[nabentre] accessible work from home

[Michelle Creedy]

Hi Lauren 

Interesting idea. I wonder whether you are leaning towards some kind of internet marketing? There again, you would probally have to have some kind of business already in place. It's hard because we all have such diverse interests and so on.

I find the NFB very helpful with mentoring and I wonder whether this is worth writing up and sending to the appropriate division. for their consideration? 

Michelle 


Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 30, 2018, at 3:28 AM, Lauren Merryfield via nabentre <nabentre at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> 
> There are so many programs out there where people are supposedly making
> money. I am wondering why there aren't more for totally blind people to do
> that are accessible. I mean, one could spend a lot of money, time and effort
> in those programs, yet not make a thin dime. 
> 
> 
> 
> I, for one, don't want to hustle family and friends, do cold calling, or
> carry inventory in my studio apt-yeah, right. 
> 
> 
> 
> I want customers coming to me, online, where I am, at home. I suppose that
> even when I am out and about, if some business brought me money on the
> phone, that might be good, too. 
> 
> 
> 
> I want something where there is not a huge learning curve; that we could do
> even when we are tired or not feeling well, because that is sometimes my
> reality. 
> 
> 
> 
> Several years ago, there was a guy who claimed to be blind who was going to
> start a business and employ blind people, but it never got off the ground. I
> wonder if there is someone, or a group of some of us, who could come up with
> a program as good as any out there and make sure it is accessible and that
> the 70%-80% of unemployed could do from home, especially given
> transportation issues these days in some locations. Whew, that  was a long
> sentence! I tend to do that. 
> 
> 
> 
> My issues right now are these:I am much more clear about what I *don't* want
> to do than what I am willing and able to do; I don't have the cash to start
> a business, I don't want to feel like I am reinventing the wheel, I don't
> want to do or even learn about a business plan, I need money yesterday, and
> I'm getting up there toward the other end of my life, as someone put it. 
> 
> 
> 
> I remember working for hotel reservations companies and their huge learning
> curves, made even more daunting by constant changes they would make, handing
> us memos nearly every three days or so. Sometimes we had to unlearn
> something we were just getting under our belts. It was difficult to feel
> confident and to finish calls as quickly as the companies wanted so they
> could make more money. I had thought I'd really like that work with
> reservations, but I learned to have reservations about reservations, pun
> intended. I did not want to be pushed like we were; the way they do it. The
> turnover was something else, too. Peoples' positions changed overnight. It
> was way too stressful. I want something now that would not be particularly
> stressful, would be helpful to us and to our clients, would be something the
> NFB could do and be proud of-we were able to help blind people find
> work-that kind of thing. We've done the KNFB reader and other projects, why
> not a work-at-home program that would work for many of us, sponsored by the
> NFB? 
> 
> 
> 
> In the programs I've investigated, when I discover how inaccessible they
> are, when I bring this to the company's attention, they are most often, not
> all that interested in fixing things "for one person." I explain that it
> would not be for one person, that there are fifty thousand members of the
> NFB and that doesn't count those blind people who are not in the NFB. Maybe
> we would bring in more members, too, if we had the work-at-home program some
> of us are looking for. 
> 
> 
> 
> I apologize for not being the one who could do this. I don't have the techy
> skills or the business skills. It would be really neat if the Entrepreneurs'
> division could accomplish this. if someone more techy and business-wise
> could create the program, then those of us who are not as much into that
> could do the labor. Or if someone had enough clout in an ongoing program
> that they could get the higher-ups to pay attention and want to help blind
> people, in particular, PURRhaps that would work. 
> 
> 
> 
> Sorry I've rambled. But something needs to be done, before it is too late
> for some of us. 
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Lauren Merryfield
> 
> Blessings in Jesus' name! 
> 
> 
> "This is my command--be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or
> discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." 
> Joshua 1:9 
> 
> 
> My evangelism blog is at ask in jesus name . org Visit us at catlines . com
> with our store coming soon.  (remove the spaces.) Advice from my cats:"Meow
> when you feel like it." 
> 
>    
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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