1. Job Placement Vendor Training Minnesota State Services for the Blind

2. How to Use This Presentation This PowerPoint Presentation features both slides with bullet points and also synthesized speech narration. You can press the right arrow or enter key to proceed to the next slide. To listen to the narration click on the speaker icon at the bottom of the screen.

3. Welcome Welcome! Thank you for your participation. This training seeks to :  Explain the process;  Define roles, responsibilities and expectations;  Give an introduction to Assistive Technology; and  Provide a reference.

4. Contents Materials #1 Employment Ready Guide #2 Employment Contract #3 Job Log #4 Disclosure Decisions: To Get The Job #5 Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) http://www.doleta.gov/business/incentives/opptax/PDF/employers_wotc_program_ brochure_5_24_12.pdf http://www.doleta.gov/business/incentives/opptax/PDF/employers_wotc_program_ brochure_5_24_12.pdf #6 Employer Services #7 Interviewing Tips #8 Low Vision Brochure #9 Jobs List #10 Worksite Information Form #11 Examples of Job Accommodations #12 Job Accommodation Network (JAN) http://askjan.org/media/Sight.htmlhttp://askjan.org/media/Sight.html #13 Do’s & Don’ts

5. Introduction  State Services for the Blind (SSB) serves blind, visually impaired and DeafBlind Minnesotans with offices located in Rochester, Mankato, Hutchinson, St. Cloud, Brainerd, Bemidji, Hibbing, Duluth, West St. Paul, Blaine, and St. Paul.  Visit our website:  http://mn.gov/deed/job-seekers/blind-visual-impaired/ http://mn.gov/deed/job-seekers/blind-visual-impaired/

6. Eligibility for Services  Eligibility is visual acuity of 20/60 or worse in the better eye with best correction, a visual field of 20 degrees or less, and or a progressive condition that will more than likely result in legal blindness. With such a large range of visual acuity, some of the customers referred to you may still be driving or may be totally blind.

7. Roles and responsibilities of SSB Staff  Counselor - Manages the case, provides vocational counseling, approves plans for employment, and arranges any needed services.  VR (Vocational Rehabilitation) Tech – Provides support to the counselor in numerous areas.  AT (Access Technology) Tech - Provides assessments to determine appropriate technology, computer set up, job site assistance, equipment demos, and general computer consultation.

8. Roles and responsibilities of SSB Staff  Business Relations Consultants (Employment Specialists) - Support to the counselor and customer in career exploration, interviewing, writing resumes and cover letters, development of internship and work experiences, volunteerism, employer marketing, job development, job analysis, job starts, and on the job follow-up.

9. Referrals  Employment Ready Guide [Handout #1] to ensure employment readiness.  MAY include requests for resume development, mock interviews, job leads, and or help with online applications.  Resume or interviewing training should be requested by the counselor.  Majority of requests will be for job development and direct job placement and YOUR EMPLOYER CONTACTS!

10. Customer’s Responsibilities/Involvement/ Participation  Customers – Are expected to participate as much as possible in their job search.  Employment Contract [Handout #2]  Job Log [Handout #3]

11. Customer’s Responsibilities/Involvement/ Participation  Customers- Are expected to have a strategy to address disclosure.  Customers- Are expected to have a personal plan for addressing methods they will use to perform job duties.  Discuss and verify strategy with customer [Handout #4]  Contact SSB

12. Employer Contacts  Benefits and advantages of partnering with a community organization and SSB when hiring someone who is blind or visually impaired:  Access to an untapped pool of great candidates  Financial incentives up to $2400 in tax credits [Handout #5]  Dependability - The US Census Bureau states 70% of people with disabilities are more likely to stay 5 years or more and 50% are less likely to be absent or late.

13. Employer Contacts  OJT, work experiences, internships and many no cost services - [Handout #6]  Interviewing tips [Handout #7].  Assistance with the retention of current employees who are aging and experiencing vision loss.  Various levels of vision – a graphic look [Handout #8]  The types of jobs blind people do [Handout #9]

14. Ways to educate and get employers involved  Mock interviews.  Feedback on resumes.  Internships or volunteer opportunities.  Recruitment assistance.  Invite HR staff and or managers to visit SSB.

15. Summary of Employer Contacts  Sell the advantages of hiring our customers  Sell the services and support available.  Share the information about the skills and abilities of our customers  Let your employers know they're not alone!!

16. Job Analysis  Obtain a job offer before conducting a job analysis.  Be aware of the individual’s visual acuity and accommodation needs.  Worksite Information form [Handout #10]  Computer access – assure the person’s computer and access technology skills are adequate.  Identify all electronic displays used.  If computer access is required - don’t assume the customer's technology will be compatible with employer's computer system.

17. Job Analysis  Information to gather:  Job work flow - printed data, origin of the data, electronic availability?  Training - length, location, live or simulated, and an effective way to take notes.  Reference materials - print, electronic?  Know the customers’ accommodations needed for dealing with data i.e. computer, magnification, digital recorder, large print, etc.

18. Job Analysis  Involve an SSB Access Technology Technician to determine if testing is required.  Large print users - be aware of the magnification level needed when using large print software and what font size is needed when accessing print.  SSB’s Employment Specialists and Access Technology Technicians are available to conduct job analyses, recommend appropriate accommodations, and assist with getting them in place. Involve these staff whenever possible!

