This program offers pre-employment transition services to blind students by providing exposure to educational seminars, advocacy, training, and more.
Location
Sunday, February 2 through Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Holiday Inn Washington Capitol – National Mall
550 C Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024
Introduction
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) has developed the Career Quest, a program specifically designed to provide Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) to blind students. The career quest program is a four-day, immersive experience where students can gain exposure to insightful presentations, educational seminars, quality training in advocacy, and a social and professional network that will assist them to obtain competitive integrated employment in the career of their choice. The annual Washington Seminar of the NFB offers a unique opportunity for blind students to immerse themselves in an exceptional, concentrated environment of programming consisting of pre-employment transition services for the blind that are only available at the Washington Seminar.
Overview of (Pre-ETS):
1. Instruction in Self-Advocacy
As the oldest and largest consumer organization of the blind in the country, the NFB is well known for our grassroots advocacy toward living the lives we want. At our Washington Seminar, members of the National Federation of the Blind convene to learn how to advocate for public policies that will improve the lives of blind Americans. Participants have the opportunity to actively engage in discussions that address a variety of timely topics and participate in Congressional Meetings with their members of Congress. Advocacy is at the core of everything we do, and this is learning how to advocate in real time.
2. Job Exploration Counseling
Our Career Fair at the Washington Seminar allows the student to interact with potential employers and get direct feedback on their qualifications. In addition, through other sessions, students are able to gain valuable insight into the specific nonvisual skills that need to be mastered to obtain employment in a specific job by interacting with a blind adult with experience in that field of work.
3. Counseling on Opportunities for Enrollment in Comprehensive Transition or Postsecondary Educational Programs
NFB’s National Association of Blind Students (NABS) is the largest organization of blind students in the country. Participants attending the winter meeting will hear and learn from student presentations about their challenges and successes and will receive information from education and vocational rehabilitation professionals about post-secondary services available to blind students. Additionally, the peer mentoring relationships that evolve from this experience often become life-long networking relationships.
4. Workplace Readiness Training to Develop Social Skills and Independent Living
Our seminar is an incubator for the development and enhancement of social skills. This large, diverse gathering of people tests the student’s ability to interact with a variety of personalities. Furthermore , the seminar is a supportive environment of individuals willing and ready to assist blind students to learn from the experience in a manner that enables the students to develop their own styles. Presentations conducted by graduates from our premier adult rehabilitation training centers provide students with information about the alternative skills of blindness important to master to optimize their potential for success.
Logistics
Prior to attending the Washington Seminar, each student will receive an agenda describing the sessions and activities the student will attend throughout the seminar. Participants can expect:
- Sunday –Welcome hour, Introduction to advocacy seminar, off-site activity
- Monday – NABS Winter Seminar, Career Fair, Legislative workshops, Great Gathering in
- Tuesday – Congressional meetings on Capitol Hill, congressional reception, NABS networking event
- Wednesday – Seminar reflections, closing activities
The students' experience will be facilitated by a group of blind adult mentors who will monitor their progress and provide the participants with appropriate support and guidance throughout the seminar. Students and mentors will meet each evening to debrief experiences from the day’s events and discuss the next day’s objectives. The students will also be responsible for journaling at the end of each day to document their experiences.
The cost per student to participate in this formalized four-day experience is 4,900.00 dollars, and the participant must be at least eighteen years old.
Deliverables
At the end of the experience, each student will provide a career quest experience summary that consists of:
- A career quest journal
- A post-secondary goal road map
- A career track statement
- A mentor network
- A post-seminar survey
Conclusion
The National Federation of the Blind's Career Quest program, through the annual Washington Seminar, offers a comprehensive Pre-Employment Transition Service tailored for blind students, preparing them for future career opportunities. This immersive four-day program not only gives students exposure to vital presentations and training but also offers practical experiences ranging from networking to policy analysis. Each participant is meticulously guided and monitored through a variety of interactive workshops and experiences, ensuring they derive maximum benefit from the seminar. By the end, students leave equipped with valuable tools and resources, such as a career journal and mentor network, setting them on a definitive path towards successful integrated employment.
To Participate
To reserve a spot for your consumer’s participation, please complete the Washington Seminar Career Quest Interest Application.