[Faith-talk] Bookshare

Mon May 29 23:03:51 UTC 2017

Ashley, I can speak to the question on college students - it is free for us as well. Also K-12 as you stated. You are correct that most of the resources on there for Christians are fairly limited in scope; they are definitely making strides toward a wider variety but it is a slow process. There's a lot more on there now than when I first became a Christian a few years ago at least, though, so that's encouraging.

Blessings,
Nick

-----Original Message-----
From: Faith-Talk [mailto:faith-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ashley Bramlett via Faith-Talk
Sent: Monday, May 29, 2017 4:24 PM
To: Faith-talk, for the discussion of Blindness in faith and religion <faith-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Ashley Bramlett <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [Faith-talk] Bookshare

Sarah,

I can relate to what you are saying.
Congradulations on your persistance finding contract jobs.
Maybe God will lead me to such a position soon, too.
"It is very, very difficult in today's culture to locate an entry-level job that pays a wage one can live on, especially for people who are blind. I tried for several years. Every job I applied for required a driver's license in order to prove you could get to work. I filed an EEOC complaint against one employer, but after ten months the EEOC sent me a "right to sue" letter. 
Of course, I had no money to sue. "

I respond, yes and yes.
I've also tried for several years to locate entry level work and still look off and on.
I tried as an undergrad to get summer employment and sometimes was successful. I've also tried securing entry level work after college but barriers arise. BTW, my goals are to use my communication skills to do something like public relations or maybe even journalism covering soft news stories. But, so far, I see barriers to which you were refering to.

I've not encountered the drivers license issue as much as you, but certainly in too many places. For instance, I've tried to apply for a handful of seasonal jobs serving kids at recreation settings. You would not think a job add targeting college students for this work would need a drivers license; I thought it was just leading and supervising activities. Well, I was wrong.
The job description indicated must have a drivers license. I called and asked why and was it really essential. I said my disability did not permit me to drive. They were nice and stated that driving their small vans was indeed essential to transport participants. I've also seen entry level county jobs requiring drivers licenses to get from place to place on short notice.
And, before anyone thinks, use public transit, this is not a viable option in a big county where buses do not go everywhere.
Obviously, I cannot apply for some jobs for which I'm over qualified with a BA degree.

Anyways, I know what you mean of the barriers finding entry level work because I feel most entry level jobs like receptionist are too visual; same with most administrative jobs requiring filing and data entry.

Anyways, back to accessible texts and faith.
I thought a bookshare membership was only free for Hadley Institute students and  k-12 students.
Your message implies it is free to college students. I thought they had dropped that because they lost the grant.
I hope I'm wrong here.

Was bookshare helpful to you studying to be a minister? Christian sources in accessible form are hard to come by. I used learning ally a lot in college which does not have Christian material.
I've wondered how blind students get their books if in a seminary.

Glad bookshare works for you.

Ashley

-----Original Message-----
From: Sarah Blake LaRose via Faith-Talk
Sent: Monday, May 29, 2017 1:10 PM
To: 'Faith-talk, for the discussion of Blindness in faith and religion'
Cc: sarah at sarahblakelarose.com
Subject: Re: [Faith-talk] Bookshare

The student membership is helpful to many students for the reason Sandra mentions. Hadley, unlike most schools, is free. I am acquainted with many students who are either unemployed or working very limited hours while attempting to pay both living expenses and contribute to extremely high tuition costs that even scholarships do not cover. College costs have risen enormously since the days when I was an undergraduate in the 1990s--anyone on this list who attended school prior to that time can likely imagine that the gap is even greater. People who take out loans to pay their college expenses now struggle to imagine that they will ever be able to pay them off.

For a little perspective, I read an article this morning about a woman returning to school to obtain her Master's degree in order to meet requirements to teach kindergarten. This once required only a four-year degree. It is very, very difficult in today's culture to locate an entry-level job that pays a wage one can live on, especially for people who are blind. I tried for several years. Every job I applied for required a driver's license in order to prove you could get to work. I filed an EEOC complaint against one employer, but after ten months the EEOC sent me a "right to sue" letter. Of course, I had no money to sue.

I am 45 and after many years of persistence I have been able to locate two contract jobs. Neither provides a stable income. It is a frightening way to live and a tremendous exercise of faith. It also requires that I balance pride and good stewardship. When something is offered to me, it might be a matter of pride for me to refuse to accept it and insist on paying, especially if paying for it will place my family in a bad situation financially.

-----Original Message-----
From: Faith-Talk [mailto:faith-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Linda Mentink via Faith-Talk
Sent: Monday, May 29, 2017 12:52 PM
To: Faith-talk, for the discussion of Blindness in faith and religion <faith-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Linda Mentink <mentink at frontiernet.net>
Subject: Re: [Faith-talk] Bookshare

Hi Sandra,

I meant no disrespect, and I'm sorry you are not working at this time.  It's a great deal for those who need or want the free subscription.

Blessings,

Linda

----- Original Message -----
From: Sandra Streeter via Faith-Talk <faith-talk at nfbnet.org
To: <faith-talk at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Mon, 29 May 2017 12:06:02 -0400
Subject: [Faith-talk] Bookshare

Point taken, Linda?봟ut acknowledging here that I try not to take when I can help it?봧t?셲 just that, once again, I am without work at this time and am cash-strapped, so the student membership is good to know about.  I am a giver at heart, but sometimes in a position where taking is necessary,  too.

Sandra

Not ?쏳evelation????tis ??that waits
But our unfurnished eyes ??
(Emily Dickinson)

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