Program Rules

Tools and Equipment

• If a student loses or breaks any of the training tools provided by the Center, the student is responsible for replacing those tools.
• Students are given an outdoor keycard for the IDB building and a standard key for the second-floor north areas. Students who lose the IDB building key must notify the Center’s Director immediately; the replacement cost for the IDB building key is $20.
• Students receive maintenance money from the Iowa Department for the Blind (IDB) for costs directly related to training, such as food, laundry, and program-required activities. Students are required to keep all receipts accumulated during the month. Alcohol and cigarettes are not allowed on maintenance receipts. Students must submit a monthly log with receipts accounting for maintenance expenditures as required by federal regulations. Staff will work with students to understand this process. 

Learning Shades

• The Blindness Empowerment and Independence Center is a non-visual training program. Therefore, all Center students who have residual vision, even light perception, are required to wear learning shades during the training day, which runs from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Students may remove their learning shades during the lunch period if they so choose. However, when attending a student meal, learning shades need to be worn. When completing a task, such as a travel route or cooking assignment, students must keep their learning shades on until the task is finished, even if the lunch hour or the end of the training day has arrived.
• Learning shades are to be worn tightly enough that visual information cannot be obtained. Removing, lifting, shifting, and peaking under the shades is prohibited. Any questions about the Center’s learning shade procedures should be directed to the Center’s Director.

Training Expectations

• Center students must use a long white rigid cane. Non-rigid canes such as folding or telescopic are not to be used. When not in their apartments, students must use their canes at all times, including evenings, weekends, and Center breaks. For example, students must use their canes when walking from their table to a vending machine or from one classroom to another, when they leave their apartment, or while in their home community.
• Students are required to participate in training activities. These activities are designed to build self-confidence and provide opportunities for students to use their skills in a number of different environments. Students are encouraged to suggest activities in which they are interested. These activities are an integral part of the core curriculum. Therefore, students are required to participate in training activities while wearing learning shades.
• Students who have been in Center training for 3 months on July 1 of each year are required to attend one of the two national blindness organization conventions. Students can choose either the National Federation of the Blind or American Council of the Blind convention. Expenses for attending these conventions will be covered as part of the student’s vocational rehabilitation plan if the convention activities would be related to their employment goal. If the convention expenses cannot be paid through the student’s VR plan, expenses will be covered by a grant from IDB’s Gifts and Bequests fund.
• Students are not permitted to loan money to other students or to purchase items, including meals, for other students. Students who have difficulty budgeting their money should speak with the Center’s Director. All receipts must be turned in before a student can receive their next maintenance check.
• Students have access to a refrigerator and microwave in the Home Management area for lunches. Most students bring in a sack lunch from their apartment. Other options include having lunch delivered at the IDB front desk or purchasing items from the vending machines in the lobby area. It is the students’ responsibility to ensure their space is cleaned after eating. Food and beverages without lids, are not permitted in the computer or braille rooms at any time.
• To aid speed of learning and transferability of skills, instructors will give students assignments to be completed non-visually outside the classroom. Students will be expected to complete these assignments on time. 

Workplace Expectations

• Students must keep phones on silent during class time and mandatory Center activities. If expecting an emergency call, students should alert the necessary Center staff during the class day. Talking time pieces are not permitted without permission from the Center Director.
• As this is a pre-vocational training program, the dress code for Center students is business casual. Students are expected to follow the dress code that has been approved for IDB staff. Students will be given guidelines for appropriate dress during Center activities. On most Fridays, the agency has jean day when students can wear jeans. Staff will inform students of events where jean day will not be permitted. If you currently do not possess the required type of attire, let the Center Director know so options can be discussed. It will be useful to have this business casual clothing following training for interviews and employment.
• Center students are prohibited from keeping dangerous weapons on Department premises, including in their apartments. Such weapons include but are not limited to firearms, explosives, poisonous gas, stun guns, antique and replica firearms, bows and arrows, knives with blades in excess of five inches in length, incendiary devices, switchblade knives, and stiletto. Any such weapons are subject to confiscation by Department staff and will be returned to students when training is ended.
• Classes are scheduled from 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. which includes a scheduled lunch. Students are expected to be on time for all classes. Students are responsible for calling in before 7:30 in the morning if they are ill or for some other reason are unable to attend classes. Roll call is taken at 8:00 AM, followed by announcements. A student who is late or absent and does not call the Center by the time roll call is taken will be counted late/absent. Deductions will be made from student monthly maintenance for lateness and unexcused absences. Specific details about attendance and absences can be found later in this handbook under attendance guidelines.
• Center students are expected to refrain from using or participating in the use of any form of communication that contains false, fraudulent, deceptive, or unfair statements or claims concerning fellow students, Iowa Department for the Blind staff members, or Center rules and guidelines in place within the Center.
• Students are expected to follow the Professionalism guidelines, Anti-Discrimination Policy, and Violence-Free Training Environment Policy outlined below at all times while participating in the Iowa Blindness Empowerment and Independence Center program.

