[Jobs] (no subject)

Mon May 12 15:45:45 CDT 2008

Hi John,

It's a little difficult to answer your question in a way that doesn't go on
for pages and pages.  Therefore, let me try a shorter version.  If it sounds
interesting to you, please call Al Spooner at BLIND, Inc., telephone
612-872-0100 or 800-597-9558, or e-mail him at aspooner at blindinc.org.  Al is
in charge of our outreach and marketing, and will be glad to give you as
much information as you desire. 

If a qualified person like you has been looking for a job for five years and
still hasn't found one, something is seriously wrong.  It may be the job
search or interviewing methods you are using, the way you handle blindness
in resumes and job interviews, your degree of skill using nonvisual
techniques, a lack of self-confidence, a lack of good coaching and effective
job referrals from your state agency, a need for IT skills upgrading, a poor
IT job market in your area, what your references may be saying to
prospective employers about you, or a number of other reasons.  

One of the first things we'd do is try to figure out what's keeping you from
being employed.  Then we'd work to remove that problem and strengthen any
areas of weakness that we see.  Sometimes agency expectations are the cause.
We've talked to a number of blind people who think they have great skills
until they see the ones our students have.  Our training is comprehensive in
the sense that we strive to provide our students with skills that equal or
exceed the ones of the sighted people with whom they must compete.  And we
work very hard to get them to believe that they are as good as or better
than sighted people, which they are.  

While a person is in training here, I start working with them on finding
employment.  In my classes, I teach students how to find jobs as blind
persons.  That's different in a number of ways from the way most job seeking
skills courses are taught.  Because of our contacts within the NFB, we can
refer you to mentors who can guide you along your career search and
employers who will give your application thoughtful consideration and hire
you if you have what they need.  

The other NFB centers have similar programs, although there are some
differences of style and approach between each of us.  But our students who
want to go to work do go to work in a reasonable amount of time, and we
stick with them until they do.  As I said above, if this approach sounds
like something you might be interested in, please contact Al Spooner at
BLIND, Inc. and/or similar staff at the other centers.  You can check out
our websites at www.blindinc.org, www.cocenter.org, and www.lcb-ruston.org.

Good luck.
Dick Davis
Assistant Director for Employment
BLIND, Inc.  
ddavis at blindinc.org

-----Original Message-----
From: jobs-bounces+ddavis=blindinc.org at nfbnet.org
[mailto:jobs-bounces+ddavis=blindinc.org at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Job Hunter
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2008 11:11 AM
To: Jobs for the Blind
Subject: Re: [Jobs] (no subject)

How exactly will an NFB center help a blind person get a job?

Let's take a person like myself.  I had worked in the IT field for 25 years 
before losing my eye sight.  I've worked with my States VR folks and 
received mobility training and have become very well versed in using Jaws. 
I have been actively trying to find a job for the past five years.  What 
sort of help can I expect from an NFB Center?

Thanks,
John

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dick Davis" <ddavis at blindinc.org>
To: "'Jobs for the Blind'" <jobs at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2008 11:50 AM
Subject: Re: [Jobs] (no subject)

> Melissa,
> It sounds like you need to meet some positive people who will help you get

> a
> job.  Have you considered going to an NFB center?  Ours is in Minneapolis,
> MN, and the other two are in Denver, CO and Ruston, LA.  It would be well
> worth your time.
> Dick Davis
> BLIND, Inc.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: jobs-bounces+ddavis=blindinc.org at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:jobs-bounces+ddavis=blindinc.org at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Melissa
> Quarles
> Sent: Monday, May 12, 2008 6:57 AM
> To: jobs at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [Jobs] (no subject)
>
> Hi my name is Melissa. I am a 27 year old female I have a four year old
> child. I lost my sight 2 years ago. I have not worked since then. I have
> been doing training and doctors since then trying to get ready to work and
> that way nobody could say that I was not prepared properly. But now that I
> am ready they still say that I am not ready. So, I find it very hard and
> heart breaking that they do this but they won't break my spirits because I
> always see the sunny side of the fence and always go for it that way I can
> show my daughter no matter what you can succeed!
> Peace out
> Melissa
>
>
>
>
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