Leaders in talent acquisition and sourcing collaborate to help career-ready individuals who are blind and low vision build the necessary skills to conduct successful job searches
LOUISVILLE, Ky., and ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 1, 2024—American Printing House for the Blind’s (APH) ConnectCenter and NSITE have partnered to create the Job Seeker’s Toolkit, a free, accessible, self-paced online training resource that helps job seekers and young adults entering the employment arena. All materials are accessible and designed specifically for the needs of people who are blind or low vision. The program offers five self-paced courses intended to help users conduct a successful job search and maintain employment.
In addition to job seekers, the toolkit is designed to be used by teachers, vocational rehabilitation counselors, and practitioners to support the employment goals of their students or clients who are blind or low vision.
This collaboration between APH ConnectCenter and NSITE will aid in bringing employment resources to a habitually underserved demographic in the way that works best for them.
“We have an entire resource library of tools for blind and low vision transition age youth and adults, including bringing the Job Seeker’s Toolkit to those who are seeking jobs today,” notes Olaya Landa-Vialard, APH ConnectCenter director. “Working with NSITE’s team, APH CareerConnect is committed and able to best engage and bring the Job Seeker’s Toolkit to a larger audience and in a format for today’s learning style, whenever and wherever the candidate is in their job search.”
Job seekers who are blind or low vision who visit the APH ConnectCenter will find a link to the Job Seeker’s Toolkit, which will send them to NSITE-U, a learning management system. While there, users will find award-winning professional development and training programs and be able to access NSITE’s regularly updated job board.
“NSITE offers workforce training and development programs and our NSITE Connect job board specifically for job seekers who are blind and low vision,” said Jonathan Lucus, NSITE executive director. “By collaborating with APH’s team and their 160+ years of providing resources to this community, we can ensure that talented people with blindness or low vision have equal access to jobs in today’s competitive work environment.”
The new Job Seeker’s Toolkit includes five self-paced online courses, designed to be taken in sequential order as the content builds on each prior course. However, each module can also work as a stand-alone course:
- Self-Awareness
- Career Exploration: Tools and Resources
- Finding Employment
- The Interview
- Maintaining Employment
To learn more and enroll in the courses, go to: www.aphconnectcenter.org/careerconnect/job-seekers/job-seekers-toolkit/.
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About American Printing House for the Blind’s ConnectCenter
The APH ConnectCenter offers curated advice and resources to assist children, parents, adults, job seekers who are blind or low vision, and their associated professionals, leading to greater independence and success in their lives. Trained staff at the APH ConnectCenter Information and Referral Line are always ready to help. Those looking for resources and services related to vision loss can call 800-232-5463 or visit www.aphconnectcenter.org. American Printing House for the Blind is headquartered at 1839 Frankfort Avenue in Louisville, Kentucky. To visit APH’s website, please visit www.aph.org.
About NSITE
NSITE provides a continuum of employment readiness and career skills training as well as employment services that connect employers with talented, dedicated people who are blind or visually impaired to meet their workforce needs. NSITE’s services are also available to veterans. NSITE works with job candidates and employers equally to ensure that finding the right employee-employer match is as smooth and seamless as possible. With a range of offerings that include talent development, corporate diversity awareness training, and job placement services through the proprietary NSITE CONNECT job board, NSITE is the go-to consultancy for blind and visually impaired talent and corporate leadership to substantially reduce the unemployment rate for members of the blind and visually impaired community. Visit www.nsite.org for more information or connect with NSITE on LinkedIn or Facebook.