Employment

Thoughts on National Disability Employment Awareness Month

When I saw reports about the unveiling of the Helen Keller statue last week in Washington, DC, and read Carl Augusto's comments about the event, the words that resonated with me were "she worked with us at AFB for more than 40 years."

Through her work, Helen Keller positively impacted millions of people's lives throughout the world. When people think of Helen Keller, when children do their elementary school reports on her or watch the play, The Miracle Worker; when people read the biographies of this fascinating lady, I hope they remember that she was many things—an advocate, a world-renowned speaker, an author, and, for the greater part of her life, a working professional. Therefore, it seems apropos that at the beginning of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a statue of Helen Keller was unveiled at the U.S. Capitol.

So, what is AFB doing currently to enhance employment opportunities for people like Helen Keller who have sensory disabilities? Our primary vehicle for enhancing employment is AFB's CareerConnect web site. If you are not well acquainted with CareerConnect, be aware that it is one of the most helpful sites available to visitors who are interested in learning about employment of people with visual impairments and the tools that enable them to work competitively. It is also a site that provides accessible, interactive tools to aid in job seeking, highlighting content for youngsters and adults with visual disabilities related to career exploration, job maintenance, and job search techniques. Visitors can link to President Obama's announcement of his new initiatives ensuring fair and equal access to employment for people with disabilities and to the Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy to learn more about this month's activities.

Visit... and see how other people with sensory disabilities can work as productively as Helen Keller did during her tenure with AFB!

CareerConnect® Gears Up for NDEAM

In celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the CareerConnect team has assembled a new video segment that focuses on employers' reasons for hiring young people with visual disabilities: Employers Talk about Hiring Teens, which will be posted this month. This segment complements the previous postings on the For Teens section of CareerConnect: On Your Mark, Get Set...Go to Work! In the teen section, we also have a wonderful new video that focuses on preparing for an interview, Dress and Impress. In addition to these videos, visitors to the teen section will find audio interviews that teens conducted with CareerConnect mentors and a wealth of information available in articles as diverse as Funding Your Education and Do Employers Care If You Have Blue Hair?

For adult job seekers and employers, CareerConnect offers the same range of content and multimedia options that we offer to teens. This month we have added a new Success Story that focuses on the talents of a professional flute player, Richard Donald Smith. The Success Story section, focused on professional life, has stories from both mentors and mentees For readers interested in what our mentors do in their spare time, we suggest checking out Just for Fun! We have a wealth of multimedia options, including the informative Virtual Worksites, graphics that show the range of tools that enable a blind or low vision worker to compete in office, retail, customer service, and classroom environments. Each virtual worksite links to CareerConnect mentors performing in these settings. In addition, watch this month for two new videos showing workers in retail settings.

These are just a few of the features visitors will find on CareerConnect, which salutes the achievements of successfully employed people who are blind or have low vision. We also work diligently to promote the employment of people with visual impairments. We provide direct e-mail links to CareerConnect mentors: over a thousand people employed in a variety of careers such as law, education, food service, customer service, arts and entertainment, finance, manufacturing, health and human services, and so forth—any registered CareerConnect user can independently contact any of our mentors to discuss how they got their jobs, what they do on the job, what training they needed, what technology they use, or any other question the user might have. If you or someone you know or love could benefit from this program, please encourage him or her to register—it's free, easy, and fully accessible!

Visit CareerConnect often to find new content, job openings posted by National Industries for the Blind facilities, and features designed to support job seekers, youth exploring careers, and employers recruiting, hiring, and retaining workers who are blind or have low vision. If you don't find what you're looking for online, call the CareerConnect staff on our toll-free number (888.824.2184) and we'll assist you in any way that we can.

Kicking Off NDEAM

Tomorrow marks the beginning of National Disabilities Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), an important time for all of us to recognize the many workers with disabilities who have careers in a variety of different fields. Earlier this week, I was thinking about the best way to kick off NDEAM on the blog when a great article from TheHill.com knocked on my door (or actually, arrived in my inbox). The article focuses on Stacy Cervenka, a legislative assistant to Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), who was dubbed "one of the best tour guides in the office" and also happens to be visually impaired. Cervenka worked her way up the office ladder from intern to full-time employee in a little over year, and throughout her time in Senator Brownback's office has repeatedly stepped up to the tasks at hand. As stated in the article, "Cervenka hopes she will be able to spread the awareness that people with disabilities are just as capable, if not more so, of handling workplace environments." Once you read this piece, I think you'll agree that she has done so, and then some. I really encourage you to check out! And if you know any blind or visually impaired workers like Stacy, let me know about him/her in the comments section below.

