Post Secondary Readiness Program

The mission of the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons is to provide individuals who are blind or visually impaired the opportunity to achieve employment and independence. The Bureau believes in the capacity of each blind person to achieve excellence, to be productive, independent and to be involved in the community.

The purpose of the Bureau’s participation in college programs is to help the individual to become competitively employed.  Consumers are encouraged to select a vocational goal that will be pursued throughout their rehabilitation program, and until they have found employment in the competitive labor market.

The Bureau believes it is very important for students beginning the college experience to have the skills that will allow them to compete with their peers. Being ready to participate effectively in college means that the student will need to have attitudes, skills, and equipment that will allow them to be successful.

Before an Individual Plan for Employment (IPE) is developed for the Bureau’s participation in a program of higher learning, the individual must demonstrate his or her ability to function in the academic environment. The individual shall demonstrate his or her ability in the areas of communication skills, note taking, technology skills, travel, and activities of daily living. Other areas may be deemed necessary by the individual's counselor/teacher, in consultation with the consumer.

The Post Secondary Readiness Program has been developed to measure the student's preparedness for college. Considering the above statements, this tool has been developed to allow prospective students to demonstrate their level of independence in nine areas.  It is a tool for the counselor and the student to decide if other training or skill building is needed prior to starting college. To assist in this determination, each area will have either an exact score where available, or one of three ratings, depending upon the student’s performance: Needs Improvement (student was unable to complete or had considerable difficulty accomplishing one or more tasks); Meets Expectation (student completed all tasks); High Performing (student accomplished all tasks easily).

Effective methods for note taking, reading, and writing are crucial parts of being successful in a college program.

• In the student’s preferred reading format, reading expectations would be for a minimum speed of 100 wpm.
• Students are expected to score at a minimum of tenth grade level on the WRAT II.
• Students are expected to read at tenth grade level or above on the Basic Reading Inventory.

The emphasis throughout is on adaptive skills and independent functioning. These are the basis for success, both in college and employment.

The Post Secondary Readiness Program can be administered at the BSBP Training Center or by other qualified centers or staff. This program will be completed in its entirety, utilizing the specified measurement tools.