Jon Schorsch, a former police officer with more than a decade of experience, refuses to drastically alter his lifestyle despite losing his eyesight in a boating accident. Jon Schorsch has moved forward with his life as an active member of his community, assisting other people with visual impairments. He serves as a Self-Defense Instructor for the National Federation of the Blind and as a member of the Board of Directors for Community Services for the Blind and Partially Sighted. Jon Schorsch also volunteers as an Officer-at-Large for the MPA Student Association at Seattle University, where he works towards his Master’s in Public Administration.
Jon Schorsch currently works as a Mediator for the Dispute Resolution Center of Island and Snohomish Counties. He also acts as a spokesperson and representative for SafeCallNow.org, a non-profit organization that provides confidential counseling and support services to law enforcement and other public safety professionals in times of need. Unwilling to let his disability rob him of his passion for water sports, Jon Schorsch has since returned to water skiing with a sighted partner and fosters a membership with the Lake Sammamish Waterski Club.
After losing my sight in an accident, I became involved with many organizations that serve those who have lost their vision. As a member of the Board of Directors for Community Services for the Blind and Partially Sighted (CSBPS), I work with an association that dedicates itself to aiding individuals with vision loss. With services provided in the King, Snohomish, and Skagit counties of Washington, CSBPS maintains a mission to help blind members of these communities gain abilities and techniques that will contribute to their autonomy. Specifically, CSBPS offers in-home services and limited low vision services for blind and low vision individuals. These programs cost little or nothing and the organization makes sure that no one is turned away because they failed to pay for a medical service. Other CSBPS services include independent travel training, public education, counseling services, and an assistive technology program.
Established in 1965, Community Services for the Blind and Partially Sighted remains a not-for-profit company. This organization’s purpose is to provide guidance for blind individuals in the northwestern U.S. through several initiatives that are designed to return independence to the impaired person, in the face of their issues with vision. Members of the surrounding community are invited to volunteer with CSBPS, as the organization hopes to receive funding from several external sources.
In addition to the many programs and services offered through CSBPS, the company markets and sells products designed for people with vision loss. Known as the SightConnection adaptive aids store, CSBPS provides more than 400 products to improve responsiveness and create independence for many partially and fully blind individuals. SightConnection has been manufacturing a range of items for more than 25 years. For more information about SightConnection or Community Services for the Blind and Partially Sighted, visit the organization’s website at www.csbps.com.
An Overview of Mediation Training and Accreditation, Jon Schorsch
A growing number of individuals from an assortment of backgrounds including social workers, therapists, human resource managers, and criminal justice professionals are pursuing certification in mediation. Mediation has been practiced in different forms throughout history, with a modernized resurgence emerging in the second portion of the 1900s.
A broad range of entities including educational institutions, the government, and the court system benefit from conflict resolution sessions directed by a professional mediator. Mediators use practiced methods to oversee negotiations between two or more interests until a mutual agreement is reached. To learn more about the process, part of a sample mediation session is available for viewing at the end of this post.
During training sessions, students explore mediation ethics, best practices, and practitioner guidelines. Mediation certification programs are offered across the United States, with specific licensure requirements mandated at the state level. At the Dispute Resolution Center in Washington State, professional training includes 40 hours of study examining conflict theory, negotiations, and collaborative resolutions. Additional courses in workplace conflict and family, school, and prison mediation trainings are included in an advanced curriculum.
Individuals that wish to build professional associations can pursue membership in regional mediation programs. Various groups have different admission guidelines. For example, affiliation with the Washington Mediation Association (WMA) requires a minimum of 36 training hours, 200 hours of mediation experience, and educational or professional logged hours in an area applicable to the candidate’s focus area.
In addition to local organizations, mediators may pursue conflict resolution affiliations with national groups working to advance the field. Professionals can network and connect with other members of the profession through the National Mediation Training Registry and the Association for Conflict Resolution.
A resident of Bothell, Washington, Jon Schorsch is a certified volunteer mediator at The Dispute Resolution Center of Island, Snohomish, and Skagit Counties in Washington State.
