Orientation and Career Center

Welcome

The Orientation and Career Center for the Blind (OCCB) is an in-depth, residential training program located in Portland. Training at OCCB is part of an individual, comprehensive vocational rehabilitation plan developed between an individual and their vocational counselor. Clients from outside of Portland participate in the program while living in a nearby apartment provided by the agency. Download the Student Welcome Packet and OCCB Student Rights and Responsibilities to learn more about the program.

Curriculum

Orientation and Mobility (also known as Cane Travel)

Cane travel is the development of orientation and mobility skills, including the use of proper cane techniques and the development of other senses.

Techniques of Daily Living (TDL)

TDL addresses a wide range of independent living skills such as housekeeping, clothing care, personal hygiene and paperwork management.

Meal Preparation

The meal preparation class topics may include shopping for groceries, adaptive kitchen skills, food preparation, family dining techniques, and restaurant etiquette.

Woodshop

The Woodshop class helps build a student’s self-confidence as they design and construct a project using many of the tools found in a standard woodshop.

Low Vision

Based on the identified visual needs of each individual, training in appropriate use of and care for low vision devices are provided as appropriate.

Assistive Technology

OCCB offers training in the use of assistive software and/or hardware that are appropriate to the student's vision loss and any other physical limitation and consistent with their vocational goal. For students who need it, we offer Keyboarding, where they are taught to type and operate the entire computer keyboard by touch, including numbers and symbols, as well as how to use the appropriate formats when typing personal and business letters.

Adaptive Devices

Students are exposed to a variety of adaptive, portable devices, which may include a digital voice recorder, talking/voice recognition alarm clock, note taking devices, book reading devices, tablets, and cell phones.

Challenge Course

Students who are new to OCCB attend a one-day "Challenge Course," designed to enhance problem-solving, improve self-confidence, engage students in clear communication, and encourage team-building.

Mindful Movement

Mindful movement is a fitness class focused on improving endurance, flexibility, and balance through combined techniques of yoga and strength training.

Safe Without Sight

Safe Without Sight, also called Sightless Self-Defense, was developed by Sensei Stan Miller of Portland Small Circle Jujitsu. The class is designed for all age groups and abilities with one-on-one instruction from Sensei Miller and volunteers (prior OCCB students who have previously completed this training).

Living with Blindness

This course provides students with a safe place to begin their adjustment to blindness. The class format includes present-based conversation, writing/recording exercises, homework, and self-reflection exercises.

Braille

In this class students learn to read and write both uncontracted and/or contracted Braille.

Career Preparation

The objective of this course is to help students establish and maintain the tools necessary for effective career preparation including writing resumes and cover letters, interviewing, on-line job applications, and job seeking internet resources.

Practical/Communication Skills

Students work individually with instructors on topics including banking and recordkeeping, eating skills, restaurant skills, shopping, labeling and organizing clothing and personal items, meeting people, shaking hands, appropriate touch, using the telephone as a resource, etc.

Brown-Bag Lunch Sessions

Students are invited to bring their own lunch to a voluntary weekly information / resource sharing session. Invited speakers will share information about a wide range of vision loss topics.