What can a student learn at the Michigan Commission for the Blind Training Center?  Specific classes and training are based on each student's needs, abilities and goals combined with his or her counselor's recommendations. To give you a general idea of the possibilities, here are some (but not all) of the skills taught at the center:

Activities of Daily Living:

Personal hygiene techniques and grooming skills

Laundry skills

Folding and hanging clothes

Matching and labeling clothes

Adapted hand sewing

Making a bed/changing sheets

Cleaning patterns

Floor care

Dusting and polishing

Cleaning mirrors and windows

Cleaning the bathroom

Organization skills

Adaptive Kitchen Skills:

Labeling techniques

Kitchen safety

Pouring liquids

Measuring liquid and dry ingredients

Stirring, scraping and spreading

Slicing, dicing and peeling

Detecting heat and boiling

Frying and turning

Stove and oven use

Labeling and identifying foods

Can openers, hand and electric

Using adapted cookbooks

Preparing simple cold and hot foods

Preparing common hot foods

Menu planning

Review skills associated with grocery shopping

Use of adaptive equipment

Use of adaptive timing devices

Adapted eating techniques

Safe food handling/storage

Microwave use

Apartment Training Experience:

Apartment rules

Emergency procedures

Kitchen and bathroom sanitation

Time management

Safe food handling, storage and preparation

Independent shopping

Menu planning and developing a shopping list

Money management

Organization

Using a community laundromat

Independent travel

Apartment Seeking:

Common abbreviated want ad terminology

Common housing terminology

Mortgage and leasing contracts

Renters' rights and responsibilities

Renters' and home owners' insurance

Michigan Section-8 Housing

County Section-8 Housing

Locating housing within the student's home community

Braille:

Alphabet familiarization

Number familiarization

Slate familiarization and writing speed (words per minute)

Reading own writing and reading speed (words per minute)

Labeling techniques

Basic punctuation

Alphabetic word signs and short-form words

Completed Grade 1 and fluency (words per minute)

Completed Grade 2 and fluency (words per minute)

Use of Braille writer and fluency (words per minute)

Calendars

Free Matter for the Blind mailing

Personal note-taking

Calculating Skills:

Use of manual and electronic devices

Mental math techniques

College Preparatory Program: 

This experience is offered to assist students with better meeting their training needs in an academic setting.  It is offered in cooperation with local colleges and universities.  This program is usually offered during the summer months in cooperation with the MCB Vocational Rehabilitation Program.

Communications:

Using dial and push-button phones

Phone recording

Relay emergency information

National library services

Use of talking and cassette book machines

Use of standard and modified recorders

Organizing audio tapes

Personal note taking

Cassette and Free Matter for the Blind mailing

Recording techniques

Cleaning, demagnetizing and erasing

Service sources, e.g., Recordings for the Blind

Computer Familiarization: 

The opportunity to work with select computer hardware and software.  This opportunity is designed to introduce students to skills beyond those introduced in the keyboarding skill area.

Computer Training:

Advanced training offered with select computer hardware and software through Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Michigan.  This training is offered on-site at the MCB Training Center and is taught by Ms. Marlene Schwartz.

Counseling Services: 

Students are required to participate in rehabilitation and vocational counseling.

Crafts: 

Introduction to leisure time and therapeutic crafts.

Daily Living Skills:

Select grooming skills, e.g., hair and nail care, shaving, use of deodorant and cosmetics, dental care, etc. 

Sorting clothes

Washing clothes by hand

Machine washing and drying

Folding and hanging clothes

Matching and labeling clothes

Adapted hand sewing

Ironing

Sweeping and mopping

Shoe care

Making and changing a bed

Cleaning patterns

Use of a vacuum cleaner

Dusting and polishing

Cleaning mirrors and windows

Cleaning bathroom fixtures and floors

Smoking and lighting matches safely

Organization skills

Making purchases

Calculating skills

Eating Techniques:

Evaluation of individual eating skills

Independence within a cafeteria setting

Use of a cafeteria tray

Orientation skills

Use of utensils

Ability to locate dropped food

Use of salt and pepper shakers

Ability to pour liquids

Use of a pusher

Use of a napkin

Ability to cut food

Use of adapted devices (such as plate guards)

Employment Readiness Seminar: 

A three-day program periodically offered in cooperation with the MCB Vocational Rehabilitation Program.

