[infoshare] Re: Fw: Fred's Head Companion - American Printing House for the Blind

  • From: "Lynne" <superlynne@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <infoshare@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Sat, 9 May 2009 11:23:02 -0400

Fred's Head from APHAlso, I use the Day by Day calendar and find it very useful.
Lynne

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Lynne Tatum 
  To: infoshare@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Saturday, May 09, 2009 10:55 AM
  Subject: [infoshare] Fw: Fred's Head Companion - American Printing House for 
the Blind


  Good Morning, All.
  This issue was packed with so much great information, I thought I'd send it 
on in its entirety.  <smile>
  Have a terrific Saturday.
  Lynne



        Fred's Head Companion - American Printing House for the Blind   
        How to Cook Bacon in the Microwave 

        Posted: 08 May 2009 08:22 AM PDT

        If you love crunchy, crisp bacon, you'll be glad to know that there's a 
quick way to cook bacon without a greasy mess. There are a lot of blind and 
visually impaired people who don't like cooking bacon on the stove because of 
the popping greace that often accompanies the job. Let's remove this problem by 
cooking bacon in the microwave instead.



          1.. Prepare a microwave-safe dish, preferably glass.

          2.. Place several layers of paper towels over the dish.

          3.. Lay 4 uncooked bacon strips across the paper towels. Check to 
insure that the strips don't go over the edge of the dish you're using.

          4.. Place several layers of paper towels over the bacon.

          5.. Cook the bacon in the microwave approximately 4 minutes on the 
highest setting (time may vary by microwave).

          6.. When the bacon is done, allow it to sit for about 1 minute to 
cool.

          7.. Carefully remove the top layer of paper towels. This is best done 
near a garbage can so they can be immediately thrown away. Be careful, the 
bacon may stick a little.

          8.. You'll notice the bacon will be crisp, almost fat free, and 
delicious.

          9.. Remove the bacon to a plate and toss the greasy bottom layer of 
paper towels into the garbage.

          10.. Place the dish into either the dishwasher or sink for later 
cleaning.

          11.. Your bacon is ready to serve! 
        Remove your bacon from the paper towels promptly or it will stick, 
leaving white pieces on your bacon. These are sometimes hard to detect without 
vision. 

        Remember to check the bacon as it cooks. It heats quickly and you may 
need to stop the microwave before the time is up. Never leave your microwave 
unattended while cooking bacon.

        If you're looking for a gadget to help with cooking bacon in the 
microwave, click this link to check out the WowBacon Cooker: 
http://www.wowbacon.com. 


          
        Create and Print Awards and Certificates 

        Posted: 08 May 2009 08:06 AM PDT

        My Award Maker is a free, very easy to use award/certificate creator.  
Choose from one of hundreds of great awards, fill in the information that best 
fits your needs, and print.  It couldn’t be easier and the results are 
fantastic! 

        This is the perfect place to find an award or certificate for any 
occasion.  Don’t wait for a formal award ceremony, tell your students/children 
how proud you are of their achievements and efforts all year long with various 
awards and certificates.

        Click this link to create awards with http://www.myawardmaker.com. 

        NOTE: site may not be compatible with all screen readers or screen 
magnification programs. 


          
        Motivate Reading with a Book Wink 

        Posted: 08 May 2009 07:46 AM PDT

        Book Wink is a great way to motivate students in 3rd through 8th grade 
to read.  Through podcasts and web video, Book Wink introduces students to 
books that will help get students excited about reading.  

        Video book talks are about 3 minutes in length and introduce students 
to a topic, and the additional read-alikes that can be found on the Book Wink 
website.  Books can be searched by grade, subject, author, or title.  Subscribe 
to the video podcast to automatically receive the newest book talks.

        Click this link to visit http://www.bookwink.com. 


