A New Employment Frontier In Employment of Individuals Who Are Blind

Summary:
Announcement: Technological advances and a changing economy forced the South Carolina Commission for the Blind to be creative and develop a different approach to training and placement for our blind consumers.

A Revolutionary Concept

The Partnership

Preparing For Training

Training

Arrangements

Employment! Employment! Employment!

Need More Information?

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A Revolutionary Concept

We had successfully placed a number of blind people in Tele-communications with the Vanguard Rental Corporation, the owners of Alamo and National Car Rentals. These placements were prefaced with individual training and a lot of experimenting with assistive technology. How could we develop a training program in Tele-communications that trained groups of prospective employees, and where could we go to get the technical assistance to adapt tele-communications software to the assistive technology essential for our blind consumers? We concluded it could happen with a partnership with private industry.


The Partnership

Vanguard Rental Corporation was a willing partner because of their positive experiences with their blind employees. They brought to the partnership technical assistance, equipment, software and financial participation. With a contractual relationship, the private sector partner not only provides placement to everyone trained on their programs: but also allows training for other employers with adapted software. In addition to training for Vanguard Rental Corporation, training and placement programs are established with Drivers' Choice Insurance Company and Wells Fargo Mortgage Company.


Preparing For Training

The preparation for training begins with the VR Counselor pre-screening consumers who are potential trainees. Referrals to the program are then screened for communications skills and knowledge and use of assistive technology. Some employers prefer to interview candidates for training while other employers rely on the selections made by agency staff.


Training

In a fast paced environment, the twelve weeks training program is presented in three phasesￂ?classroom training with the manuals of the company for which the trainee will be working, hands-on training with live computers and working with live calls in an intense work setting. Training is eight hours each day, Monday through Friday: and appropriate work habits such as limited lunch hour and limited break time is enforced. Trainees are evaluated throughout the twelve weeks, and remedial intervention is offered when trainees demonstrate skills deficits that can be addressed.


Arrangements

For South Carolina residents, we provide rooms and meals at the Rehabilitation Center on campus. For out of state trainees, we provide assistance in locating off-campus housing, and meals are provided through the Rehabilitation Center. Transportation is provided to and from training for out of state trainees as well as transportation to and from the airport. Orientation and mobility are also available to all trainees.


Employment! Employment! Employment!

Employers commit to placement before trainees are accepted into the program. If a trainee does not show potential for successful completion, the training is terminated. Entry level salaries range from $24,000 to $26,000 annually, and agency staff assists with relocation, orientation and mobility and technical assistance at time of entry into employment.


Need More Information?

For additional information, contact Ed. Bible at (803) 898-8786.

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