Linking Learning to Life

E-Mentoring for the Blind & Visually Impaired Youth

E-Mentoring for the Blind & Visually Impaired Youth is an exciting new collaborative venture was recently launched that brings together the resources and talents of several Vermont organizations with a common goal: to prepare youth who are blind or visually impaired for successful employment and continued learning. The Connections T 2EAM employs the resources and skills of these partners: Linking Learning to Life, Recycle North, the Division for the Blind & Visually Impaired, the Vermont Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired, and the Gibney Family Foundation. The foundation also generously supports the work of each of the other partner organizations.

As a part of this new initiative, Linking Learning to Life is providing E-Mentoring for youth who are blind or visually impaired. Students are matched with role models, who are professionals in a field in which the student has expressed interest. For a period of one year, the student and his or her mentor will participate in weekly e-mail exchanges to discuss designated topics. The dialogue is intended to provide an opportunity to develop interpersonal skills, the constructive use of technology, the use of resources and information, setting goals and devising means to reaching goals, and career exploration. This program also emphasizes the use of adaptive technology to overcome isolation. In addition to e-mail exchanges, students and mentees will have occasional opportunities to spend time together in safe and supervised environments. Moreover, program organizers will arrange for students to visit actual worksites.