This is another one of those resources that has come across my desk and I'm passing along in hopes that some readers might find it useful. The National Federation of the Blind held a day-long job seminar at their national convention. By popular demand, it is now available online. Below is the message from the NFB, along with the agenda so you can look it over and decide if there's anything of interest to you.
I want to learn more about the Hadley School's program for those wanting to start their own business. As HPS'ers, we often find traditional employment doesn't fit well with our medical needs. Working for yourself is one alternative, although not for everyone.
I'll let you know in a future post what I learn.
Here's the info:
Good news!
I'm happy to announce that there was such an outpouring of interest in the 2011 National Employment Seminar recording that Dr. Maurer decided to put it on the NFB website, www.nfb.org. It is now free to everyone.
If you go to the Topic Index on the website, you can find it under "Employment and Rehabilitation". The link is as follows:
http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Employment_and_Rehabilitation.asp?SnID=1917931752 .
It is also on the Convention Highlights web page.
If you prefer it on CD, you can still order it in that format from Pete Donahue at pdonahue2@satx.rr.com.
I still get a number of questions about the content of the seminar, so the agenda is attached and below. Thank you for your continuing interest and support.
Dick Davis, Chair
NFB Employment Committee
Agenda for NFB National Employment Seminar
Sunday, July 3rd, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel
Wekiwa 9 Room, Level 2
9:00 a.m. Introduction: How to Act Smart and Be Smart in Today’s Job Market. – Dick Davis*, Chair, NFB Employment Committee
9:10 a.m. Beyond Technological Uncouth – Don’t Forget the Human Element. - David Ticchi*, Special Assistant to the President, Legal Seafood and public school teacher, Boston, MA. Technology continues to define our relationships with others, but not necessarily for the better. There are fundamental rules for networking, employer research, and interviewing - here’s what you need to remember.
9:45 a.m. Want to Start a Small Business, But Don’t Know How? Hadley Can Help. – Dawn Turco, Senior Vice President, Hadley School for the Blind, Winnetka, IL. Hadley School for the Blind has some brand new resources for blind entrepreneurs that can get you started in the right direction. The goal of this new business, entrepreneurship and technology initiative is to provide individuals who are blind or visually impaired with the knowledge, resources and networking opportunities enabling them to advance in their careers or to successfully launch and grow their own businesses.
10:10 a.m. Job Search Techniques—Things That Work and Things That Waste Time. - Mike Bullis*, Executive Director, The IMAGE Center for People with Disabilities, Towson, MD. Electronic job search, networking, employer research and informational interviews. Using technology effectively to connect with real people and find jobs. How to focus your energies to get a job in the shortest time possible.
10:45 a.m. Off Your Duff - Good Paying, Physical, Fun Jobs Blind People Can Do. – George Wurtzel, Industrial Arts Instructor, BLIND, Inc., Minneapolis, MN Because of blindness stereotypes, blind people are often steered away from skilled blue collar employment and into sedentary jobs. But not everyone is made for customer service. Learn about some fun and good paying jobs that blind people really can do.
11:20 a.m. Job Exchange and Announcements. The Employment Committee began as the Job Exchange Committee, a function we still perform. If you know of job vacancies, bring them to the seminar and tell people about them. If you are looking for a job, tell people what you are looking for, and bring along some resumes. If you know of training or other opportunities, share them with others.
11:30 a.m. Lunch break and networking
1:00 p.m. Getting Your Ducks in a Row: What Do You Need to Be Job Ready? - Robert Leslie Newman*, Rehabilitation Counselor (retired), Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Omaha, NE. Discussion of employment preparation, with a checklist of things you need to do to get ready, including training in alternative techniques, assistive technology and training in its use, resumes and cover letters, a portfolio with letters of recommendation and work samples, and interview preparation and practice.
1:40 p.m. Framing Blindness: How You Can Sell Yourself As Equal To Or Better Than a Sighted Employee. – Dick Davis*, Assistant Director for Employment, BLIND, Inc., Minneapolis, MN Why, with so many sighted job applicants, would anyone hire a blind person? The answer isn’t the ADA, Affirmative Action, financial incentives, or charity. Find out what it really is, and how to use it effectively in job interviews.
2:15 p.m. Job Exchange and Announcements. The Employment Committee began as the Job Exchange Committee, a function we still perform. If you know of job vacancies, bring them to the seminar and tell people about them. If you are looking for a job, tell people what you are looking for, and bring along some resumes. If you know of training or other opportunities, share them with others.
2:25 p.m. What Do You Want to Know? Individual Questions and Discussion. – Bethel Murphy, Employment Specialist, Louisiana Center for the Blind, Ruston, LA. This is your agenda item, so bring your questions and ideas about employers, resumes and cover letters, when and how to talk about blindness, interviewing, how to get assistive technology, reasonable accommodations, federal employment, and other topics of interest to you. We may want to break into smaller groups, depending on the response. – Presenters and participants.
