Foundation course for people with vision impairments

Rules

Eligibility

The Foundation Course is open to people between the ages of 16 and 65 with a significant degree of sight loss. To be eligible to participate in the course a trainee should:

• Be medically certified by his/her GP as being fit to attend the course
• Have the physical stamina to take part in a course with a daily duration of six hours and the additional time necessary to travel to and from the centre
• Have the capacity to concentrate for an hour-long class period
• Demonstrate a potential to take part in the activities of the programme
• Display a potential for further training and/or employment
• Have the capability to integrate with trainers, trainees and staff in a socially acceptable manner
• Have sufficient dexterity or demonstrate a potential to have sufficient dexterity to manipulate a keyboard
• Have a level of literacy that enables him/her to spell basic words.

Programme duration

The course runs for approximately 12 months and can be followed on either a full-time or a part-time basis

Full-time: Training hours are 9:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday. This works out at 35 hours per week, including breaks.

Part-time: For individuals unable to do the course on a full-time basis, a part-time modular method of following the course can be arranged with the NCBI

If a trainee leaves the course before completion, he/she will be able to resume training at a later date.

Trainee catchment area

The course takes place in the Dublin area but is open to applicants from all over the country. The training centre is located on the premises of the National Council for the Blind of Ireland, Whitworth Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 9.

Trainees attending the programme must have the potential to commute to and from the centre on a daily basis. Transport will be available for all trainees in the early stages of the programme but after the first three months, most trainees should be using public transport.

Training approach

The course offers a trainee-centred approach, emphasising trainees and their unique training needs and involving the development of personal programme plans for individuals.

Course content

The content of the course is divided into several sections. These include:

• Educational needs: literacy, numeracy, Braille and handwriting
• Independent living skills: kitchen skills, mobility and daily living skills
• Personal effectiveness: self-development
• Movement, fitness and recreation: movement, relaxation, music appreciation, fitness, yoga and outdoor pursuits
• Skills training: keyboarding, word processing, telephony, office procedures, media studies, cookery, pottery and crafts
• Job seeking skills: preparing CVs, presenting for interviews, visits to other centres
• Work experience: work experience and placements

You can find further information on mobility training for people with visual impairment here.

Course objectives

The following are examples of aims towards which a trainee may wish to work:

• Demonstrate increased literacy and numeracy skills
• Demonstrate increased capability in Braille - minimum requirement Grade standard in reading and writing (optional)
• Demonstrate improved handwriting ability
• Show increased personal effectiveness
• Prepare a one-course meal for two
• Be able to wash, iron and sew a button on a blouse/shirt and budget for one week
• Be able to move freely from the workplace and travel independently with a minimum of sighted assistance and have sufficient mobility to be safe, not endanger others and be as independent as possible
• Be able to demonstrate basic yoga positions, move in time to music, perform a personalised fitness programme and participate in an outdoor-pursuits programme
• Identify all keys on a keyboard
• Use the computer and printer to copy a simple letter layout to screen with acceptable accuracy and print out same
• Be able to make an enquiry by telephone and take a message in the appropriate medium
• Make one craft object, e.g., a clay model or a polycord stool
• Be able to operate a micro cassette recorder
• Demonstrate a basic working knowledge and a degree of competence in pottery skills
• Prepare an application for employment and present successfully at an interview.

Course accreditation

The Foundation course is accredited through the National Accreditation Committee (NAC), an organisation that sets standards for centres providing training to people with disabilities in Ireland. If trainees have completed areas of the course that are eligible for certification (e.g., computer skills and telephony), certificates will be awarded to trainees through the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC).

Employment

There is an Employment Officer on-site at the NCBI, who will assist trainees in their job-seeking endeavours (for example, career guidance, preparation of CVs, help finding work placements, advice, etc.) but it is up to individual trainees to source future employment.