Blind Transition Services Manager | Shannon McVoy
5/14/2023 | 2mVideo has Closed Captions
Genesis learns how STEM is integral to transition services for the visually impaired.
Genesis learns how STEM is integral to transition services for the visually impaired. Transitions Services Manager Shannon McVoy takes Genesis on a tour of the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She shows Genesis how the BSBP provides vocational skills and adaptive technology training to empower people in achieving their education and career goals!
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
Curious About Careers is a local public television program presented by WKAR
Original production funding for Curious About Careers was provided by Capital Area College Access Network and United Way South Central Michigan.
Blind Transition Services Manager | Shannon McVoy
5/14/2023 | 2mVideo has Closed Captions
Genesis learns how STEM is integral to transition services for the visually impaired. Transitions Services Manager Shannon McVoy takes Genesis on a tour of the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She shows Genesis how the BSBP provides vocational skills and adaptive technology training to empower people in achieving their education and career goals!
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
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Hi, I'm Genesis, and today I'm here with Shannon McVoy.
Shannon, can you tell me where we are and what you do?
- Absolutely!
We are at the Michigan Bureau of Services for Blind Persons Training Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
I'm the statewide Transition Services manager and my job is basically to help students who are blind and visually impaired learn what they wanna do after they leave high school.
You take any piece of paper and you put it under the screen and then a student can make the font bigger or smaller.
- What are transition services?
- Transition services are a series of activities and programs that we design specifically for students who are blind and visually impaired to learn what it's like in the workplace and in post-secondary education.
We teach students anything from independent living skills, like how to make meals in a kitchen, from adaptive computer technology to orientation and mobility.
- How are everyday things adopted to utilize sense of touch?
- We use a lot of braille in our building, as well as raised lines.
So this is what they call a braille embosser.
Somebody from their computer will take a Word document and they'll translate it into this braille.
We also are using a lot of 3D print technology so that students can feel an adaptation of what something would be.
It's different textures, so a student will be able to understand the different layers that are in the sun.
- How is STEM involved in transition services training?
- STEM is such an important field for our students to be aware of.
A lot of students who are blind and visually impaired don't realize that STEM is an option for them, so we try to focus on programs that will highlight STEM careers so that our students can really do some hands-on work.
- What advice do you have for kids who are interested in a career like yours?
- My advice to kids is to explore all their possibilities and to look at different options that they may have never thought of.
- Shannon McVoy taught me how STEM can heighten our senses.
Explore your possibilities!
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Curious About Careers is a local public television program presented by WKAR
Original production funding for Curious About Careers was provided by Capital Area College Access Network and United Way South Central Michigan.