NFB Employment Committee members are designated with an asterisk * after their names.
I want to learn more about the Hadley School's program for those wanting to start their own business. As HPS'ers, we often find traditional employment doesn't fit well with our medical needs. Working for yourself is one alternative, although not for everyone.
I'll let you know in a future post what I learn.
Here's the info:
Good news!
I'm happy to announce that there was such an outpouring of interest in the 2011 National Employment Seminar recording that Dr. Maurer decided to put it on the NFB website, www.nfb.org. It is now free to everyone.
If you go to the Topic Index on the website, you can find it under "Employment and Rehabilitation". The link is as follows:
http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Employment_and_Rehabilitation.asp?SnID=1917931752 .
It is also on the Convention Highlights web page.
If you prefer it on CD, you can still order it in that format from Pete Donahue at pdonahue2@satx.rr.com.
I still get a number of questions about the content of the seminar, so the agenda is attached and below. Thank you for your continuing interest and support.
Dick Davis, Chair
NFB Employment Committee
Agenda for NFB National Employment Seminar
Sunday, July 3rd, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel
Wekiwa 9 Room, Level 2
9:00 a.m. Introduction: How to Act Smart and Be Smart in Today’s Job Market. – Dick Davis*, Chair, NFB Employment Committee
9:10 a.m. Beyond Technological Uncouth – Don’t Forget the Human Element. - David Ticchi*, Special Assistant to the President, Legal Seafood and public school teacher, Boston, MA. Technology continues to define our relationships with others, but not necessarily for the better. There are fundamental rules for networking, employer research, and interviewing - here’s what you need to remember.
9:45 a.m. Want to Start a Small Business, But Don’t Know How? Hadley Can Help. – Dawn Turco, Senior Vice President, Hadley School for the Blind, Winnetka, IL. Hadley School for the Blind has some brand new resources for blind entrepreneurs that can get you started in the right direction. The goal of this new business, entrepreneurship and technology initiative is to provide individuals who are blind or visually impaired with the knowledge, resources and networking opportunities enabling them to advance in their careers or to successfully launch and grow their own businesses.
10:10 a.m. Job Search Techniques—Things That Work and Things That Waste Time. - Mike Bullis*, Executive Director, The IMAGE Center for People with Disabilities, Towson, MD. Electronic job search, networking, employer research and informational interviews. Using technology effectively to connect with real people and find jobs. How to focus your energies to get a job in the shortest time possible.
10:45 a.m. Off Your Duff - Good Paying, Physical, Fun Jobs Blind People Can Do. – George Wurtzel, Industrial Arts Instructor, BLIND, Inc., Minneapolis, MN Because of blindness stereotypes, blind people are often steered away from skilled blue collar employment and into sedentary jobs. But not everyone is made for customer service. Learn about some fun and good paying jobs that blind people really can do.
11:20 a.m. Job Exchange and Announcements. The Employment Committee began as the Job Exchange Committee, a function we still perform. If you know of job vacancies, bring them to the seminar and tell people about them. If you are looking for a job, tell people what you are looking for, and bring along some resumes. If you know of training or other opportunities, share them with others.
11:30 a.m. Lunch break and networking
1:00 p.m. Getting Your Ducks in a Row: What Do You Need to Be Job Ready? - Robert Leslie Newman*, Rehabilitation Counselor (retired), Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Omaha, NE. Discussion of employment preparation, with a checklist of things you need to do to get ready, including training in alternative techniques, assistive technology and training in its use, resumes and cover letters, a portfolio with letters of recommendation and work samples, and interview preparation and practice.
1:40 p.m. Framing Blindness: How You Can Sell Yourself As Equal To Or Better Than a Sighted Employee. – Dick Davis*, Assistant Director for Employment, BLIND, Inc., Minneapolis, MN Why, with so many sighted job applicants, would anyone hire a blind person? The answer isn’t the ADA, Affirmative Action, financial incentives, or charity. Find out what it really is, and how to use it effectively in job interviews.
2:15 p.m. Job Exchange and Announcements. The Employment Committee began as the Job Exchange Committee, a function we still perform. If you know of job vacancies, bring them to the seminar and tell people about them. If you are looking for a job, tell people what you are looking for, and bring along some resumes. If you know of training or other opportunities, share them with others.
2:25 p.m. What Do You Want to Know? Individual Questions and Discussion. – Bethel Murphy, Employment Specialist, Louisiana Center for the Blind, Ruston, LA. This is your agenda item, so bring your questions and ideas about employers, resumes and cover letters, when and how to talk about blindness, interviewing, how to get assistive technology, reasonable accommodations, federal employment, and other topics of interest to you. We may want to break into smaller groups, depending on the response. – Presenters and participants.
NFB Employment Committee members are designated with an asterisk * after their names.
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