Encouraging Mississippi Employment through Resilient Growth & Empowerment
Since opening in March 2024, the Mississippi EMERGE Center for the Blind that operates under The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind has helped Mississippians who are blind or have low vision gain the confidence, skills, and independence needed to pursue employment, education, and everyday life goals.
Located in Long Beach, Mississippi, the EMERGE Center provides immersive blindness training through Structured Discovery — a nationally recognized approach that teaches individuals to travel, problem-solve, and live independently using non-visual techniques.
Rather than focusing on limitations, the EMERGE Center focuses on possibility.
Click Here To Download the MS EMERGE Center Brochure - PDF
Click Here To Download the MS EMERGE Center Brochure - Word Doc
What Makes EMERGE Different?
The EMERGE Center is built on the belief that blindness does not have to prevent someone from living a full, competitive, and independent life.
Participants learn by doing.
Training takes place in real-world environments where students develop practical skills, confidence, self-advocacy, and resilience through hands-on experiences and high expectations.
Instruction is centered around Structured Discovery learning principles, which encourage individuals to:
- Develop confidence in non-visual skills
- Strengthen problem-solving abilities
- Build independence in everyday activities
- Explore competitive employment and educational opportunities
- Navigate home, work, and community environments successfully
Our Program
The Mississippi EMERGE Center offers a full-time residential training program typically lasting 6–9 months.
Training areas include:
- Cane Travel
- Braille Literacy
- Assistive Technology
- Home and Personal Management
- Career Readiness
- Communication and Self-Advocacy
- Community Travel and Integration
Participants also have opportunities to apply their skills outside the classroom through community outings, real-world problem solving, and independent living experiences.
Residential Living Experience
Participants live in apartment-style housing designed to support the development of independent living skills in a real-life setting.
The residential program includes:
- Two-bedroom apartments
- Shared living and kitchen spaces
- In-unit washer and dryer
- Opportunities to practice cooking, cleaning, organization, and daily routines independently
This immersive environment allows participants to immediately apply the skills they are learning throughout the program.
About Structured Discovery
Structured Discovery is an experiential training philosophy that teaches blindness skills through exploration, critical thinking, and real-world application.
Students learn to rely on alternative techniques and problem-solving strategies rather than limited vision, helping build lasting confidence and independence.
The EMERGE Center's instructional team includes professionals trained in Structured Discovery who understand firsthand the value of high expectations and empowerment.
Program Expectations
Participants in the EMERGE Center program are expected to actively engage in training and embrace the learning process.
Program expectations include:
- Full-time participation
- Use of learning shades during instructional activities
- Use of a long white cane
- Active engagement in all training areas
- Commitment to developing independent non-visual skills
Visit or Contact Us
Mississippi EMERGE Center for the Blind
310 North Cleveland Avenue
Long Beach, MS 39560
Macaulay Beasley, Mississippi EMERGE Center Director
228.241.2239
mbeasley@mdrs.ms.gov
To learn more about referrals, eligibility, or program opportunities, contact MDRS Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind.
The Mississippi EMERGE center is currently working toward certification as a designated Structured Discovery center. For more information on Structured Discovery and our status, visit: www.nbpcb.org