Open Your Eyes to the Talent Around You - PowerPoint Presentation

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Open Your Eyesto the Talent Around You

Nicole Hull

Employment Specialist

Bosma Enterprises

Indianapolis, IN

Overview of Bosma Enterprises

Not-for-profit organization located in

Indianapolis

Founded by the State of Indiana as the Board of Industrial Aid for the Blind in 1915 and became an independent not-for-profit 501(c)(3) in 1988

Provides

training, vision rehabilitation, and employment services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired

Bosma’s Mission is to create opportunities for individuals who are blind or visually impaired

Bosma

is putting people to work

!

ObjectivesUnderstand the different types of visual impairments Expand

the

thoughts

of

employers and providers when working with someone who has a visual impairment

Discuss the daily problem solving skills used by individuals who are blind or visually impaired

Examine the fears managers have when hiring individuals who have a disability

Explore reasonable accommodations in the

workplace

Blindness as a FrameworkWhat is Blindness?

Visual Impairment – A person’s eyesight cannot be corrected to a “normal level”.

Legally Blind – Visual acuity of 20/200 or worse with the best possible correction and a visual field of 20 degrees or less.

Blindness – Visual acuity of 20/400 or worse with the best possible correction and a visual field of 10 degrees or less.

Types of Visual ImpairmentsDiabetic Retinopathy - Diabetic retinopathy is a condition occurring in persons with diabetes, which causes progressive damage to the

retina

Symptoms include:

Seeing spots or floaters in

the

field of

vision, blurred vision, having

a dark or empty spot in the center of

the vision, difficulty

seeing well at night

Types of Visual ImpairmentsGlaucoma - a group of eye disorders leading to progressive damage to the optic nerve, and is characterized by loss of nerve tissue resulting in loss of

vision. Majority caused by increased pressure in the eye

Symptoms include: Sometimes a person will slowly begin to lose their peripheral vision, tunnel vision, and could eventually lose all vision

Types of Visual ImpairmentsMacular Degeneration - 2 types (wet, dry)Dry: tissue

of the macula gradually becomes thin and stops functioning properly. There is no

cure,

and any loss in central vision cannot be

Wet:

when fluids leak from newly formed blood vessels under the macula and blur central vision. Vision loss can be rapid and severe

Symptoms include:

a gradual loss of ability to see objects clearly, distorted vision, a gradual loss of color vision, and a dark or empty area appearing in the center of vision.

Types of Visual ImpairmentsRetinitis Pigmentosa -

a group of inherited diseases that damage the light-sensitive rods and cones located in the retina, the back part of our eyes. Rods, which provide side (peripheral) and night vision are affected more than the cones that provide color and clear central vision

.

Fortunately, most cases of retinitis

pigmentosa

take a long time to develop and vision loss is gradual. It may take many years for loss of vision to be severe.

Diversity Requires Broad ThinkingUse “People First” languageAddress them by name (guess who?)

Identify or Introduce Others

Speak directly to the Person

Use natural conversational tone and speed

Be Specific and Descriptive

Give Verbal cues

Don’t be afraid to start a conversation with “Did you see …”

Diversity Requires Broad ThinkingIdentify yourself when you walk into the room

Make sure you also tell them when you leave

Ask them what they see

Ask if they want a sighted guide

Do not grab or pull on the person

Be as descriptive as possible

When in doubt … ask!

Types of Accommodations?Computer accommodations – JAWS, Zoom Test, Braille DisplayMagnifiers – CCTV (large or handheld)Scanner/Reader

Orientation & Mobility

Working with an employment specialist or job coach can make the process smooth

Did You Know?90% of people who are legally blind have some usable vision and most can read print or magnified print?

88% of accommodations for B/VI cost less than $1000, 50% cost less than $500, and 15% cost nothing?

Actual studies show that people with visual impairments do not have a higher risk for accidents than the general population of sighted workers? In fact, insurance statistics show they have a better safety record.

Did You Know?Consumers intentionally support businesses that employ people who are blind or otherwise disabled?

54% of households are more responsive to businesses that feature people with disabilities in their advertising?

1.5million Americans with vision loss use computers?

People with visual impairments are the second largest group of people with disabilities in the United States?

Working in a Warehouse SettingJob Requirement: take a printout, pick orders from the racks, bring to shipping area, pack the boxes and shipIs it reasonable for a company of 3 employees to split the work of picking and packing

orders?

What about

the same job in a company with 30 employees? 300 employees?

Magnifiers, Orientation & Mobility

Working in ManufacturingWork environment: the assembly line is designed at a height to benefit standing workersIs it practical to lower the height of the line for a person in a wheelchair?What about installing a platform the wheelchair worker could use to raise them to required height?

Accommodations needed for assembly work?

Office Based Service RoleThe company does work that relies heavily on telephones and computersCan a person who is blind or visually impaired do this job if they can’t see the screen?Would larger screens, magnifiers, or screen reading software packages be considered reasonable accommodations?

Sleeping on the JobCompany is open 12-hours per day and employees work 8-hour overlapping shiftsAn individual has a medical condition requiring them to take extended breaks or naps during the dayCould a split shift accommodate their needs?

Might this also serve your company?

Transportation WoesWorkers shift typically starts at 8:00 AMThe worker relies on public transportation to get to and from workThe bus arrives at 7:15 AM and 8:15 AM

Is it reasonable to modify the workers schedule to start at 8:30 AM?

What if they are the only worker who can do the job and the business needs to open to the public at 8:00 AM?

ConclusionHelp is available from employment specialists and job coaches when you need itEmployers who are open to accommodating the needs of their workers often have very happy, loyal, and productive employees

Happy, loyal, and productive employees create delighted customers

Delighted customers are repeat customers!

Fun ToolsGogglesDark-lined paper20/20 PenIdentify large print preference

Labeling items

cans of soup

Bleach/Tide

Jelly vs. Pickles

My InformationNicole HullEmployment Specialist

Bosma

Enterprises

Indianapolis, IN

nicoleh@bosma.org

(317) 704-8185