[Community-service] red cross volunteering and barriers experienced

[Ashley Bramlett]

Hi all,

Just curious if any of you were successful in becoming a Red cross volunteer.
If so, what did you do and please share your experience including the adaptations you made.

I’ve been searching for a volunteer opportunity for a while and many places tell me they have enough volunteers which is probably true; with so many senior citizens, competetion to volunteer is tough.

I was going to volunteer  in the red cross office, but they need data entry at the front desk which I cannot do; we were fine till they explained that. I can definitely answer phones and questions via phone and in person. But I cannot see paperwork.

So I am trying to apply online to be a blood donor ambvasador; the coordinator suggested this after not approving me for the front desk position. We both agreed that this was a good way for me to use customer service skills, make people feel welcome while donating blood and contribute and would not involve the paperwork which the receptionist job did.

Here is the barriers.

I am very disappointed I run into this as I cannot do this alone, and will need a sighted volunteer to help me complete the registration process to be a red cross volunteer.
The online process is not very accessible.
I cannot even do this without help.

1. When you complete the first application step, red marks show where you have to redo items. I cannot tell those with jaws.
2. Next you are sent a link to complete the orientation steps. There are six more steps.
3. I clicked on the link they sent via email to complete these additional steps. This was not a problem.
4. The biggest barrier is now.
The orientation is 45 minutes consisting of several videos.
I attempted to do this and watch them. Not all videos are inaccessible, so I tried.
But it is not accessible.
After video 1 welcoming you, it says, click begin to start the first video.
I cannot get beyond that! 
The videos are flash and nothing seems to be labeled.

I’m stuck. My plan is to complete the other steps including your location preference and background check form now if possible.

Then I have to grab a sighted person to assist me for the 45 minutes of orientation.
BTW, I know its 45 minutes because the application says that. They say to allow that time frame to go through the orientation and it includes the assessment checks; and I assume that is some quiz or something.

So, here we go. Yet another barrier.

Sigh, sigh.

Ashley
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/community-service_nfbnet.org/attachments/20150621/259eaebf/attachment.html>