Counseling and Training Professionalism Standards for IDB Staff and Clients

To provide the most effective counseling and training possible, we need to create a climate of mutual respect. Everyone is expected too conduct themselves in a kind and professional manner. This means:

• Respecting diversity and the human rights of others by engaging in courteous conduct regardless of an employee or client's race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, as is consistent with applicable state and federal policies and regulations.
• Not engaging in disrespectful behavior, including but not limited to:  offensive or inappropriate behavior, bullying, harassment, emotional abuse, discrimination, unwarranted physical contact, violence, and damaging gossip or rumors.

Additional Information

By policy, IDB staff are not allowed to make social media friend requests or accept social media friend requests from anyone to whom they are actively providing services. 

It is common practice for a teacher or counselor to touch a client’s hand, arm, or shoulder when working on learning to use a long white cane to travel independently, to teach a client how to safely use a kitchen knife, industrial arts tool, phone, keyboard, read or write braille, or other task outlined in your training plan or the program curriculum. If a request for touch does not seem necessary or appropriate, you have the right to ask the purpose and/or refuse the request. 

What do I do if I have concerns?

If something has occurred that cannot be addressed directly with the teacher or counselor, please contact that individual’s supervisor. 

• The supervisor for Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors is Keri Osterhaus and she can be reached at (515) 205-8583 or Keri.Osterhaus@blind.state.ia.us.
• The supervisor for Young Adult Transition Program and LEAP is Connie Mendenhall and she can be reached at (515) 981-8397 or Connie.Mendenhall@blind.state.ia.us.
• The supervisor for Independent Living Teachers is Kim Walford and she can be reached at (515) 250-1184 or Kim.walford@blind.state.ia.us.
• The supervisor for the Blindness Empowerment and Independence Center Instructors and Vocational Rehabilitation Teachers (VR field Training) is Karly Prinds and she can be reached at (515) 802-8162 or karly.prinds@blind.state.ia.us.
• If the issue involves Rehabilitation Technology Specialists or a supervisor at IDB, please contact the IDB Director, Emily Wharton. She can be reached at 515-802-7313 or emily.wharton@blind.state.ia.us.

Disciplinary Action

It shall be noted as a breach of The Blindness Empowerment and Independence Center’s guidelines and rules to violate any set of rules set forth in this document. Any violation may lead to discipline up to and including termination from Center training.  The Center Director will conduct an investigation regarding any and all alleged violations of rules and if warranted, disciplinary action may follow. The Blindness Empowerment and Independence Center will generally follow the concept of progressive discipline, beginning with less severe disciplinary measures for the first offense. However, the seriousness of the offense may dictate a more severe disciplinary action and could result in suspension of training at the first offense if such action is warranted by the situation. Disciplinary actions or measures for Center students may include written reprimands and suspension of training.

Violence-Free Training Environment Policy

The Department recognizes that violence in the Blindness Empowerment and Independence Center can seriously affect the training, performance, attitude, and morale of Center students. Threats, intimidation, harassment, verbal abuse, or acts of violence will not be tolerated. The Department is committed to a violence-free training environment for all students and staff, and its goal is to prevent any violence from occurring within that environment.

Any student who has been the victim of violence within the Center environment, or who has a concern about potential violence within that environment, is directed to bring the matter to the attention of a Center instructor, the Center’s Director, or the Director of the Department. All complaints will be promptly investigated, and appropriate action will be taken.  

Anti-Discrimination Policy

The Department will not tolerate or condone any form of sexual or discriminatory harassment of students receiving training in the Blindness Empowerment and Independence Center.

Immediate action will be taken to stop harassment or discrimination where it exists. Students who believe they are the subject of sexual or other discriminatory harassment by Department staff or other students need to report their concerns to the Center’s Director. They may also report alleged discrimination to the Director of the Department or to the Iowa Client Assistance Program. 

The Department also prohibits any form of harassment or other abusive conduct directed at Center students because of their race, sex, marital status, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, or mental or physical disability. Any harassment of this kind is also to be reported through the same process described above.

Apartment Rules

• Students are responsible for keeping their apartments neat and clean and for reporting maintenance problems to the apartment office.
• Quiet hours between the hours of 10:00 P.M. and 8:00 A.M. are standard rules in apartment buildings and must be observed by program participants living in student apartments.
• Smoking is prohibited inside the student apartments, but is allowed 25 feet away from the building, which is the parking lot area, or the fence lines, which do offer grass and sidewalk space. We just kindly ask that butts are not tossed on the property and once cooled off are disposed of in the trash cans.
• In accordance with Iowa State law, consumption of alcoholic beverages by anyone under the age of 21 is not allowed.
• Firearms, weapons, and explosives are not permitted.
• Illegal substances are not allowed in the apartments and are grounds for immediate termination from the program.
• In order to reduce cleaning and repair costs, IDB cannot allow pets of any kind in the student apartments.
• Nails and tacks cannot be put in the walls or doors. Items may be hung with command strips.