Earlier this year, the Mississippi State University (MSU) National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision (NRTC) was selected by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) as the federally-designated National Research and Training Center on Employment Outcomes for Individuals Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired. This five-year, $4.25-million federal grant will support the NRTC’s efforts to increase competitive opportunities and outcomes for blind or visually impaired individuals in the job market.
An Employment Mentoring Intervention
The Mississippi State RRTC researchers are now entering the recruitment phase for A New Employment Research Project for College/Graduate Students and Mentors Who are Blind or Visually Impaired, one of six current research projects. This randomized, controlled trial will study the effectiveness of pairing college students who are legally blind with mentors who are employed in similar professions and who are also blind or visually impaired.
From the Mississippi State NRTC news release:
We know that young adults who are blind often have difficulty finding employment, and this project will test whether pairing students who are blind with successful mentors (who are also blind) in their career fields will help. This project contributes to the field by providing data to support evidence-based practices.
It also is expected to benefit the participants by:
- providing mentees with assistance in career goal development, training related to skills development for job seeking, and opportunities to job shadow with a career mentors who are also blind or visually impaired;
- giving mentors the opportunity to share knowledge and experience to assist young professionals in their field or discipline;
- enabling participants to play an important role in research that seeks to benefit the blindness community.
Nationwide recruitment is underway now and will continue through July 2012. We will recruit college and graduate students who are legally blind and are planning to seek employment after graduation. Mentees will be paired with mentors who live nearby to allow face-to-face meetings in the mentor’s workplace.
To volunteer for participation in this project, please complete a preliminary online eligibility survey, either for students or for professionals.
For more information, please visit the project website or contact Dr. Jamie O’Mally by email at nrtc2@colled.msstate.edu or by phone at 662-325-2001.