          
        Meeting the Challenge of Finding Employment 

        Posted: 08 May 2009 06:36 AM PDT

        Maybe you are a high school student who needs a job for the summer. 
Maybe you are an adult who has just lost your sight. Perhaps you are a blind or 
visually impaired person who is graduating from college. Regardless of your 
specific situation, you will most likely need the following things to meet the 
challenge of finding employment:

          a.. A good-looking resume that highlights your skills, experience, 
and education 
          b.. A way of finding potential employers 
          c.. A way of filling out employment applications 
          d.. A way of keeping track of appointments and contacts 
          e.. Transportation to an interview 
          f.. Great interviewing skills, including appropriate dress and good 
self-presentation 
          g.. Useful links 
        This record attempts to provide you with a list of resources that you 
may access in order to meet the challenge of getting a job. In addition, we 
have included at the end of this record a list of other useful links.

        The Resume
        Many people believe that first impressions are extremely important. If 
you decide to reach out to potential employers by sending out resumes, your 
resume will give your potential employer the first impression about you. For 
this reason, you will need a good-looking resume with well-written information 
about your experience, skills, and education.

        If this is your first time writing a resume, you need to know that 
there are specific guidelines on how to write and format resumes and their 
accompanying cover letters. The best way to learn all the specifics is from a 
book that contains examples.

        A great resource for finding books in different accessible media is 
APH's Louis Database found at: http://louis.aph.org

        Louis can help you find books that give you advice about resume 
writing, cover letters, and job searching. These books are available in 
braille, large print, and tape. Once in Louis, do a key word search using the 
words: resume writing. Using the Louis database is free of charge. 

        Other sources of accessible books on this topic are:

          a.. The National Library Service at: http://www.loc.gov/nls/ 
          b.. And Bookshare.org at: http://www.bookshare.org 
          c.. www.ProvenResumes.com is another resource for materials about 
writing a cover letter, resume, and can also be used to search for jobs. 
        Once you have a chance to look at examples of the different kinds of 
resumes, you can start getting all your information together into a "Personal 
Data Sheet" or PDS. A PDS should contain all the information you will need to 
fill out an employment application: your name and your current contact 
information, including address and phone number; dates and details about your 
academic and work history; supervisors' names; and your references, including 
their names and contact information.

        The PDS is very important as it will serve two purposes. It will help 
you or the person who helps you fill out employment applications to have all 
your information in a central place, and it will be handy when you start 
putting together your resume.

        Once you have gathered all the info you need into a Personal Data 
Sheet, you can start writing your resume; however, formatting the document may 
present some problems for people using screen readers or magnification 
software. But don't worry, we have some options that will help you deal with 
these issues.

        One option is to go to a site called CareerConnect™. This site has 
excellent resources for job seekers including a sample of a PDS and a resume as 
well as a way to generate them on-line. Find AFB's CareerConnect at: 
http://www.afb.org/careerconnect/

        There are agencies that specialize in writing a resume for you. You 
will need to give them your information via e-mail, fax, or over the phone. 
They can also put together a cover letter. The money you spend by hiring a 
resume-writing company may be worth it. They are professionals and most of them 
will deliver an excellent quality product. 

        You may find resume-writing services by looking them up in the Yellow 
Pages®, through directory assistance, or over the Internet.

        The following are two methods to access information in the phone 
directory:

          1.. Internet. To access your local phone book over the Internet you 
can go to the Yellow Pages site. Their info is displayed in a speech-friendly 
format. You can find them at: http://www.yellow.com/ggl

          Another speech-friendly Yellow Pages search can be found at: 
http://www.realpages.com

          Both of these services are very friendly and let you narrow down the 
search to find out businesses that are closest to your area. They also give the 
user the ability to search for popular categories.


