blind_html Fwd: Fred's Head Companion - American Printing House for the Blind
- From: Nimer Jaber <nimerjaber1@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: blind_html@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 09 May 2009 20:41:55 -0600
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Fred's Head Companion - American Printing House for the Blind
Date: Sat, 09 May 2009 12:22:14 +0000
From: Fred's Head from APH <fredshead@xxxxxxx>
To: nimerjaber1@xxxxxxxxx
Fred's Head Companion - American Printing House for the Blind
<http://www.fredshead.info/>
Link to Fred's Head from APH <http://www.fredshead.info/>
How to Cook Bacon in the Microwave
<http://feedproxy.google.com/%7Er/FredsHeadCompanion/%7E3/vIYQUlwZnl8/how-to-cook-bacon-in-microwave.html>
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 <http://www.wowbacon.com>.
<http://feeds2.feedburner.com/%7Eff/FredsHeadCompanion?a=vIYQUlwZnl8:l8vyyC3Eacs:yIl2AUoC8zA>
Create and Print Awards and Certificates
<http://feedproxy.google.com/%7Er/FredsHeadCompanion/%7E3/tdohxUUEL98/create-and-print-awards-and.html>
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
<http://www.myawardmaker.com>.
NOTE: site may not be compatible with all screen readers or screen
magnification programs.
<http://feeds2.feedburner.com/%7Eff/FredsHeadCompanion?a=tdohxUUEL98:AS1xUAd5Wiw:yIl2AUoC8zA>
Motivate Reading with a Book Wink
<http://feedproxy.google.com/%7Er/FredsHeadCompanion/%7E3/kIoTxKo5p2g/motivate-reading-with-book-wink.html>
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 <http://www.bookwink.com>.
<http://feeds2.feedburner.com/%7Eff/FredsHeadCompanion?a=kIoTxKo5p2g:aLX5Aubt_iw:yIl2AUoC8zA>
Meeting the Challenge of Finding Employment
<http://feedproxy.google.com/%7Er/FredsHeadCompanion/%7E3/nkZ3QSFD7Gk/meeting-challenge-of-finding.html>
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 good-looking resume that highlights your skills, experience, and
education <#resume>
* A way of finding potential employers <#find>
* A way of filling out employment applications <#apply>
* A way of keeping track of appointments and contacts <#organ>
* Transportation to an interview <#transport>
* Great interviewing skills, including appropriate dress and good
self-presentation <#interview>
* Useful links <#useful>
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.
<#useful>
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 <http://louis.aph.org> 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:
* The National Library Service <http://www.loc.gov/nls/> at:
http://www.loc.gov/nls/
* And Bookshare.org <http://www.bookshare.org> at:
http://www.bookshare.org
* www.ProvenResumes.com <http://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 <http://www.afb.org/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 <http://www.yellow.com/ggl> 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
<http://www.realpages.com> 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:
* Create, Manage and Store your resumes online.
* Apply changes, choose between different templates and preview
resume in real-time.
* Distribute your resumes in multiple formats (PDF, DOC, RTF, ODT,
HTML, and TXT). Download resume in any of the provided formats.
* Want to keep resumes private? Emurse provides an option to
password protect any of your resumes.
* Keep track of where you have sent resumes and whether recipients
received them.
* Leave yourself notes and even set up reminder e-mails to help you
follow up.
* Detailed statistics: Stay up to date on who, how and when viewed
your resume.
* 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 <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
<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
<http://www.acinet.org/acinet/library.asp?category=3.1> 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
<http://www.acinet.org/acinet/library.asp?category=3.7#%203.7.9> 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
<http://www.JobEnable.com>.
GettingHired.com <http://www.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 <http://www.GettingHired.com>.
For those of you looking for federal jobs, there are some sites that
specialize in government positions.
FedWorld <http://www.fedworld.gov/jobs/jobsearch.html>: 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 <http://www.federaljobsearch.com> 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>:
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 <http://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 <http://www.disABLEDperson.com>.
Job Hunting Websites
* Yahoo! HotJobs: http://www.hotjobs.com <http://www.hotjobs.com>
* 2 JobSearch.net: http://www.2jobsearch.net <http://www.2jobsearch.net>
* Best Jobs USA: http://www.all-jobs-usa.com
<http://www.all-jobs-usa.com>
* AllTopJobs.Com: http://www.AllTopJobs.Com <http://www.AllTopJobs.Com>
* All Job Search: http://www.AllJobSearch.com
<http://www.AllJobSearch.com>
* SuperJobs.net: http://www.SuperJobs.net <http://www.SuperJobs.net>
* American Preferred Jobs: http://www.preferedjobs.com
<http://www.preferedjobs.com>
* Ampjobs.com: http://www.Ampjobs.com <http://www.Ampjobs.com>
* BetterSalary.com: http://www.BetterSalary.com
<http://www.BetterSalary.com>
* CybaStaff.com: http://www.CYBAstaff.com <http://www.CYBAstaff.com>
* Career Mouse: http://www.CareerMouse.com <http://www.CareerMouse.com>
* CareerBuilder.com: http://www.careerbuilder.com
<http://www.careerbuilder.com>
* True Careers Inc.: http://www.careercity.com
<http://www.careercity.com>
* careersearchweb.com: http://www.CareerSearchWeb.com
<http://www.CareerSearchWeb.com>
* CareerShop: http://www.CareerShop.com <http://www.CareerShop.com>
* WorkTree: http://www.worktree.com <http://www.worktree.com>
* ChristianCareerCenter.com: http://www.christiancareercenter.com
<http://www.christiancareercenter.com>
* employmax.com: http://www.Employmax.com <http://www.Employmax.com>
* Freshjobs: http://www.Freshjobs.com <http://www.Freshjobs.com>
* IMDiversity.com: http://www.IMdiversity.com
<http://www.IMdiversity.com>
* Job-Hunt.org: http://www.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
<http://www.nfb.org/jobline/enter.htm> 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>: 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
<http://www.50states.com/news/> 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 <http://www.onlinenewspapers.com/> 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
<http://www.nfb.org/newsline/newspaper.htm> 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
<http://www.nfb.org/newsline1.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
<http://www.dol.gov/odep/state/state.htm> 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^® ;
<http://www.nfb.org/jobline/enter.htm> 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>
(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™ <http://www.afb.org/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
<http://www.projectaction.org/paweb/index.htm> 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 <http://www.job-interview.net/sample/demosamp.htm>.
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
<http://www.essortment.com/in/Careers.How-To/>". 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 <http://www.esight.org/>. 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
<http://www.careerbuilder.typepad.com> has "news, Advice and Job
Information from the experts at CareerBuilder.com
<http://www.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 <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 <mailto:fredshead@xxxxxxx>, we'd love to
get your input!
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