TEXAS WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS–VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES

TEXASCONFIDENCEBUILDERS

Texas Workforce Solutions comprisesthe Texas Workforce Commission,28 local workforce development boardsand our service-providing partners.Together we provide workforceeducation, training and supportservices, including vocationalrehabilitation assistance for the peopleof Texas.

TEXASCONFIDENCEBUILDERS

is a training philosophy used byTexas Workforce Solutions-Vocational Rehabilitation Services(TWS-VRS) to help vocationalrehabilitation customers adjust toblindness, become independent, aswell as find and retain employment.

”We gain strength, and courage, andconfidence by each experience in which we

really stop to look fear in the face... we mustdo that which we think we cannot.”

Eleanor Roosevelt

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Since 1931, Texas has been working withthousands of people who are blind orvisually impaired by providing neededblind services.

By using a variety of skills, alternativetechniques and available technologies,people who are blind or visually impairedare fully capable of leading an independentand productive life. Choosing an education,career, family, hobbies, recreation, oreven travel are easily within the graspof every person who learns and mastersthe core skills that are based on the TexasConfidence Builders philosophy.

TWS-VRS staff, both VocationalRehabilitation (VR) and IndependentLiving Services for Older Individuals WhoAre Blind or Visually Impaired (OIB), workin partnership with customers to helpthem achieve employment and personalindependence by providing trainingprograms focused on individualcustomer needs.

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A Break with TraditionIn the past, people who were blind orvisually impaired, learned a set of skillsand techniques designed for a certain setof activities, goals, or circumstances. Thisapproach may work for a short term, butnew skills must be learned to overcomenew challenges.

By teaching a solid foundation of basicskills, TWS-VRS is helping people who areblind or visually impaired be prepared fornew situations as they occur.

Building ConfidenceTexas Confidence Builders focuses onthree principal areas to help customersfeel empowered and develop confidencein themselves: learning, thinking positivelyand building skills.

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LearningBased on the Texas Confidence Buildersphilosophy, TWS-VRS staff will help ourcustomers learn about their vision loss—beginning with their own vision loss andmedical condition(s). Armed with facts, customers are better able to analyze theirsituation more realistically and plan fortheir future accordingly.

Believe in yourself.

Thinking PositivelyDeveloping a healthy attitude is the keyto opening a door to new possibilities.Texas Confidence Builders will benefitthe customers most when they havean attitude of belief in themselves anda positive outlook towards their future.Learning blindness skills can increasepersonal independence and make theaccomplishment of tasks easier, butthe acquisition of skills is not enough.If customers do not develop a belief inthemselves on an emotional level andthe confidence to move forward, they willmost likely fail to practice the skills theyhave learned. They may continue to believeblindness skills are inferior to sightedtechniques and feel embarrassment,shame or fear when using them. By havinga positive attitude and using learnedskills together customers can achievetheir employment and/or goals forindependence.

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Building SkillsWhile receiving TWS-VRS services, allcustomers are expected to achieve basicabilities that cover six aspects, also knownas “The Big Six,” of the Texas ConfidenceBuilders philosophy:

1. Adjustment to Visual Impairment

2. Independent Living Skills

3. Travel Skills

4. Communication Skills

5. Vocational Skills

6. Support Systems

Take chances.

The Texas Confidence Buildersphilosophy is designed to incorporate“The Big Six" as well as other empowermentareas that all customers need to masterto successfully achieve their personaland vocational goals. Self-empowermentcannot happen without internalizing thebelief that we are competent and capableof achieving our goals. By partnering withour customers to master “The Big Six”, weprovide them with the opportunity toacquire the self-confidence and skills theyneed to achieve true self-empowerment.

“The Big Six”1. Adjustment to Visual Impairment

Customers learn to understand andaccept that it is respectable to be blind,

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realistic self-confidence based on personalcompetency and high expectations ispromoted, and the program ensures thatpeople who are blind or visually impairedenjoy the same opportunities as otherTexans to pursue independence andemployment.