          2.. A second choice to access the phone directory is to simply call 
your local phone service provider for directory assistance. If you are 
currently being charged for this service, you may want to request information 
on how to get directory assistance at no cost because you are blind or visually 
impaired. 
        Emurse: the Online Resume Maker
        Looking for a job? Need reliable service to create and manage your 
resumes? Enter Emurse, online resume maker with a handful of useful features. 
These include quick resume generator, activity tracking, resume templates, 
multi-format download, and more. Additional features include: 

          a.. Create, Manage and Store your resumes online.

          b.. Apply changes, choose between different templates and preview 
resume in real-time.

          c.. Distribute your resumes in multiple formats (PDF, DOC, RTF, ODT, 
HTML, and TXT). Download resume in any of the provided formats.

          d.. Want to keep resumes private? Emurse provides an option to 
password protect any of your resumes.

          e.. Keep track of where you have sent resumes and whether recipients 
received them.

          f.. Leave yourself notes and even set up reminder e-mails to help you 
follow up.

          g.. Detailed statistics: Stay up to date on who, how and when viewed 
your resume.

          h.. Free account: 1. create and store up to two resumes, 2. choose 
between two professional templates, and 3. publish one resume on your own 
Emurse page (yourname.emurse.com). 
        Click this link to visit http://www.emurse.com. 
        HowToWriteAResume.net
        Here's a free online service that helps you write a resume. Lots of 
tips too. Help on finding a job and how to construct the best resume.

        Click this link to visit http://www.howtowritearesume.net. 

        Finding Potential Employers
        There are thousands of job openings out there, and at least one of 
those jobs is the perfect one for you! But how do you go about finding these 
job openings or potential employers? The following is a list of resources for 
commonly used methods:

        1. Searching job banks on the Internet, or over the phone
        There are several Web pages that have comprehensive lists of links to 
job related sites.

        The Career Resource Library has a page that links you to more than 50 
job related sites including job banks, MetaGuides, and job clearinghouses. 
These sites provide job opportunities in multiple fields, industries, and 
occupations. A number of these sites provide resume services and job search 
news. Some of these sites include: America's Job Bank, Monster®, The American 
Council of the Blind, JobBank USA®, CareerBuilder.com ®, and more. 

        For a list of links to these sites go to: 
http://www.acinet.org/acinet/library.asp?category=3.1

        The Career Resource Library also has a page dedicated to links that you 
can use to find job announcements which are located in or focus on countries 
and regions beyond the United States. Some sites include: InterCareers Net 
Japan, CVlLatino.com (SM), Eurojobs, American Citizens Abroad, and more. 

        To go directly to the international jobs go to: 
http://www.acinet.org/acinet/library.asp?category=3.7#3.7.9< /p> 

        On JobEnable.com, job seekers can post their resumes and search the 
database for available positions. Employers are able to post jobs and search 
resumes, recruiting qualified candidates who are the best fit for their 
organization. JobEnable.com would be an excellent tool to use to help add 
disabled candidates to your hiring initiatives. Nearly 20% of all Americans 
have some type of disability, and the majority of people with disabilities are 
able and employable with minimal accommodations required by the employer. The 
objective with JobEnable.com is to give hope and opportunity to those who are 
able and want to work, and empower employers with a dedicated web site that 
links them to qualified, disabled job applicants. JobEnable.com was launched in 
November 2007 by Matt Lawrence and NetworkIP in Longview, TX. Matt has 
Dystonia, a progressive neurological disorder that affects his speech and fine 
motor skills. Following graduation from college, Matt brought the idea that now 
is JobEnable.com to NetworkIP. NetworkIP agreed there is a need for a service 
like JobEnable and have supported the idea from its conception to the present 
day.

        Click this link to visit http://www.JobEnable.com. 

        GettingHired.com is an online career center and social networking 
community for people with disabilities. It is the only fully accessible online 
job portal and social network of its kind to operate under an employer 
subscription model. This ensures that every employment opportunity listed by 
employers is specifically targeting candidates with disabilities. 

        The site features free career-building tools, including a cover letter 
and resume builder, video interview training, a comprehensive peer mentoring 
program, and career compatibility assessment and reporting. 

        Connect with peer mentors who also have disabilities to discuss an 
array of relevant topics, including employment experience and career concerns. 
There is a product and service provider network, which is the only national 
registry of its kind, to help candidates with a wide range of needs. 

