CRISS COLE
Rehabilitation Center
CONFIDENCE
COMPETECE
INDEPENDENCE
Texas Dept. of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services
Division for Blind Services
Dedicated To Independence
CCRC’s Mission: To work in partnership with blind consumers
to accomplish their employment and independent living goals
Blindness: Basics and Beyond
Basic Training
Upon arrival at CCRC, consumers participate in a thorough evaluation to determine
their skill levels in the following basic blindness skill areas:
♦ Travel skills
♦ Braille
♦ Industrial arts and home maintenance
♦ Daily living skills
♦ Personal finance and organizational skills
♦ Kitchen skills
♦ Home and personal management
♦ Keyboarding
♦ Vocational exploration
The assessment period may last up to three weeks. Afterwards, a CCRC counselor
reviews the results with each consumer and referring counselor to determine whether
additional training will be of benefit. If the answer is “yes,” the CCRC counselor and
consumer work together to create an individualized training plan.
The plan includes specific goals for developing basic skills as well as the approximate
amount of time it will take to achieve them.
All assessment and training activities at CCRC incorporate non-visual learning
techniques. Consumers are expected to learn alternative techniques using blindfolds
and straight (rigid) canes when traveling during training hours.
At regular intervals during training, the consumer, CCRC counselor and referring
counselor participate in program reviews to assure that training is on track and the
consumer is making progress toward goals. Consumers coordinate and conduct these
reviews.
Advanced Training
In addition to basic skills training, CCRC consumers (who have completed the
necessary prerequisites) may participate in some or all of the following advanced
courses:
♦ Low vision
♦ Career guidance
♦ Diabetes life management
♦ Therapeutic recreation
♦ Health education
♦ College preparation
Building Confidence
Assessment and training services are designed to assist each consumer in achieving
the highest level of independence in their employment and daily living. Training is
provided in small groups so consumers can easily learn from each other’s experiences.
The teacher-to-consumer ratio is usually one-to-six.
Travel Skills
“It was a great challenge to use a cane and blindfold. I can go out now and find my way.
Like Christopher Columbus going out searching, I feel confident I can live anywhere,”
said one consumer after completing Orientation and Mobility training. This training
will help prepare consumers to travel independently with competence and confidence.
Braille
Braille is literacy for blind people and is considered a core adaptive skill for all
consumers—even those who have some vision. Whether it’s used as a primary means
of daily communication—or a reliable alternative tool that is used as needed—basic
Braille skills contribute to a lifetime of self-reliance and confidence.
Industrial Arts
Basic Woodworking
Consumers develop a strong sense of confidence as they work with a variety of handpowered tools (bench drill press, table saw, jig saw, etc.) to create their own
woodworking projects.
Seminars
Seminars—which may include both consumers and staff—focus on the Texas
Confidence Builders philosophy and promote a positive attitude about blindness. The
course strives to inspire consumers to achieve their full potential with competence,
confidence and independence.
Daily Living Skills
Kitchen Skills
CCRC doesn’t promise gourmet status, but consumers do learn safe and reliable
kitchen skills with which they can prepare meals in their home environments. Elements
of the training include planning meals, selecting and purchasing groceries, and labeling
and storing food items.
Personal Finance/Organizational Skills
Consumers develop a variety of tools to assist in recording and retrieving personal
information related to independent living (utility and phone bills, etc.) that are important
to a successful independent life. Consumers learn non-visual techniques to manage
their personal finance and banking tasks.
Technology for Today—and Tomorrow!
Technology Department works with consumers to recommend appropriate technology
training plans. Keyboarding—the ability to “touch type”—is considered a core skill and a
prerequisite for additional computer training.
Consumers who have mastered the basic skills have a variety of useful computer
training courses to pursue, including Windows, Microsoft Word, Internet and E-mail and
Microsoft Excel.
Employment Readiness
Career Guidance Department offers a multipart training program to assist consumers in
their efforts to become job ready. Consumers work with a career guidance instructor to
explore occupations, develop job-seeking skills and may participate in a community
work experience.
Additionally, consumers can plan for college/vocational school or participate in office
systems technology vocational training.
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CCRC At A Glance The Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center (CCRC) is a state-ofthe-art training center located in the heart of Austin—the capital city of Texas.
The average daily population is 65-75 blind consumers who are focused on
learning non-visual techniques that will empower them to function
independently—confidently—at work, home and in the community.
Most CCRC classes meet from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday through Friday.
When not in class, many consumers take advantage of a variety of educational,
volunteer and recreational activities according to their individual interests.
On average, it takes six to nine months for consumers to complete CCRC’s
assessment and training. The length of time may vary depending on such things
as consumers’ abilities upon arriving at CCRC and their personal goals.
Program Guidelines
To participate in CCRC programs and services, consumers must: 1) be blind, 2) be
referred by a vocational rehabilitation counselor, 3) be focused on employment, and 4)
have a permanent residence.
In addition, eligibility decisions
are based on a consumer’s
demonstrated willingness and
ability to:
♦ participate and demonstrate progress in CCRC classes;
♦ participate in recommended non-visual training;
♦ transfer skills learned from one setting to another;
CCRC Graduation
Opening Doors to the Future
Graduation at CCRC is a special occasion! Consumers who complete training join with
their teachers, families and friends to celebrate and share their stories of struggles,
triumphs and achievements.
CCRC changes lives, as evidenced by the following graduation speech offered by D.
Free, a recent graduate.
“A year ago at this time I didn’t have a future. I didn’t think I had a future. I thought that
where I was in life was as good as it is going to get. It wasn’t going to get any better.
I was resigned to the fact that my best years were behind me. Then I was introduced to
the Criss Cole Center.
During our first day of orientation we all sat in a room and passed around a microphone.
We told a little bit about ourselves and what we wanted to get out of our program at
Criss Cole.
I recall saying, I was tired of being a ‘has been,’ a ‘used to be.’ I said that when people
ask me what I did I said I ‘used’ to be a student. I ‘used’ to have sight. I ‘used’ to be a
broadcaster and I ‘used’ to have a future.
Then the magic started to happen. I was blessed with a staff that cared, truly dedicated
T needed—what I already had in me. So, we went through the program and it was
tough at times and fun at most.
Now, I am proud to say, I ‘am’ a student at Austin Community College, I ‘am’ receiving
my degree in broadcast journalism, and I ‘am’ enthusiastic about the future. It’s more
fun being an I ‘am’ than an I ‘used’ to be. So, to all new consumers that are coming in,
work hard, never give up, keep at the struggle and always be an I ‘am’ person.”
ATTITUDE
“... The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day, regarding the attitude we
will embrace for that day.
We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a
certain way. We cannot change the inevitable.
The only thing that we can do is play on the one strength we have—and that
is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me
and 90 percent how I react to it. And so it is with you.”
For More Information
Division for Blind Services
CCRC Admissions
4800 North Lamar Blvd. ♦ Austin, TX 78756
Phone: 512-377-0349 ♦ Fax: 512-377-0317
E-mail: ccrc.admissions@dars.state.tx.us
DARS Inquiries: 800-628-5115 (Toll Free)
01825 CCRS Administration 8/06