DRAFT: Iowa Blindness Empowerment and Independence Center
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Overview
The Iowa Blindness Empowerment and Independence Center (IBEIC) is a residential training program for adults who are blind or low vision. Located in Des Moines, the Center provides in-depth, comprehensive blindness training for students to live and work independently. Contact Karly Prinds with any questions!
Purpose
The Center provides unique skills and attitudinal training to blind adults. It is based upon the fact that the real problem of blindness is not the physical loss of eyesight but the misconceptions about blindness by the general public and by many blind people themselves.
Classes
Students take classes in Braille, Technology, Home and Personal Management, Cane Travel, Industrial Arts, Career Preparation and Planning, and a discussion group called the Business of Blindness. This program promotes the development of self-confidence and a positive attitude towards blindness.
List items for Center Classes
Braille is an essential part of daily life, as ninety percent of blind people who use it are employed. Using the Code Master curriculum, students are taught to write and read braille, use a slate and stylus, and various braille displays to incorporate braille in every aspect of their daily lives.
Students learn how to access the range of technology they will need for future education and/or employment using screen-reading software, braille displays, and smart devices. They learn to create, edit, format, and spellcheck documents, navigate web pages to locate and submit information, and scan documents to access printed material. Students may also learn Excel, PowerPoint, and any other software they might need to navigate their daily life.
Students learn non-visual techniques for:
Cooking - including reading and writing recipes, creating shopping lists, grocery shopping, and labeling food.
Cleaning - including general cleaning, deep cleaning, and learning to identify when all surfaces are clean
Basic sewing skills
Laundry - including sorting, organizing, and labeling clothes
Money Management - including organizing and identifying cards and currency
Labeling & Organizing household items with braille
With the long white cane in hand, students learn to walk confidently, cross streets, locate businesses, and use public transportation. They will discover that they can travel independently whenever they want without inconveniencing themselves or others.
Students learn tactile methods for measuring and operating power tools. They develop tremendous self-confidence and trust in nonvisual techniques by making a picture frame and then a project of their choice.
Examples of student projects include:
Cutting boards
Desks
Clocks
Entertainment centers
End tables
Toy chests
Game tables
From career exploration to addressing workplace accommodations, this class guides students in their job search to meaningful and gainful employment through:
Creating the perfect resume and cover letter
Polishing interview skills
Job shadowing and networking opportunities
Proper workplace etiquette
In this discussion-based class, students learn how to deal with the problems they encounter because of their vision loss. Topics range from developing nonvisual methods for handling everyday tasks to dealing with negative attitudes family members, employers, and the general public may have about blindness.
Frequently Asked Questions
List items for Center FAQs
Yes – any student attending the Center with any residual vision, including light perception is required to wear sleep shades (AKA) learning shades in all classes from 8:00AM-4:30PM with the exception of lunch time.
No - by the time you have chosen to attend Center training, you will have had the informed choice to decide what program best fits your needs. While attending the Center, you are required to attend all classes. Think of it like a college degree. Once you pick your major, you are required to take all classes to complete your degree.
Yes – we meet students where they are, still striving for students to do their best, and having high expectations while in the program.
During training, we have student apartments about a mile south of the Center. You also may have a roommate during some or all of that time.
Yes - students receive what we call maintenance during their training as well as a bus pass. Maintenance covers things like hygiene products, food, and Center activities.