        For more information, call 866-352-7481 or click this link to visit 
http://www.GettingHired.com. 

        For those of you looking for federal jobs, there are some sites that 
specialize in government positions.

        FedWorld : This database allows you to search abstracts of open U.S. 
Federal Government Jobs. Their database is updated almost every day. Check out 
FedWorld at: http://www.fedworld.gov/jobs/jobsearch.html

        Another great site for federal jobs is Federal Job Search. Federal Job 
Search captures your custom job search profile online and matches it daily 
against a database of approximately 46,000 U.S. federal government job openings 
across the U.S. and around the world. Federal Job Search uses an automated 
email delivery system. After they run a search for you, they immediately notify 
you via email when a position matches your search.

        Look for Federal Job Search at http://www.federaljobsearch.com

        Another Web page that is worth checking is the page of "Useful Links" 
for AFB's CareerConnect™. This page includes links to disability related job 
sites such as the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment 
Policy, Able to Work, and RecruitABILITY.

        CareerConnect: http://www.afb.org/careerconnect/users/links.asp

        If you are looking for a job in a call center/customer service 
environment, you will want to look at http://www.CallCenterJobs.com. 

        If you happen to speak another language, click this link to visit 
www.Bilingual-Jobs.com. 

        disABLEDperson Inc. is one of many Christian charities whose mission is 
unique and that is to help reduce the near 70% unemployment rate amongst 
disabled Americans. They accomplish this through their online recruitment 
application, "RecruitABILITY.". For more information check them out at 
http://www.disABLEDperson.com. 

        Job Hunting Websites



          a.. Yahoo! HotJobs: http://www.hotjobs.com

          b.. 2 JobSearch.net: http://www.2jobsearch.net

          c.. Best Jobs USA: http://www.all-jobs-usa.com

          d.. AllTopJobs.Com: http://www.AllTopJobs.Com

          e.. All Job Search: http://www.AllJobSearch.com

          f.. SuperJobs.net: http://www.SuperJobs.net

          g.. American Preferred Jobs: http://www.preferedjobs.com

          h.. Ampjobs.com: http://www.Ampjobs.com

          i.. BetterSalary.com: http://www.BetterSalary.com

          j.. CybaStaff.com: http://www.CYBAstaff.com

          k.. Career Mouse: http://www.CareerMouse.com

          l.. CareerBuilder.com: http://www.careerbuilder.com

          m.. True Careers Inc.: http://www.careercity.com

          n.. careersearchweb.com: http://www.CareerSearchWeb.com

          o.. CareerShop: http://www.CareerShop.com

          p.. WorkTree: http://www.worktree.com

          q.. ChristianCareerCenter.com: http://www.christiancareercenter.com

          r.. employmax.com: http://www.Employmax.com

          s.. Freshjobs: http://www.Freshjobs.com

          t.. IMDiversity.com: http://www.IMdiversity.com

          u.. Job-Hunt.org: http://www.Job-Hunt.org

        For those individuals who don't have access to a computer, there is a 
telephone method for searching for jobs. This resource is called Jobline®. It 
is an audio version of America's Job Bank, one of the largest job banks in the 
U.S. It is a free public service provided by state agencies with assistance 
from the National Federation of the Blind and the United States Department of 
Labor. 

        Jobline helps you find openings and apply for jobs which match your 
qualifications and are located in your area or any other area of the country. 
The job announcements are presented along with application information for any 
job of interest.

        When you access Jobline over the phone, you will be asked to create a 
profile, which in turn, may be used to create a resume. Through Jobline you can 
create, store, and send resumes to employers.

        To access Jobline, call 1-800-414-5748 or visit the NFB's Web site at: 
http://www.nfb.org/jobline/enter.htm for more information.