Also, keep your eye out this month for some announcements about new features to CareerConnect®—AFB's online mentoring program.

Final Thoughts From A Roving Intern

Dear Blog Readers,

Summer is coming to a sure close (it's becoming uncharacteristically breezy here in New York), and unfortunately, so is my time here. I wanted to use this last bit of space—cyberspace?—to thank everyone who's endured me this summer, from my coworkers to my readers. I've had countless invaluable experiences here that just wouldn't be available to me elsewhere at all.

I was particularly lucky to have my first internship in the building of the American Foundation for the Blind—I suspect that in most other office buildings (and their surroundings), people wouldn't know to tell me which elevator door is opening or which way to turn on the street. It was always encouraging to know that many of the people around me knew just how to help—"Turn left," "The counter is to your right!"—which definitely facilitated my many adventures.

During my time here, I feel like I've also been much more educated on current issues in the blindness and technology worlds. I, for example, was woefully unaware of AFB CareerConnect®, which is a program designed to unite mentors of many different professions with aspiring students. I found a journalist working at her local newspaper in the database. Reading her story—a nonchalant tale of her battles as a reporter with a business beat—inspired me in a way that no encouraging words ever could. I suggest the tool to everyone, whether you are looking for a career path or would like to share your story. Who knows ... with CareerConnect, you may be seeing my name in print elsewhere next summer!

The internship also truly helped me determine which aspects I like of the work I've been doing. The writing has come naturally and quickly to me, which makes me feel confident in my future plans. As my mother has oh-so-cleverly labeled me, though, I have "Hyperactivity Disorder," a take on ADHD without the attention deficit aspect. I've learned that exploring one topic—which is essentially what one does at a nonprofit organization—will not always work for me. Of everything I've done here, I've still enjoyed the interviews I've done for AccessWorld® best, which is definitely very important and should be accounted for.

I'll take one step further by encouraging every young person on this blog to find an internship or job opportunity of any sort. Until now, I have never realized how important it is to explore my options and find out what I really like to do. It is a life-changing decision to be made, and you should take your time and make it with care. And, of course, thanks again to everybody here. I've loved every minute of this oh-so-fabulous experience.

Michelle

Making PowerPoint Presentations Accessible to All Audience Members

Recently I attended a conference of senior management of major organizations in the nonprofit sector, and I had a hard time following the keynoter's presentation because he didn't read the bullet points on his slides. Since most of the conferences I attend are within the blindness field, I am accustomed to presenters making certain their visuals are accessible to all audience members.

At AFB, we do our best to share PowerPoint or overheads with visually impaired participants in advance of presentations, and always read and describe our slides during presentations. Everyone in the audience finds it helpful because screens are often far away and hard to read. Just think of the conferences you've been to… How often is the audience struggling to follow a presentation because of reduced vision, poor writing, or the position of their seats? Probably pretty often.

With boomers aging and the vision loss numbers expected to multiply, it is really important that presenters keep access in mind. It's an easy way to ensure your audience is happy and engaged.

Get to Work! Celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Guest Blogger, Scott Truax, CareerConnect® Program Manager

For those who aren't aware, October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and for all of us at CareerConnect®, NDEAM is an important time to recognize and showcase the talents, skills, and dedication of workers who are blind or visually impaired in a variety of different fields.

I think the Success Stories section of CareerConnect captures the spirit of NDEAM because it's one place where our mentors and mentees are able to showcase and share their accomplishments in the workplace. One of my favorite stories in this section features Larry Johnson. Larry's resume rivals most. Throughout his career, he has found success in many jobs, such as a disc jockey, newscaster, and author… to name a few! Does adventurer count as a job, too? A fun tidbit about Larry is that at the age of 17, Larry traveled by bus from the United States to Mexico. Larry's story is just the tip of the iceberg, as so many people have had successful careers in many different professions.

