assist, and support you as you build your future. You will:
- Attain confidence that it is okay to be blind
- Learn to appreciate the importance of mastering proven alternative techniques of blindness
- Learn to cope effectively and gracefully with public attitudes and misperceptions about blindness
- Develop an understanding of the value of blending in on terms of equal rights and responsibility with sighted peers
- Gain confidence and a strong sense of self-worth by volunteering and giving back
- Learn to develop an individual access technology plan
- Explore the college experience
- Network with blind professionals
- Hone your interview and job search skills
- Discover a variety of exciting career opportunities
We welcome applications from students ages fourteen through twenty-two who are currently enrolled in school in Illinois, Maryland, Mississippi, and Nebraska. If you are interested in becoming a mentee, please visit our mentee application page for more information.
The Mentee Application is closed.
Interested in Becoming a Mentor?
Mentors are the backbone of our career mentoring program. As a mentor, not only will you have an opportunity to serve as a positive role model for a young blind person, but you can also improve your own skills, and expand and deepen your social, professional, and support networks. If you are interested in becoming a mentor, please visit our mentor application page for more information.
The Mentor Application is closed
More Information
For more information about the NFB Career Mentoring Program, refer to the following article in “The Braille Monitor,” the NFB’s flagship monthly magazine by Maurice Peret:
- Mentoring Cultivates and Nurtures Relationships that Contribute to Lifelong Learning and to Living the Lives We Want (HTML)
- Mentoring Cultivates and Nurtures Relationships that Contribute to Lifelong Learning and to Living the Lives We Want (MP3)
To learn more about this program or how to build support in your state, please contact Maurice Peret, coordinator of career mentoring & Employment programs, at [email protected] or 410-659-9314, extension 2350