        2. Looking over the classified ads in the newspaper
        Since the newspaper is the leading provider of local news and 
information in many communities, another commonly used method to find jobs is 
to search the job classified ad sections in local newspapers. Here are some 
resources that will allow you to access this info.

        Home Town News: http://www.hometownnews.com

        This is a site that provides direct links to the Web site of more than 
2,400 daily and weekly U.S. newspapers. You may either Select a State from a 
combo box or click on a state on a map for a list of links to online newspapers 
in that state.

        Another similar source is the listing of United States newspapers at: 
http://www.50states.com/news/

        This is a directory of links to newspapers in the United States 
organized by state.

        If you are looking for international jobs you may want to visit Online 
Newspapers. This site lists about 10,000 newspapers from around the world, 
searchable by country and then by publication.

        Visit Online Newspapers at: http://www.onlinenewspapers.com/

        If you don't have a computer with Internet access, you can obtain the 
information from more than 60 newspapers across the country by calling 
NEWSLINE®, a service provided by the National Federation of the Blind.

        The user can easily choose which newspaper, section, and article to 
read with the use of a standard touch-tone phone. The user can choose to read 
the current day's paper, the previous day's edition, or the previous Sunday's 
issue of each newspaper on the service. The menu provided allows the user to 
change the speed and voice quality, spell out words, or search for words.

        For a list of NEWSLINE's newspapers go to: 
http://www.nfb.org/newsline/newspaper.htm

        To become a registered user of NEWSLINE, you can call the National 
Federation of the Blind at: 410-659-9314 to request a print application. You 
can also register through the National Library Service for the Blind or on-line 
at: http://www.nfb.org/n ewsline1.htm

        Once you register you can call 1-888-882-1629 to access NEWSLINE.

        3. Finding job leads in professional journals
        The Internet contains hundreds of journals on-line. The best way to 
find journals in your area of interest is to go to any search engine such as 
http://www.google.com or http://www.yahoo.com and do a search including the 
words "on-line journals" and your area of interest such as "health", 
"computers", "psychology", etc. 

        4. Contacting federal and state employment services
        The Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy has a 
list of State Liaisons that you may contact when looking for services. One 
thing that needs to be mentioned is that a State Liaison office may direct you 
to the Department or Commission for the Blind in your area, and in turn the 
Department for the Blind may re-direct you. However, don't give up your quest 
until you find a person who can help you with employment issues.

        To go to the directory of State Liaisons click: 
http://www.dol.gov/odep/state/state.htm

        Through a federal or state employment agency you may not only find out 
what jobs are available, but you may be referred to some kind of rehabilitation 
center, training center or vocational rehab center that may teach you some 
useful skills such as the use of computers with speech access, or 
organizational skills. 

        5. Visiting private and nonprofit disability employment agencies
        In almost every state there are private or nonprofit agencies that 
specialize in employment for people with disabilities. For instance, in 
Louisville, Kentucky, there is a Center for Accessible Living.™ 

        6. Visiting career centers
        Most universities and community colleges have a career center on 
campus. You may want to go to the career center to check for jobs posted there. 
Usually these centers have a counselor that can assist you with resume writing, 
job searching, and other important skills. 

        7. Visiting employment agencies 
        These firms or agencies will ask you to fill out an employment 
application and will call you if they can place you in a job. Frequently, 
people find good permanent jobs starting out as temps. Temporary jobs allow 
people to check out the company or organization and make contacts. If you like 
the company, you may want to see what other positions are available, or you may 
do such a good job that they will want to keep you. One thing you must keep in 
mind is that these agencies and search firms may charge you or the employer a 
fee for their services.

        Again, the best way to find these agencies in your area is by looking 
them up in your local phone book. 

        8. Volunteer opportunities
        Another way to find a job is to volunteer your time. While 
volunteering, you may connect with potential employers. If a paid position 
becomes available, you may have an advantage over other applicants for the 
position. 

        9. Talking to people you know
        You might be surprised how many people have gotten a job by talking to 
a friend who told another friend, who told their uncle, who told their cousin 
that they were looking for a job! 

