Arkansas Regional Cane Quest

Cane Quest by Braille Institute

Cane Quest by Braille Institute
April 2024

Cane Quest is a challenging orientation and mobility contest developed by Braille Institute of America, Inc. Cane Quest seeks to motivate students to practice their skills while serving as an age-appropriate benchmark for expectations and an opportunity to educate the sighted public about the independence abilities of blind youth and adults.

Who:  Cane-users in 3rd-12th grades

Where:  Little Rock, AR

Why:  Promote the independence of cane users across the state.

For more information contact the Arkansas Regional Coordinator, Whitney Musick at ESVI.

Jump Start Summer Internship Program

June 2024
Program of the Division of Services for the Blind
located on the ASBVI campus, Little Rock

Jump Start is a three-week summer program that the Division of Services for the Blind and the Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired collaboratively sponsor. The program is for blind and visually impaired high school students 16 years old or older.  The purpose of the program is to expose the students to the world of work and help them with transitioning from high school to employment/adulthood. We place the students in part-time jobs in the morning and expose them to fun and educational activities in the afternoon. This could range from taking classes on resume building and workplace readiness, self-advocating or gaining skills in cooking and cleaning. We provide transportation to and from their work sites and we even provide them with a salary.

Contact Latasha Mays at DSB for more information.

World Services for the Blind
Summer Program

WSB logo

July 9 – 30, 2023
World Services for the Blind, Little Rock

Are you wrapping up your high school career and unsure of what adulting holds for you? This summer, we at World Services for the Blind are going to help you reach beyond your limits! We have designed a fun, educational, intensive program that will give you the knowledge, resources, connections, and courage to step into the real world with success. You will have the chance of a lifetime to interact with community leaders in leadership, politics, finance, technology, post-secondary education, workforce development, hospitality, and health education–a truly one-of-a-kind experience you will not want to miss.

Beyond Your Limits 2023

This three-week life-changing experience will take clients through a myriad of topics.  You will hear from business leaders about jobs that are in demand as well as how you can approach the issue of disability with future employers.  Hear from HR professionals about what employers mean by employable skills, what they look for in a resume, and what to do once you get hired.  Financial counselors will teach you about budgeting, financial planning, and taxes.  You will have the opportunity to learn about civil and disability rights from Disability Rights Arkansas.  You will learn about voting and receive a tutorial on how to use accessible voting machines.  We are also excited to tour the Capital and meet with local representatives.  

We will also be covering life skills that matter to you as an adult.  Practice planning meals, grocery shopping, and preparing food, all while learning to make healthy choices that set you up for success.  Learn why preventative medical care can save you future troubles.  Get educated on planning for your transportation, including the use of local bus routes, paratransit, Uber, and Lyft.  Learn how to use a variety of GPS apps and technologies in real-life scenarios.  

What takes this summer program Beyond Limits is our commitment to giving you real information that you will use in your real life.  Over the three-week program, you will be able to speak to successful people who have careers and have graduated college, even though they live with a visual impairment.  Find out from college recruiters what they are looking for from prospective students.  Participate in activities intended to grow your confidence in your ability to live life as an independent adult.  By the end, you will feel ready to tackle life as an adult and without allowing your visual impairment to define you.

Focus: The five Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) focus areas include:

  • Job Exploration Counseling to support a discovery process using customized tools that help students discover their skills, abilities, and interests
  • Post-secondary Exploration to provide counseling on opportunities for enrollment in local community college / post-secondary education programs
  • Instruction in Self-Advocacy to assist students in gaining the knowledge and skills to effectively communicate, convey, negotiate, or assert their own interests and/or desires
  • Work-Place Readiness Training to develop social skills and independent living
  • Work-based Learning Experiences to provide work opportunities and experiences outside of the traditional school setting

Beyond Your Limits application

Arkansas Regional Braille Challenge

February 2024

Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Little Rock, Arkansas

The Arkansas Regional Braille Challenge was held at the Arkansas School for the Blind’s campus Thursday, February 16, 2023. We were so excited and welcome students, grades 1-12 to participate.

We also hosted a “Parent Symposium” on this day, full of parent workshops and information.

Contact: Lori Cole | lori.cole@asb.k12.ar.us| 501-351-0413