Transition Resources | The National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision

4to24 App

The 4to24 app is a free resource for parents of children and youth who are blind, have low vision, or are deaf-blind with additional disabilities. It covers ages 4 to 24 years, to go from preschool age into young adulthood and early career.

If you’re a parent, the app provides information, activities, and links to resources to inform you about skills and experiences that would be helpful for your child as he or she grows.

Information is provided in two general formats: one focused on children and youth who are blind or have low vision, and another focused on deaf-blind children and youth who may also have additional disabilities.

The information for blind or low vision youth focuses on building independence over time to prepare your son or daughter for successful employment and independent living as an adult. Modules of information are included on topics like building social skills, literacy, technology, academics, and daily living skills.

For youth who are deaf-blind, information also focuses on building skills and independence over time, with particular attention to topics like developing a communication system, and creating a profile of the youth’s abilities and preferences to share with a support network. It offers suggestions for activities that are flexible for a broad range of ability levels.

Modules are self-paced (no deadlines!) so you can use the information at your convenience.

Youth with blindness or low vision who are ages 16 to 24 can also use the app and will receive information about the same topics, written specifically for a younger audience.

The app is free to access for parents or youth. To sign up, download the app and create an account by registering as a new user. The app will ask for some basic information and then may ask you to complete a checklist of skills or activities the youth has already accomplished, so that it can start you at the right level.

The app is available on the iOS App Store and on Google Play.

Download our 4to24 App Frequently Asked Questions for answers to questions, such as

What can I expect from the app?
What topics are covered?
Where is it available?

Consider watching the following videos for demonstrations of the app:

Are you a professional and interested in the 4to24 content?

It’s free and available to anyone, but it is written directly to parents. With that in mind, we do have an online option where professionals can sign up to view the modules! Learn more on our 4to24 Portal for Professionals webpage.

Yes, Youth Can Work and Still Receive SSI

Did you know that youth with visual impairments can often reap the benefits of working while retaining some or all of their Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments? These SSI fact sheets, written for youth with visual impairments who receive SSI benefits and their parents, provide general information about several SSI work incentives, examples of calculations, and links to more detailed information.

Available in two formats:

Last Updated 12/13/2023

Preparing for a Video Interview

The use of videoconferencing software for job interviews has become increasingly common, and it’s important to prepare for both in-person and video interviews. These short videos, designed for transition-age youth who are blind or have low vision, can guide discussions about how to prepare for video interviews and how that process differs from preparing for in-person interviews.

The first video shows an example of an unprepared applicant during an interview conducted via videoconferencing software. The applicant is completely unprepared for the interview and exhibits many “don’ts” of video interviews, in a comical and entertaining example of “what not to do.”

The second video shows the same applicant, who is well-prepared for the interview this time.

These videos are part of Putting Your Best Foot Forward, a job search skills training program for youth with visual impairments.

Putting Your Best Foot Forward

Transition Activity Calendar

This Transition Activity Calendar designed by The National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision (NRTC) at Mississippi State University lists tasks which students who are blind or visually impaired need to complete as early as middle school in order to be ready to attend college. From taking the right high school courses, to learning to use the most appropriate assistive technology, to career exploration and finding the colleges best suited to the selected course of study, to what the student is looking for in campus life, the demands of good preparation start early and continue through 12th grade and the summer before the first Fall semester of college.

View the Transition Activity Calendar