        Approximately 33% of the people who are looking for a job learn about 
opportunities through word of mouth. So let your friends, teachers, former 
teachers, and relatives know that you are searching and let them know your 
qualifications. They may know someone who has the perfect job for you. 

        10. Knocking on the door
        According to the well-known job search book What Color is Your 
Parachute, there is nothing wrong with knocking on the door of potential 
employers even if they don't have known vacancies. The book explains that there 
is a 69% probability that you will get a job if you do research via the phone 
book or other method to identify subjects or field of interest in the town or 
city where you are, and then calling to see if they are hiring.

        11. Informational Interviewing
        One step further is what the book calls the "Creative Approach." This 
approach calls for three steps:
        A. Decide exactly what you have to offer to the world.
        B. Decide where you want to use your skills.
        C. Go after the organizations that interest you the most whether or not 
they are known to have a vacancy. Use your contacts to get an appointment with 
the person who has the power to hire you for the job you want to do. You can 
then talk to that person about the goals of the company and your goals in an 
"informational interview" format.

        Applying for a Job
        Filling Out Employment Applications
        One advantage of using the Internet to find a job is that in many cases 
you can also apply for the job on-line. This is helpful because most likely you 
will be able to fill out your employment application independently.

        This is the case when you can use JobLine® ; at 
http://www.nfb.org/jobline/enter.htm

        The system allows you to have your own personalized electronic 
application or resume prepared and sent to an employer with a job of interest 
to you. The application/resume is created from your response to a series of 
questions about your education, training, work experience, and specific job 
qualifications. Once you have created your application/resume, it will be 
stored on the system and sent to the fax number or e-mail address of an 
employer you select. You can also create a new application/resume or review and 
revise an existing one at any time.

        If you are not using the Internet or JobLine to complete an 
application, you will probably need to hire a person who can assist you or ask 
a friend to help you out. In any case, your Personal Data Sheet will now come 
in handy. When you go to a company to fill out an application, remember to have 
available a print copy of your PDS. In this way, the person assisting you may 
copy the information required.

        Keeping Track of Appointments and Contacts
        Once you find jobs that interest you and start applying for them, you 
will need a way to manage all your information. You will want to keep track of 
interview dates and times, names, phone numbers, addresses of companies and 
contacts, follow up calls, and any other useful information you may need in the 
future.

        If you are a computer user, here are some ways to help you manage your 
information.

        BlindSoftware (http://www.blindsoftware.com) sells a product called Day 
by Day Professional. This piece of software is a complete personal organizer 
with an accessible calendar where you may save notes, and set pop-up 
appointment reminders. It also contains a built-in address book.

        AFB's CareerConnect™ provides its users with an electronic on-line 
calendar to keep track of important information.

        If you are not a computer user, or if you choose to use an additional 
and more portable tool, investing in a digital recorder may be a great idea. In 
the last few years, digital recorders have decreased in price and size, and 
increased in the amount of messages they can hold. You can find digital 
recorders with a variety of features that may help you manage your information, 
such as recorders with different folders and appointment reminders. 

        You can find digital recorders in most stores that sell electronics. 

        Transportation
        Yay! If you are looking into transportation options, you probably have 
an interview or two already lined up. Congratulations! Below are some tips on 
how to find transportation to and from your interview as well as a great tip 
for getting to your destination on time.

        If you do not already use public transportation or paratransit, you may 
know it's out there, but how do you go about using it? The easiest thing is to 
contact your local Department or Commission for the Blind and ask them for 
information. They are your best source because they know your area and the 
options available to you. It's very likely that they use these same services 
themselves. 

        To find your local agency you can consult the phone directory, or you 
can call your local transit authority. They will know what services they offer 
and can give you all of the information you need such as: operating times, 
reservation requirements, and the cost of the service. Many of these agencies 
have Web sites, but be forewarned: it is possible that their site won't be 
completely accessible.

