Employment Mentoring Project Seeking College Students and Professionals who are Blind

It's tough to find a job in today's economy, even with a college degree. We are conducting a nationwide research project to see if pairing students who are legally blind (or totally blind) with successful mentors in their career fields who are also blind will help. We are recruiting students who are graduating from colleges and graduate programs across the United States, who plan to seek employment after graduation. A combination of face-to-face, telephone, email, and other electronic means of contact will be used as part of the mentoring process.

Eligibility

• All participants must be legally blind (or totally blind) and able to access online materials.
• Students: Must be under age 35, graduating from college/grad school between April 2014 and December 2014, and planning to work immediately after graduation.
• Professionals: Must be currently employed or recently retired.

Benefits

• Opportunity to participate in an interactive career mentoring program.
• Access career development resources.
• Assist in research that seeks to benefit the blind community.
• Students will receive incentives for participation in the project.

Responsibilities

• Participate for 1 year.
• Complete online activities.
• Engage in face-to-face interaction in your local area as part of the mentoring relationship.

Timeframe

Recruitment is ongoing through December 2013. Mentors and students can sign up at any time. As students sign up, we will contact participants who have signed up to be mentors, and who are potentially good matches for those students. Students who do not graduate between April 2014 and December 2014 are not eligible to participate in this particular project. Participation in the project will begin January 2014 and will last one year.

Interested?

Complete eligibility forms online:

• Students: tiny.cc/mentor-students
• Mentors: tiny.cc/mentor-professionals

For more information visit our project page.

If you have questions, please contact Jamie O'Mally by email at nrtc2@colled.msstate.edu or by phone at 662-325-2001.