Business Leaders Program – Business Essentials

NIB’s award-winning Business Leaders Program (BLP) was launched in 2003 to prepare individuals who are blind for careers in business by providing educational and employment opportunities through professional development.

NSITE has re-imagined the Business Leaders Program and its components for 2023 and beyond. It is designed to meet the needs of leaders at all levels in today’s rapidly changing workplace environments.
Currently offering:

• Business Basics
• Business Essentials

BUSINESS BASICS: Foundational Business Skills

NSITE’s Business Basics Series of Online Coursework
The NSITE Business Basics series consists of four self-paced online training programs that expose individuals to different facets of business targeting specific professional career skills. Each course contains knowledge checks and a final quiz.
Cost:

• Individual Course Purchase: $69.00
• Purchase curriculum of all 4 and Save 25%: $207.00

How to access Program: On demand purchase in NSITE-U LMS.

• Click link to LMS above.
• Create account by completing fields!
• Create password
  • Minimum 10 characters upper and lower case letters
  • Must contain numeric and alpha and one special character
  • Password cannot be email address.
• Complete reCAPTCHA (has audio option)
• Click login.
• Search for course.
• purchase
• Save NSITE-U as a favorite (Ctrl+D) then you will always have access to the login as a returning user.
• Enjoy your courses.

Tuition Assistance

1. If you are a blind or visually impaired employee of an NIB associated Nonprofit Agency, you may qualify for an NIB Training and Professional Development grant. NSITE will be able to provide additional guidance to qualified applicants.
2. If you have an open case with a State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency, we may be able to assist you in requesting tuition funding for this program through your VR Counselor.

What is included in the cost?

• On-demand access to self-paced e-learning courses
• Knowledge checks and additional resources
• Certificates upon successful completion of coursework and exams.

What are the Learning Outcomes?

Business Basics provides an introduction to key business skills in the areas of:

1. Business Operations
2. Marketing and Sales
3. Finance and Budgeting Essentials
4. Improving Decision-Making

Who should enroll?
All who are interested in improving their business skills may enroll. All NSITE programs are adapted for the learning styles of blind and low-vision learners.

Business Essentials Program

The NSITE Business Essentials virtual training program is offered in partnership with PowerSim Solutions. It provides participants with a comprehensive view of organizational operations and helps them understand how decisions impact their business in a competitive environment. The program allows participants to implement business decisions and experience the outcomes in the safe environment of a simulation. 

Program Start Date: May 2025

Program end Date: September 24th 2024

APPLICATIONS OPEN– Deadline July 16th

Tuition: $2,250.00

Tuition for this 9-week program includes 2 online courses, 8 weeks of hands-on experience managing a business via a simulation, 8 hours of instructor-led coursework, and multiple team meetings. 

• If you are an employee of an NIB associated Nonprofit Agency, you may qualify for an NIB Training and Professional Development grant. NSITE will be able to provide additional guidance to qualified applicants. 
• If you have an open case with a State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency, NSITE may be able to assist you in requesting tuition funding for this program through your VR Counselor. 

All NSITE programs are adapted for the learning styles of blind and low-vision learners. 

All may apply. However, qualified applicants who are blind or have low vision receive enrollment preference. 

Program Structure and Learning Outcomes: 

The four components of NSITE’s Business Essentials program provide a challenging and engaging learning experience.    

1. Two NSITE-U self-paced online learning courses –  

• Finance and Budgeting Fundamentals 
• Improving Decision-making 

2. An 8-week business simulation during which participants engage in strategic planning, improve their decision-making, apply their knowledge of market competition, and practice entrepreneurship.   

3. Weekly Zoom meetings to review business reports, discuss decision-related business outcomes, and address questions.   

4. Engagement and collaboration within small teams to apply business analysis, teamwork, and leadership skills. 

Participants Require: 

• Proficiency in the use of assistive technology (if applicable) and Microsoft Office suite of products 
• Their own computer or laptop; this course cannot be completed through the use of publicly accessible (e.g., library) computers or mobile devices such as mobile phones or tablets. 

• Intermediate to advanced computer navigation skill. 
• Proficiency in the ability to navigate websites on a variety of web browsers. 

NOTE:  

You will need a resume and your supervisor’s or Vocational Rehabilitation counselor’s contact information to complete this application form. 

Achievement: 

Digital Badge issued by NSITE in partnership with Credly/Acclaim. 

Questions? Please contact Rikki Howie at : rhowie@nsite.org