        If your local transit authority's site is not accessible, here is 
another option. The Project ACTION Accessible Traveler's Database was created 
to provide information on accessible transportation services in the U.S. It is 
a very useful source if you are traveling and need information about a new area 
or a new city. This database includes detailed information about public 
operators (both urban and rural), accessible taxis, airport transportation, and 
hotel shuttle services. They also maintain a list of the toll-free numbers for 
national companies such as airlines, bus companies, Amtrak®, and major hotel 
chains. 

        You can find the Project ACTION site at: 
http://www.projectaction.org/paweb/index.htm

        A public transportation option that often takes less planning but more 
cash is taking a cab to your destination; however, taking a cab can get 
expensive, especially if some of your interviews are far away from your home. 
Also keep in mind that you may have multiple interviews before being hired. 
Each trip will be an additional expense.

        Hiring a driver is another option in case you should decide public 
transportation is not the best way to get to your interview. The following are 
some points that you may want to keep in mind if you decide to give this option 
a try.

          1.. Interview drivers thoroughly before you hire them. Make sure they 
are reasonably familiar with the routes you'll be traveling and with your town 
in general. This obviously requires you as the blind traveler to have a good 
knowledge of routes. 
          2.. Pay attention to the driving behavior of your drivers. Lots of 
horn blowing or sharp turns may indicate you should hunt for another driver. 
          3.. Try recruiting among college students. They often have time, 
cars, and a great need for pocket money. They also like a challenge! 
          4.. You may be able to obtain volunteer drivers via AmeriCorps or 
church and civic groups. 
          5.. The driver's pay can vary by location. Expect to pay anywhere 
from $6 to $10 per hour. If you pay at the higher end of this range, you may 
expect the driver to provide the gas (except on very long trips). If you 
include the cost of gas in the driver's hourly rate of pay, this can simplify 
the bookkeeping end of the process. Tips are appropriate for good or extra 
service. A few dollars is a small price to pay for keeping a good driver happy. 
          6.. If feasible, you may want to ask local law enforcement personnel 
about the driving record of anyone who you are considering for hire. At a 
minimum, be sure to obtain the social security number, driver's license number, 
and full name and address of any one who drives for you. 
          7.. Drivers hired for infrequent and personal use are usually hired 
informally, and written contracts or agreements usually are not required. Since 
liability is usually not a topic mentioned by prospective drivers, you should 
request a copy of their driver's license and proof of insurance card. 
          8.. Make your expectations clear. For example: don't make a habit of 
allowing a driver to run his or her errands on your personal time; don't make a 
habit of buying your driver meals or snacks; and make it clear to your driver 
whether you expect driving only or driving plus assistance (such as shopping 
assistance). Pay drivers from the time they leave their house to the time they 
arrive back home. Give drivers adequate lead-time to schedule trips, and then 
stick to the schedules and routes you've stated. Remember that drivers have 
other commitments too. 
          9.. You may have to teach drivers basic sighted-guide techniques. If 
drivers drop you off at the curb, you may have to teach them to give you 
directions for walking away from the car (e.g., "the door to the store is 
directly to your left" or "take a line of travel off the front of the car on 
your side"). The position of the sidewalk/door/curb in relation to the car is 
often the best orientation information available. 
        Getting to Your Interview on Time
        Once you decide the transportation method you want to use, you may want 
to test its efficiency. Prior to the day of an interview, you may want to go 
out and see how long it will take you to get to your destination. Leave around 
the same time that you think you will have to leave the day of the interview to 
see what traffic is like. Take the exact route as the one that you will be 
taking the day of your interview. You may even want to time the trip. This will 
help you plan your day accordingly, so you know how much time to give yourself 
for traveling. The day of the actual interview, leave the house with enough 
time so that you will be a few minutes early. It is much more appropriate to be 
early than right on time, or worse, being late. Arriving late for an interview, 
in the view of many employers, shows a lack of interest in the position and 
that the candidate is unreliable and irresponsible. This may blow your chances 
of getting the job. 