What I find so special about CareerConnect is that it not only shares the success stories of people like Larry, but also helps individuals create their own stories through the many great employment-related resources available on the web. On the CareerConnect web site alone, you can find Tips for Exploring Careers, find out What Employers Are Looking For, Build Your Resume, and Search for Jobs. And just recently, AFB and NIB launched a new web site called NIB CareerNet that helps match job seekers with jobs at one of the agencies of NIB. This is another great tool for people with vision loss who are looking to get into the workforce.

In honor of NDEAM, I encourage you to take a few moments and check out CareerConnect and NIB CareerNet. And, as always, we also welcome any suggestions about how we might use the site more effectively to influence employers and help job seekers with vision loss.

Avraham Rabby: International Superstar

Guest Blogger, Detra Bannister, CareerConnect® Specialist

"Never talk defeat. Use words like hope, belief, faith, victory." ~Norman Vincent Peale

Who says dreams don't come true? This has surely been the philosophy of the country's first blind U.S. Diplomat and longtime AFB CareerConnect mentor, Rami Rabby. CareerConnect is proud to congratulate this impressive mentor for a job extremely well done! Few of us achieve the same level of accomplishment that Rami has and he serves as an inspiration to us all.

Mr. Rabby, who lost his sight at the age of 8 because of detached retinas, is the State Department's first blind diplomat. It is an achievement he fought for in the 1980s, passing three written entrance exams and two oral exercises along the way. But even then, the State Department barred him from the diplomatic corps. Did he give up? He certainly did not and went on to successfully prove his point; that with proper accommodations people with vision loss can do most any job out there—including being a diplomat in the Foreign Service.

Read about Rami's intriguing career in this NY Times article and join us in congratulating him for excellence in service to his country and by example, to the world's blind community.

Blind Center of Nevada Takes a Gamble with Hospitality Program

With the recent buzz around the possibility of a new casino in upstate New York, I was interested in reading an article that appeared in the Las Vegas Review Journal about a new employment training program designed to equip blind students with the skills needed to work in Las Vegas hotels and casinos. The program, offered at the Blind Center of Nevada, consists of classes in computers, oral and written communications, and business math; requires students to participate in workshops on job seeking and hospitality sales; and involves the completion of a two-week internship. Though all of the present students are local residents, Bob Waldorf, the Blind Center's vice president of operations, hopes to see the program grow to draw students from around the country.

Programs like this one are so important because the rate of unemployment in the blindness community is very high--less than half of visually impaired working-age adults are employed. Not only will the program benefit the blind, but it will simultaneously fill the staffing gap for the local casinos. It sounds to me like a win-win situation!

I'll Smile for Their Cameras!

I often mention CareerConnect®—AFB's online mentoring program—on this blog because I think it is an extremely valuable tool for people with vision loss who are curious about career opportunities. If you spend some time on the CareerConnect web site you start to realize that there are blind and visually impaired people in just about every profession. A couple of years ago, at AFB's annual Josephine L. Taylor Leadership Institute (JLTLI) I met Jay Blake, one of the mentors who worked as a mechanic for race cars and actually is crew chief of an award-winning racing team. I am so impressed by his accomplishments and I always feel enthused when I hear stories like his, so I thought I'd share this article I just read about a group of blind photographers in Israel. The Bezalele Academy of Art & Design located in Jerusalem recently featured their work in a well-received exhibit. It's really inspiring to know that people with vision loss are pursuing careers and interests that are associated with having a strong reliance on sight. It's so important to spread the message that motivated people—including those with disabilities—can achieve productive and successful lives.

Important Dates for October

Yesterday, my colleague Gil Johnson mentioned National Disability Employment month in his post. Here are some related dates to remember...

• Today, October 18, is actually Disability Mentoring Day, which promotes career development for students and job seekers with disabilities through one-on-one job shadowing and hands-on career exploration.
• On October 26th, U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao will announce the winners of the Secretary of Labor New Freedom Initiative Award to recognize the nonprofits, small businesses, corporations, and individuals that have demonstrated exemplary and innovative efforts in improving the employment and workplace environment for people with disabilities.
• We are also celebrating the 4th anniversary of DisabilityInfo.gov, an online resource that provides people with disabilities and employers information on a variety of topics including job accomodations and employment programs.

