VIDBE-Q 2026 Volume 71 Issue 3
one weekend evening and one full weekend day for recreational outings, and one
day of rest to prepare for the week ahead.
Summer job applications are typically launched in October, with interviews
completed before the holiday season. To support the program, FBC hires
approximately 28 staff members each summer, including instructors, residential
mentors, residential leads, program coordinators, an office lead, a manager, and
O&M interns. One strength of the staffing model is that more than 75% of
residential staff are individuals with visual impairments who previously
participated in similar residential transition programs. Their lived experience
provides valuable mentorship for younger students beginning their own transition
journeys.
Instructional staff primarily include O&M specialists, TSVIS, and special
education teachers with experience supporting students with vision loss. Some
summer staff work for FBC year-round, serve students in public school districts, or
travel from other states. To recruit and retain qualified staff, the hiring process
begins approximately nine months before the program starts. FBC also reduces
barriers for out-of-state staff by providing travel reimbursement and
complimentary housing.
A unique aspect of the program is the partnership with O&M interns
working toward ACVREP certification. Interns are able to accumulate hours
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