Group Discussions: 

Opportunity for contact with other visually impaired persons and sharing of individual experiences, e.g., group diabetic class, vocational and non-vocational groups, group orientation and mobility, and support groups.

Handwriting:

Adapted devices such as bold-line pens

Signature

Check, envelope and signature guides

Letter writing

Health Education: 

Select skill training to assist students in achieving independence with health care needs, e.g., management of medications, personal hygiene, diabetic maintenance, basic first aid, and skills associated with universal precautions.

Home Mechanics:

Fire safety

Use of tools and mechanical functions

Organization of tools and parts

General safety considerations

Knowledge regarding obtaining supplies and resources

Ability to disassemble and reassemble

Use of common hand tools

Cleaning drains

Fuse box and circuit breaker safety

Long cane maintenance and repair

Use of Braille, raised dot, and click rulers

Repairing faucets

Wiring lamp sockets and plugs

Energy conservation

Flush tank repair

Wrapping and mailing packages

Industrial Arts:

Safety procedures

Use of measuring devices

Hand sanding

Squaring of wood

Clean-up skills

Hammering a nail

Ability to plan

Ability to follow directions

Ability to self-initiate an activity

Organization of work area

Ability to scribe a line

Clamping wood

Gluing of stock

Use of a screwdriver, hand drill, miter box, drill press, belt sander, electric hand drill, orbital sander, band saw, table saw, wood lathe, joiner, radial arm saw, router and surface planer

Keyboarding:

Location of home row, alphabet letter, number and arrow keys

Ability to correct mistakes

Indention and spacing

Location of punctuation marks and special symbols

Personal and business letters

Addressing envelopes

Using a typewriter

Using computer-generated large print and synthetic voice

Formatting a data disk

Inserting a data disk into a computer

Loading, saving and printing documents using a data disk

Using a computer printer

Text editing

Five-minute timed typing [wpm minus errors]

Low Vision:

Follow-up training as recommended by a low-vision clinic

Exposure to selected near, distance and CCTV devices

Ability to meet illumination needs

Color contrast

Use of sun wear

Maintenance of low-vision devices

Use of related devices, e.g., reading stands and lamps

Money and Time:

Time concepts

Setting and telling time using talking, Braille and large-print watches

Use of an alarm clock (talking, Braille and large-print)

Use of calculating devices

Use of adapted calendars

Identifying coins and paper money

Coin equivalents

Counting money and making correct change

Use of savings and checking accounts

Budgeting skills

Nutrition Education: 

Select skills designed to meet individual nutrition needs.

Occupational Therapy:

Physical capacities

Sensation

Strength and endurance

Coordination and balance

Select skills and evaluations as requested by counselors

Optacon:

Letter recognition

Tracking capability

Ability to operate unit

Reading speed (words per minute)

Reading comprehension

Knowledge of common print format

Use of calculator, typewriter and CRT lenses

Orientation and Mobility:

One- or two-week evaluation

College evaluation

Vending stand evaluation

Indoor familiarization

Sighted guide

Indoor travel

Residential travel

Small business travel

Downtown travel

Special environments, e.g., rural, mall

Information gathering

Use of public transportation

Night travel

Electronic travel devices

Limited introduction to traveling with a dog guide

Route planning

Personal Exercise: 

Selected skills associated with general exercise activities

Special Needs Skill Training:

Palm printing

Finger spelling and use of manual alphabet

Sign language skills

Alphabet cards

Tell-a-touch

Vibrating alarm clocks and related devices

Silent Call

TDD and telephone amplifiers

Personal FM systems

Using the relay system

Using loop audiotapes, message cards, and similar devices

Use of electronic travel devices

Work Evaluation and Work Adjustment: 

Contracted through Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Michigan

Services are provided equally to consumers regardless of race, sex, color, religion, national origin, or other factors as stated in Michigan Law Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Revised:  10/04