Please share these dates with your friends, so we can help build support for this important month.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Guest blogger, Gil Johnson, Senior Advisor, Critical Issues

John Lewis, one of AFB's CareerConnect® mentors, can truly be called "career man." He has worked as a wildlife artist, a food service facility manager, a data entry clerk, and is currently looking into starting a home-based "art print business." John started experiencing vision loss as a young child and his story describes his perseverance to pursue careers and job opportunities despite the challenges he faced.

John is one of the many mentors included in the "Success Stories" section of the CareerConnect web site. This section is a great source of inspiration for people with vision loss who are pursuing a career or who want to continue in their current profession regardless of their diminished vision. Since it's National Disability Employment Month, I think it's important to remind people that there are resources available to help them create their own success story.

For readers familiar with CareerConnect, we are interested in hearing whether it has been valuable to you or others. We also welcome any suggestions about how we might use the site more effectively to influence employers and help job seekers with vision loss.

The blind leading the blind... finally.

It's National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and I'm thrilled to report good news on the job front. Three talented professionals with vision loss have been hired to run large organizations in the blindness field. The Seeing Eye has hired Jim Kutsch, a senior-level executive from the corporate world; the National Industries for the Blind, Greensboro has hired Dan Kelly; and the Lighthouse Seattle has hired Kirk Adams.

These hires are a good sign that times are changing. Historically, very few people with vision loss have been hired as CEOs of private agencies for the blind. In my 35 years as an ardent observer of blindness organizations and the people who run them, I've noticed that the percentage of people with vision loss hired for leadership positions has been very, very small. And with the exception of AFB and a couple of consumer organizations, most of the organizations run by people who are blind have been local.

No one really knows why so few people with vision loss have been hired for CEO positions in the blindness field. One theory is that the boards of directors of private agencies have primarily been sighted, and have viewed people with vision loss as those who need services, rather than leaders that provide services. In recent years, agencies for the blind have been bringing more people with vision loss onto their boards of directors, and since then, there have been some positive changes on the employment front.

Another thing helping to crash down the glass ceiling is National Industries for the Blind's (NIB) Business Leaders Program, launched in 2003. Both Kirk Adams and Dan Kelly are graduates of this program, which was designed specifically to prepare individuals who are blind for careers in business and provides educational and employment opportunities. I cannot say enough good things about this program, its talented graduates, and the positive changes it's bringing forth. Thank you to NIB for launching and successfully managing this high-impact program.

Congratulations to Kirk, Dan, and Jim on their new jobs. I am so excited to hear that these three young, talented people will be running organizations in this field. What wonderful news for the 2006 National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

CareerConnect® Explores Supported Employment Program

The house has been feeling a bit empty since my daughter returned to college this week. It's a stark reality that when Labor Day weekend is over, the summer has come to an end and another school year has begun. Once again, students and their parents, especially those entering their senior year in high school, start focusing on their academic and professional futures. However, parents of people with severe disabilities may be unaware of the many career opportunities available for their children.

There is a great article in the Friends and Family section of the CareerConnect website that explains Supported Employment, a program that has helped to establish people with severe disabilities in the working world. For the past 26 years, Supported Employment has provided vocational assessment, assistance with job location, and job training for individuals with disabilities. I highly encourage you to read this article and learn about the various facets of this helpful and important program.

Ready for College and Ready for Work: Same or Different?

Guest blogger Karen Wolffe, Director, Professional Development and CareerConnect®, comments:

Earlier this month, I came across the results of a new study from ACT that makes it clear that access to academic course work is really important—whether students plan to attend college or enter a vocational skills training program. The study, "Ready for College and Ready for Work: Same or Different?," found that in today's information-based labor market high school students planning to enter workforce training programs need reading and mathematical skills comparable to students who plan to attend college. In other words, there is a very strong link between success and reading and math skills.

So, what does this mean for those of us concerned about the education of children and adolescents with vision loss? It means that we must advocate for their inclusion in academic course work comparable to their sighted peers to prepare them to meet the demands of both college and workforce training programs. They must participate in rigorous reading and math preparation programs if they are to have the best chance to be successful in either college or the workforce.