Page 30 - ENEWS-November _ Fall 2020 Edition_Classical

Kings & Queens Volume V11, No. 2

MINDFUL MOMENTS

OF

OTHER DISTRICT DOINGS

Fall 2020 Update

VISIONS Has Been Helping VCB" sessions. These sessions brought and engage in VCB traditional programming, such
as daily walks, fitness sessions, Bingo, Karaoke
Participants Stay Social While interactive games, discussion groups, health and movie night.
and wellness activities, talent showcases, and
Social Distancing opportunities for participants to connect (or
In March, VISIONS had to pause all in-person reconnect) with their
services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This 
pause did not stop our amazing staff from thinking friends directly from their homes. We
outside the box, and quickly adapting to new are happy to have provided this service
technology in order to keep VISIONS moving to 46 participants!
forward with service provision and ensuring finan- The VRC hosted its latest Residential 15-
cial sustainability. week Employment Readiness and Pre-
Over the past six months, VISIONS staff com- ETS (Pre-Employment Transition Ser-
pletely rethought and optimized their services to vices) Program, starting with 4 weeks of
run virtually; while our fundraising staff came up remote instruction over Zoom, followed by Congratulations to the VRC's Summer
with creative ways to keep supporters entertained 2020 Pre-ETS and Employment Readiness
and informed while lifting their spirits; all while Class! We are very proud of our participants for
our administrative staff worked tirelessly with staying focused and committed to completing the
local and federal government officials to ensure the program, even in the midst of a pandemic. They
agency would have no layoffs, salary reductions, or have shown true perseverance in the most chal-
major cuts to our overall funding.
lenging environment, and we cannot wait to see
Here is what we have been up to: where their career paths lead to next! Depart-
ment of Workforce Development

in-person instruction for the remaining weeks
In August, VCB hosted three Family Week
Sessions for children who are blind or visual-
ly impaired, as well as their families. Children
and their parents enjoyed fun activities and
games, while connecting with other families
and joining our growing community of VCB
families.
 Our Workforce department hosted virtual
work readiness trainings, including
VISIONS Center on Blindness an Alternative to Work Program for college
(VCB) and Vocational Rehabili- students who were unable to work this summer
tation Center (VRC) because of canceled internships. A total of 10
college, and recent college graduates suc-

 In July, VCB and the VRC resumed cessfully completed the program which
providing programs and services to partic- included a final capstone project and
ipants. All VCB and VRC staff and participants presentation.
take precautions and steps to minimize the risk of
illness as recommended by the CDC and local  Deanna Calamusa, Workforce Specialist
officials when taking part in any in-person pro- teamed up with our Social Work staff and
grams. launched a virtual social work group to pro-
VCB also hosted two Caregiver Respite vide virtual group counseling to job seekers.
In response to the continued stay-at-home orders weekends, allowing caregivers of children
in July, VCB held its very first "Virtual or adults with visual impairments to relax,