19. Job Accommodations  Accommodations needed for each person will vary. See [Handout #10]  Involve the SSB counselor and or SSB employment specialist in the identification and decision to pay for accommodations.  It takes time to obtain accommodations and get them in place and arrange and conduct technology testing. Never promise a quick start date!  Never assume that SSB will provide all of the accommodations.

20. Job Accommodations  List all accommodations that will be needed.  Additional assistance in researching possible accommodations is the JAN (Job Accommodation Network) website http://askjan.org/ [Handout #11]  SSB can only pay for items if they are documented in the customer’s Employment Plan.

21. Assistive Technology in the Workplace Minnesota State Services for the Blind

22. Assistive Technology in the Workplace  Our Team  5 AT Specialist with statewide coverage  What We Do  Assistive Technology Evaluations  Customer Skill Level Assessments  Employer Consultations  Job Site Accessibility Testing  Technical Support Services for SSB Customers

23. Examples of Assistive Technology  Screen Magnification Software  Video Magnification Devices  Screen Reader Software  Braille Devices  Traditional Braille Notetakers  Text-To-Speech Access to Print  Apple OS and iOS Devices  Low Tech Solutions

24. Screen Magnification Software

25. Screen Magnification for Low Vision  Allows low vision users full access to a computer by magnifying the screen  Magnification from 1.1x to 36x  Visual enhancements including contrast, mouse pointers, fonts and more  Screen reading tools also available  USB versions and specialized keyboards  Low learning curve for new users

26. Video Magnification Devices  Desktop magnifiers for access to print material known as Closed Circuit Televisions (CCTV)  PC Compatible video magnifiers  Camera based video magnifiers  Portable handheld video magnifiers  Various magnification levels from 3x to 90x and many contrast options

27. Desktop Video Magnifiers

28. Common Desktop Video Magnifiers  Freedom Scientific TOPAZ 24-Inch - $3,495  Humanware SmartView Synergy PI 23-Inch - $3,095  Enhanced Vision Merlin HD 24-Inch - $2,995  Optelec ClearView+ HD 22-Inch - $3,195

29. Portable Video Magnifiers

30. Common Portable Video Magnifiers  Enhanced Vision AMIGO - $1,695  Enhanced Vision Pebble - $645  Freedom Scientific RUBY - $545  HIMS SenseView Portable - $595  Humanware SmartView Versa + - $925  i-loview - $645  Optelec Compact 5 HD - $895

31. Screen Reader Software

32.  Powerful access to screen content  Can be customized to work with today’s proprietary business applications  Support for refreshable Braille displays for broader access to information  Full keyboard access with custom commands for quick access to information  Higher learning curve for new users

33. Common Screen Reader Software  Windows Narrator - Free  NVDA - Free  JAWS for Windows - $1,095 / $895  Window-Eyes - $895 / Payment Plan  System Access - $399  System Access to Go - Free

34. Braille Display Hardware

35. Braille Displays  Works in conjunction with screen reading software to allow extensive reading and access to information  Allows a user to input text using standard Braille input methods  Refreshable braille in Grade 1 and 2  Will allow quicker access to information in employment settings

36. Text-To-Speech Scanning Software

37.  Allows access to printed material for blind and low vision computer users  Works in conjunction with standard computer scanners  Camera based scanners allow quick access to printed materials  Access to electronic books from BookShare and other services

38. Portable Assistive Technology Devices  Personal Data Assistants (PDA) type devices with Braille and Speech for note taking, calendar, e-mail and Internet access.  Mobile Phone and GPS solutions  Digital Voice Recorders  Bar Code Readers

39. Apple OS and iOS Solutions  Apple Computers and iOS devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod) include built-In accessibility features  Accessibility features include Siri, the VoiceOver screen reader, Zoom magnification, captioning, braille support and more  Thousands of app add-ons for access to text-to- speech, GPS navigation, news, lifestyle, notetaking, money identifiers and much more

40. Low Tech Solutions

41.  Digital Voice Recorders  Keyboard markers  Lighting Solutions  Light Probe for phone systems  Braille file labels  Hand Held Magnifiers  Anything needed to get the job done!

42. AT Challenges  Increasing amount of information that needs to be accessed quickly using multiple screens and programs  Accessibility of programs built for visual users  Programs being mouse driven without keyboard navigation abilities  Many other challenges

43. Do’s & Don’ts [Handout #13]  Do:  Share information regarding SSB employer services to your network of employers.  Have a clear understanding of the customers’ skills & abilities, and possible accommodations.  Try to get a job offer prior to job and or technology analysis.  Involve SSB staff for all job and or technology analyses.  Discuss miscellaneous issues such as transportation, child care, Social Security, etc. prior to the job search.

44. Do’s & Don’t [Handout #13]  Do:  Involve SSB in all pre-employment test issues if accommodations are needed.  Communicate all placement activities to the counselor through regular written reports.  Don’t:  Assume the customer's technology will be compatible with the employer's computer system.  State that SSB will provide or purchase job accommodations without consulting with SSB staff.  Set a job start date until a job site analysis and or technology analysis has been completed.

45. Success in the Workplace  Communication is key  Coordinate with SSB and the Placement Team  Access SSB AT Techs for technology related issues

46. For More Information On Employment Services Pam Gowan Job Placement Specialist Minnesota State Services for the Blind Phone: (651) 539-2339 Toll Free: (800) 652-9000 Pam.Gowan@state.mn.us

47. For More Information on Technology Services Shawn T. Wallin Assistive Technology Specialist Minnesota State Services for the Blind Phone: (651) 539-2299 Toll Free: (800) 652-9000 shawn.wallin@state.mn.us