        Interviewing Tips
        Once you pass the initial screenings of cover letters, applications, 
and resumes, the employer has an initial idea of what you can offer to the 
company. At this point he or she decides to invite you for an interview. Your 
potential employer wants to take a more detailed look at the person the company 
is thinking of employing. The interviewer wants to feel out how you might fit 
with the company and the position. Are you a team worker? Can you solve 
problems? Are you in it for the long haul? Whether these questions are asked 
directly or not, the interviewer will have to decide in a short period of time 
if you are the right person for the job. Since interviewing is a crucial factor 
in getting a job, you need to be prepared to give the interviewer the answers 
they want to hear, and prepared to give them a good impression about yourself.

        Interviewing is a learned skill. The more you practice, the better you 
become. The following Web site offers mock job interviews based on actual job 
openings. Each mock interview includes the job description, a practice question 
set, answer tips, and interview resources. Also available are more interview 
questions, more interview help for specific jobs, and interview guides by job 
and company. Check them out at: http://www.job-interview.net/sample/demosamp.htm

        Certainly dress and appearance are things that candidates should not 
take for granted. According to some experts, employers begin to form opinions 
about the job candidate nine seconds into the interview. Sloppy, inappropriate 
dress can kill the chances of even the most successful candidate.

        A Web site that has many links to brief articles related to employment 
is: "Careers: How-to's - articles, hints, tips". Here you will find topics such 
as: conducting a successful job interview; tips for successfully managing 
luncheon interviews; job interview preparation: what to wear, job interview 
tips, and how to write a successful resume. Check them out at: 
http://www.essortment.com/in/Careers.How-To/

        Useful Links
        Here is a Web site that many people have found very useful, called 
eSight™ Careers Network. Their slogan reads: "A Bridge Connecting Business 
Leaders to Talent in the Disability Community." Among other things, this site 
has information on job openings, as well as skill building and networking 
opportunities.

        Some articles in the eSights Careers Network include: How to Use Key 
Success Factors to Build Your Resume, First Steps in Career Management, What 
Employers Really Want to Know about Your Disability, Success Stories about 
Entrepreneurs with Visual Impairments, and much more.

        To go to this site go to: http://www.esight.org/



        The CareerBuilder WorkLife Job Blog has "news, Advice and Job 
Information from the experts at CareerBuilder.com." Of interest to anyone who's 
even thinking about looking for a new job. 

        Hire Disability Solutions
        Meet your career goals and increase your independence by accessing the 
largest national Career Network specifically designed for individuals with 
disabilities. 

        Hire Disability Solutions brings together top companies and qualified 
men and women with disabilities. They are committed to serving business needs 
while simultaneously breaking down barriers. By working with Hire Disability 
Solutions, businesses can post their job vacancies and tap into a pool of 
skilled workers, and individuals with a disability can post resumes and access 
thousands of jobs from companies that are specifically trying to reap the 
benefits of having a diverse workforce. 

        Hire Disability Solutions was founded in response to the increasing 
demand for services for individuals with disabilities that promote inclusion 
into the mainstream employment world. Since its inception in 2004, Hire 
Disability Solutions has established itself as a national leader in protecting 
and enhancing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. 
Through its educational campaigns surrounding employment law, education 
opportunities and assistive technology, the company facilitates the success of 
individuals with disabilities and employers alike. 

        Monster.com, and Hire Disability Solutions have partnered to bring 
people with disabilities a co-branded career resource section on the HireDS.com 
site. This joint initiative makes Monster job search tools, career content and 
resume posting capabilities more readily available to individuals with 
disabilities.

        Click this link to visit the Hire Disability Solutions website at 
http://www.HireDS.com. 

        We hope this list of resources will keep growing as we learn about more 
tools that may assist you in the challenging task of getting a job and starting 
a successful career. If you know of any other resources, please contact us at 
fredshead@xxxxxxx, we'd love to get your input! 


          
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