2. Independent Living Skills

Customers gain the confidence to managedozens of day-to-day tasks, such as gainingthe personal skills to independentlyprepare a meal, cleaning their home orlaundry, preparing a budget and takingcare of personal finances. Through TexasConfidence Builders, customers learn to beself-sufficient in managing their ownmedications, accessing health-relatedservices, and dealing with doctors andother professionals. Customers also learn

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various methods for organizing informationsuch as meetings, appointments, addresses,music collections, recipes and tools.Customers also learn a variety of non-visualways to organize and access information.These skills help customers become moreconfident, self-reliant, and gain a sense ofcontrol of their life. All these are vitallyimportant to people who want to beindependent, make their own choices, andlead their own lives.

3. Travel Skills

Customers meet this challenge head-on bylearning a variety of travel techniques.Customers learn to develop travel skills usinga white travel cane by confidently navigatinga variety of settings. Customers learn how tonegotiate city sidewalks, cross busyintersections, ride various modes of

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transportation, maneuver through abustling airport, or just take a quiet walk ona country road. Developing a sense ofconfidence in the ability to travel where andwhen a customer wants is the goal in thisskill area.

B c me o e em powered.

4. Communication Skills

Customers learn how to communicate with the medium that is suited for them. Forexample, use of Braille is an important skillbecause, regardless of the customer’sfuture circumstances, it gives the individuala dependable method of receiving,organizing and sharing information. Use oftechnology is another big part ofcommunication. Through Texas ConfidenceBuilders, customers develop the skills touse computers, calculators, adaptive aids,and other “high tech” devices that are ofgrowing importance in everyone’s daily life.Even average activities such as using aphone, telling the time, or signing yourname to a document are essential elementsof everyday communication that must belearned. Texas Confidence Buildersprovides our customers with theopportunity to develop the skills to dothese tasks independently.

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5. Vocational Skills

Customers first come to TWS-VRS to gainassistance in obtaining or maintaininga job as their primary goal. TWS-VRSoffers employment services designed toassist people who are blind or visuallyimpaired achieve their employment goals.Employment services are customized to theneeds of each customer and may includeself-evaluation (determining personalstrengths, concerns, priorities, limitations,interest, likes, and dislikes), exploringvarious occupations, or developing job-seeking skills. Some customers participatein “job shadowing” where they can followsomeone who is already working in aspecific job, or some choose to participatein volunteer work as a means of finding outif an occupation suits them. Customers thatmaster and embody the Texas ConfidenceBuilders core skills will come through withoutstanding prospects in the job market –whether it’s landing a first job or moving upthe organizational ladder.

oLive t the fullest.

6. Support Systems

Customers learn information about otheragencies and resources that can help themreach their goals. Customers also learn

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the importance of social activities andhobbies to maintain a work-life balance.TWS-VRS encourages customers toexplore their employment and personalinterests and assists them in developingtechniques and resources to do thethings they love.

Your TWS-VRS OfficeTo locate your Texas Workforce Solutions-Vocational Rehabilitation Services(TWS-VRS) office, visit: https://twc.texas.gov/find-locations

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Texas Workforce Solutions-Vocational Rehabilitation Services

101 East 15th StreetAustin, Texas 78778-0001

800-628-5115

Equal Opportunity Employer/Program

Auxiliary aids and services are available uponrequest to individuals with disabilities.

Relay Texas: 800-735-2989 (TTY) and 711 (Voice)

Texas Workforce Commission accepts calls madethrough any relay service provider.

Copies of this publication (12/2019) havebeen distributed in compliance with the State

Depository Law and are available for public usethrough the Texas State Publication Depository

Program at the Texas State Library and other statedepository libraries.

WWW.TWC.TEXAS.GOV

For purposes of the Vocational Rehabilitationprogram, the Federal Vocational Rehabilitationgrant pays 78.7 percent of the total costs of the

program. In Federal fiscal year 2020, the VocationalRehabilitation agency anticipates receiving

$287,666,847 in Federal Vocational Rehabilitationfunds. Funds appropriated by the State pay 21.3

percent of the total costs ($77,856,466) under theVocational Rehabilitation program.

For purposes of the Independent Living Services forOlder Individuals who are Blind program, Federalfunds paid 90 percent of the total costs incurredunder the program. In Federal fiscal year 2020,

the agency received $2,159,283 in Federal grantfunds for this program. Funds appropriated by theState paid 10 percent ($239,920) of the total costs

incurred under the Independent Living Services forOlder Individuals who are Blind program.

01751 (1219) Inv. No.686007