Washington State Department of Services for the Blind -- Orientation & Training Center

Orientation & Training Center (OTC)

The Orientation and Training Center (OTC) located in Seattle provides adults with comprehensive and intensive training in the alternative skills of blindness. These skills assist people who are blind or visually impaired to function more effectively and deal with barriers associated with visual impairment. Upon referral from a DSB Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, the Center accepts both day and residential students who are expected to apply the skills learned when they return to their residential environments. The residential students are housed 2 blocks away from the Center in an apartment setting where they continue to extend their learning by applying their skills learned at the Center.

The OTC works to develop the whole person through maintaining a highly interactive facility and program. A challenging activity program opens students to a wide world of recreation, community involvement or volunteerism with the purpose of grounding them in the skills that lead to employment. All students as they progress through the program are given the opportunity to connect with skilled blind mentors who can share their experiences and assist in addressing students' questions and concerns.

The competency-based curriculum includes individualized instruction in orientation and mobility, Braille, independent living techniques, keyboarding and use of access devices with computers, home maintenance/shop class, and a seminar in issues related to blindness. Each student pursues an individualized set of goals that may take anywhere between six and nine months to complete. Students who have reached a certain level of competence may be able to undertake a volunteer or work experience program for those who have not held a job or have not worked since losing vision.

The curriculum focuses on the accomplishment of practical benchmarks, points at which students have made a large step forward in their independence and use of blindness skills. These benchmarks emphasize either personal independence, as with the use of check registers, note taking devices or file labeling, to employment skills, such as effective word processing or self-advocacy skills. Overall, it is the purpose of the curriculum to enhance the students' skills for employment.