College Preparation
An investment in success for the college-bound individual.
College sounds glamorous and exciting to those who have never been enrolled in a college or university. College means independence because the person is moving away from home. The schedule is less structured than that of high school. There are many social opportunities and the chance to pursue your own course of study. It offers a chance to reach those long-dreamed of goals.
|  |
|---|
The College Preparatory Program at Lions World Services for the Blind (formerly Arkansas Enterprises for the Blind) was started in 1961 to bridge the gap between a former lifestyle and the college setting for blind or visually impaired individuals. The program has two rationales for preparatory training:
- college freshmen in general, whether sighted or visually impaired, are ill-prepared for college;
- blind or visually impaired persons face specific problems when entering college. The staff members at LWSB assist the students in developing purposeful and well-adjusted attitudes concerning college life, so the college experience can be self-directed and productive.
A study of graduates who completed the College Preparatory Program indicated a 14.8 percent college freshmen dropout rate of LWSB graduates as compared to a 50 percent dropout rate for other college freshmen.
College Preparatory Learning Opportunities
The nine-week summer College Preparatory Program offers three general areas of training: personal adjustment or adaptive skills, academic skills, and socialization skills. The course is offered on a formal basis each summer from mid-June through mid-August, and is also available on an individual basis upon request throughout the year.
Adaptive Skills
LWSB's professional staff provides evaluation and training in compensatory skill areas to each person enrolled in the College Preparatory Program. These skill areas include travel through use of a long cane, orientation to the environment and use of transportation systems, clothing care, grooming, housekeeping and cooking. The program includes oral communication skill development, note taking skills, and utilization of volunteer readers and library resources.
 |
All students can utilize training available in the state-of-the-art assistive technology and computer training area. The instruction and technology used is adapted for each student's needs. The students receive instruction regarding selection and scheduling of classes in a manageable manner, as well as methods for test taking as a blind or visually impaired person. They are also taught how to establish a degree plan and to use a college catalog. Counseling is provided both on an individual and group basis by professionals who have masters degrees with emphasis in working with blindness. |
Group sessions are conducted providing information from professionals on career choice, college selection, dormitory life, registration and grant application procedures.
Academic Skills
Students are taught note-taking skills, good study habits, library utilization, use of readers, instructor/student relationship, stress/time management and college class selections. An LWSB counselor provides individual case management services.
Socialization Skills
While on campus for the College Preparatory Program, students live in dormitories similar to those on college campuses. LWSB's social and recreational activities after class schedule and on weekends give students the experience of having the well-rounded and busy schedule they will need to become accustomed to on the college campus. |
 |
The wide variety of recreational and social activities includes outdoor activities such as hiking, swimming, and other active sports. They go on outing experiences to local restaurants and movies, and cultural activities at the local Arts Center and historical landmarks. The students are also counseled on dating, social and study time management and how to participate actively in the social environment of college life. |
|
Our Staff
LWSB's professional staff members are trained to work with persons who are blind or visually impaired in areas of individual and group counseling, rehabilitation teaching, orientation and mobility, vocational evaluation and low vision. The majority have graduate degrees in their respective areas of instruction. Other staff includes a full-time nurse. On a consultant basis are a psychiatrist, a psychologist, an ophthalmologist, and a general practice physician.
Our Center
LWSB is a private non-profit rehabilitation center that has served more than 9,200 people who are blind or visually impaired from all 50 states and 58 other countries since 1947. The center provides personal adjustment training, psychological testing and counseling, prevocational evaluation and vocational training. LWSB is fully accredited by the National Accreditation Council of Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Our Campus
LWSB's campus is a complex of buildings located on a full city block in southwest Little Rock just off Interstate 630. The six two-story buildings are constructed around a tree-shaded courtyard. On-campus housing is available for 91 persons in our women's and men's dormitories and two independent living apartments.
Our Admission Requirements
Persons interested in enrolling in the College Preparatory Program should submit an application through the referring source. All arrangements should be completed in advance between the referral source and LWSB.
