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Polus Center for Social and Economic Development, Inc.

General Information

Polus Center for Social and Economic Development, Inc.
527 Main St
Athol, MA 01331
978-270-2457
tkane@poluscenter.org
https://www.poluscenter.org/

Brief Description

The Polus Center for Social & Economic Development, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization providing opportunities for people with disabilities in the U.S. and around the world since 1979, with a special emphasis on support for people in the blindness community.  We design and implement innovative, person-centered work readiness and employment initiatives for teens and adult job seekers, including many virtual training opportunities that lead to competitive, integrated employment. Our international efforts create opportunities for persons with disabilities in post-conflict areas including rehabilitation, vocational training, and psychosocial trauma services. We also provide training in human service design and implementation, inclusive design principles, and technology training, as well as access to the arts opportunities for people young and old who are blind or visually impaired.

Transition Services

Envision Success Project (ESP)

The Polus Center Envision Success Project (ESP) provides customized pre-employment transition services for youth with visual impairments age 14-22. This program provides virtual training at various levels, tours of workplaces, introductions to employers, group social activities and internship experiences. Again very person-centered and personalized, the services that each teen receives include the categories of Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) of career exploration, work readiness training, work-based learning experiences, support for post-secondary options, and advocacy skills, but what it looks like for each individual student depends on their interests, needs, and where they are in their career exploration journey.

Roadmap to College

This two-week program for high school students prepares them for college life. Students live on a college campus, take college-level stem classes and work on note-taking, advocacy, independent living, writing skills, Orientation and Mobility, and participate in a wide range of recreational activities including horseback riding, archery and whitewater rafting.

After High School, What?

Our four-part series held on Saturdays explores the options after High School. Students visit a four-year College, community college. Technical School and a Career Center to learn more about the many options available to them so they can make an informed decision about their future. 

Trades Win: Career Exploration Through Storytelling

By interviewing other people who are blind who are employed across industries and professional disciplines, our Trades Win program provides training in how to interview, create videos, podcasts, and published writing skills for young adults who are blind or low-vision. Students have opportunities to learn project management, work skills, interview skills, audio production, videography, writing, marketing and administrative skills, as well as identify mentors who are blind who are working in their career fields of interest. This virtual 14-week program is offered to anyone with access to a computer and internet services, and may lead to additional internship and employment opportunities.

Career Assessments

We conduct individualized, person-centered career assessments to determine vocational interests, strengths, aptitudes, and development needs. We use a wide variety of techniques including personal interviews with potential beneficiaries and their families.

Employment and Job Training

The Polus Center Employment Now Initiative (ENI) gives up to nine months of intensive career development and job placement support and internship opportunities at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Institute (MEEI) for unemployed blind adults who are looking for full-time employment opportunities.

Our Pathways to Employment provides 1:1 help with career assessments, training, work experiences and job placement services for people not interested in full-time positions but who want to work in the field of their interests and expertise.

We also offer virtual training for people interested in entering in-demand fields such as Human Services and Retail. We offer a 6-week Human Services training, a 4-8 week Retail & Grocery training program, and a 7-week Autism Supports training.

Independent Daily Living Skills

Computer Training and Assistive Technology

Daily living Toolbox is a 12-week program for seniors with visual impairment. Topics covered include organizing, written communications, apps, technology for enjoyment and smart home tech.

Through a collaboration with New England Low Vision and Blindness we offer in-home technology training for seniors in their homes, including but not limited to: Electronic Video Magnifiers, Blindness Technology, Braille Notetakers, Displays, Embossers, Smart Homes - Primarily Alexa, and devices compatible with Alexa, PC, Mac, iOS, Android Accessibility functions, Screen Readers - ZoomText, JAWS & Fusion, and training on “almost anything" that the technology user needs.

Getting Settled

Our 6-month community-based personal and home management training and support program is for adults who are about to live independently in the community for the first time.

Independent Living and Money Management

This 3-part seminar series and follow-on support, includes budgeting, saving, bill-paying, credit score, purchasing practices, and blindness tools and techniques for money management.

Our Blind Life

Our Blind Life is a series of peer support networks of people from the blindness community at different stages of their lives and vision loss that meets monthly to share tips, technology, apps, lived experiences, and thoughts about everything from cooking to media representation to ableism.

Recreation

We offer recreation opportunities for transition-aged youth such as Horseback Riding, Archery and Self-Defense, and more

Access to the Arts

Our Access to the Arts program is an innovative, multifaceted program that provides opportunities for blind and low vision youth, teens and adults to have access to and enjoy the richness of cultural events.

Music Arts Program

In collaboration with Berklee College of Music, this summer program will provide opportunity for Blind/low vision teens to be exposed to different facets of music, most recent technologies, and exposure to various opportunities in the field of music.

Hands On Arts

We provide opportunities for participants to experience all facets of arts and crafts. Offers opportunities to take classes in either: mosaics, weaving, clay, woodcarving, knitting, jewelry making and other arts & crafts opportunities.

Audio Description Training for Parents, Partners, and Families

This training, led by the leading audio describer in Massachusetts, will: identify the components of audio description in order to develop a descriptive language and vocabulary, develop the skills needed to describe in a concise and objective manner, gain experience and confidence using description, with family members and friends, learn descriptive techniques.

Nights Out

Provides opportunities for adults who are blind to get together at community arts activities such as music, theater, or museums. This includes the opportunity to socialize and dine together at a local restaurant.

Services Offered

  • Employment/Job Training
    • The Polus Center Employment Now Initiative (ENI) gives up to nine months of intensive career development and job placement support and internship opportunities at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Institute (MEEI) for unemployed blind adults who are looking for full-time employment opportunities. Our Pathways to Employment provide 1:1 help with career assessments, training, work experiences and job placement services for people not interested in full-time positions but who want to work in the field of their interests and expertise. We also offer virtual training for people interested in entering in-demand fields such as Human Services and Retail. We offer a 6-week Human Services training, a 4-8 week Retail & Grocery training program, and a 7-week Autism Supports training.

  • Computer Training/Assistive Technology
    • Daily living Toolbox is a 12-week program for seniors with visual impairment. Topics covered include organizing, written communications, apps, technology for enjoyment and smart home tech. Through a collaboration with New England Low Vision and Blindness we offer in-home technology training for seniors in their homes, including but not limited to: Electronic Video Magnifiers, Blindness Technology, Braille Notetakers, Displays, Embossers, Smart Homes - Primarily Alexa, and devices compatible with Alexa, PC, Mac, iOS, Android Accessibility functions, Screen Readers - ZoomText, JAWS & Fusion, and training on “almost anything" that the technology user needs.

  • Recreation Services
    • We offer recreation opportunities for transition-aged youth such as Horseback Riding, Archery and Self-Defense (Envision Success Project and RoadMap to College). . Our Access to the Arts program provides the opportunity for teens and seniors to attend audio-described theater performances at no cost. Finding Your Voice Through Theater training is a five-week program for students ages 9-13 which teaches confidence through performance. Music Arts Program: In collaboration with Berklee College of Music, this summer program will provide opportunity for Blind/low vision teens to be exposed to different facets of music, most recent technologies, and exposure to various opportunities in the field of music. Hands on Arts: provide opportunities for participants to experience all facets of arts and crafts. Offers opportunities to take classes in either: mosaics, weaving, clay, woodcarving, knitting, jewelry making and other arts & crafts opportunities.