BLAKE BOUDREAUX

28
BLAKE BOUDREAUX Living in Darkness, Always Seeing Hope

description

Living in Darkness, Always Seeing Hope. BLAKE BOUDREAUX. OVERVIEW. My Childhood: Growing Up with a Disability High School Years: Looking Toward the Future. Post Graduation: Entering College and Living Independently. Achieving the Impossible and Entering the Workforce. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of BLAKE BOUDREAUX

Page 1: BLAKE BOUDREAUX

BLAKE BOUDREAUX

Living in Darkness, Always Seeing Hope

Page 2: BLAKE BOUDREAUX

OVERVIEW My Childhood: Growing Up with a

Disability High School Years: Looking Toward

the Future. Post Graduation: Entering College

and Living Independently. Achieving the Impossible and

Entering the Workforce.

Page 3: BLAKE BOUDREAUX

My Childhood: Growing Up With A Disability

While rolling a ball to his 14 month old son, Blake’s father noticed a halo in his son’s eyes. Later that day Blake was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma, cancer of the eyes, which led to years of treatment and caused him to lose the majority of his sight.

Page 4: BLAKE BOUDREAUX

My Childhood: Growing Up With A Disability

Blake and his family never let blindness interfere with him being involved in activities.

Page 5: BLAKE BOUDREAUX

My Childhood: Growing Up With A Disability

Blake remained active throughout

his childhood, always looking

for new challenges to

tackle.

Page 6: BLAKE BOUDREAUX

Adjustment and Acceptance. Focus on the

abilities, not disabilities.

Inclusion, walking side by side with sighted peers.

Setting goals high and believing nothing is impossible.

Page 7: BLAKE BOUDREAUX

Bicycle Built for Two: The Gift that Backfired

“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter/.” -E.E. Cummings

Page 8: BLAKE BOUDREAUX

High School Years: Looking Toward the

Future

Page 9: BLAKE BOUDREAUX

Teaching a Child With a Disability, How Educators Can Shape the

Lives of Students. Educators throughout my years in school

played a vital role in my life. My high school years were filled with teachers who worked hard to prepare me for the future. Outside of my home, my teachers were

the positive influence that I needed. Creating a positive mindset, encouraging independence and preparing me for the

real world.

Page 10: BLAKE BOUDREAUX

Tips for Educators Working With Students With Special Needs

Listen and get to know each students individual needs. Just

because students may have the same or similar disability does not necessarily mean the same accommodations are needed.

Page 11: BLAKE BOUDREAUX

Tips for Educators Working With Students With Special Needs

Promote independence and self advocacy. Beginning to teach these essential skills early will

better prepare a student following their graduation.

Page 12: BLAKE BOUDREAUX

Tips for Educators Working With Students With Special Needs

Confidence building and acceptance are extremely important when

working with students with disabilities. Find ways to build the

confidence of your students and help them in being accepted by their

peers.

Page 13: BLAKE BOUDREAUX

Tips for Educators Working With Students With Special Needs

Work in partnership with others to assist the student while in high

school and preparing for the future. Working closely with parents and

outside agencies such as DARS will be beneficial to your student in

reaching his/her goals.

Page 14: BLAKE BOUDREAUX

High School Years: Looking Toward the

FutureBlake graduated with honors from Deer Park High School in 2002. With his diploma in hand, Blake focused on his next goal in life, attending college and earning a degree.

Page 15: BLAKE BOUDREAUX

Getting involved, Preparing for the World

of Work. Extra curricular activities Volunteering in your

community. Part time work (summer

or after school)

Building your resume at an early age

Page 16: BLAKE BOUDREAUX

An Incredible Football Play…

…Or So I thought.

Page 17: BLAKE BOUDREAUX

My 5 Tips to be Successful in a College Setting

 Research and decide on a college that you feel best suits you and your needs. Take advice from others but ultimately make a decision you can live with.

Page 18: BLAKE BOUDREAUX

My 5 Tips to be Successful in a College Setting

Meet with the office of Disability Services prior to the start of each

semester to discuss any accommodations needed. You will

need to have documentation of accommodations you received in high school so that they can best

serve you.

Page 19: BLAKE BOUDREAUX

My 5 Tips to be Successful in a College Setting

Be prepared to live independently. Even living in a dorm is a whole new world compared to living at home. Mom will not be there to make you home cooked meals or wash your

clothes.

Page 20: BLAKE BOUDREAUX

My 5 Tips to be Successful in a College Setting

Be prepared and willing to advocate for yourself. At this stage in your life, you and only you will be responsible for speaking with professors, other students and anyone else regarding

your disability.

Page 21: BLAKE BOUDREAUX

My 5 Tips to be Successful in a College Setting

Do not get discouraged! Expect that difficulties will arise and learn to

overcome the obstacles. College is difficult especially if it is your first

semester away from home. You are trying to adapt to living

independently, trying to make new friends all while trying to balance

your academics.

Page 22: BLAKE BOUDREAUX

Post Graduation: Entering College and Living Independently.

Blake graduated with honors from Texas A&M University in May of 2007 with a double major in Speech Communications and Sociology.

Although the road to receiving his degree was difficult at times, the day he walked across that stage was one of the proudest moments of his life.

Page 23: BLAKE BOUDREAUX

Advocacy and Communication Learning to disclose

and speak about my disability.

Learning to ask for assistance when needed.

Being a voice for all students with disabilities.

Page 24: BLAKE BOUDREAUX

The Wheels on the Bus

Go Round and Round and Round…

Page 25: BLAKE BOUDREAUX

Disability Employment Statistics“The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor

Statistics has released disability employment statistics for December [2010] showing that the

percentage of people with disabilities in the labor force was 21.0. By comparison, the percentage of persons with no disability in the labor force was

69.6. The unemployment rate for those with disabilities was 14.3 percent, compared with 8.9

percent for persons with no disability, not seasonally adjusted.”

-Disability.gov

Page 26: BLAKE BOUDREAUX

EmploymentEarly in 2008 Blake decided to follow his heart and take a position where he could use his passion and experiences to help inspire others.

Page 27: BLAKE BOUDREAUX

The Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, or DARS, administers programs that ensure Texas is a state where people with disabilities, and children who have developmental delays, enjoy the same opportunities as other Texans to live independent and productive lives.The department has four divisions:• Rehabilitation Services • Blind Services • Early Childhood Intervention Services • Disability Determination Services Through these divisions, DARS administers programs that help Texans with disabilities find jobs through vocational rehabilitation, ensure that Texans with disabilities live independently in their communities, and assist families in helping their children under age 3 with disabilities and delays in development reach their full potential.

Page 28: BLAKE BOUDREAUX

Blake BoudreauxPhone: (713) 446-0874E-Mail: [email protected]

CONTACT INFORMATION