[nabop] Introduftion to the List

Fri Sep 30 10:31:10 UTC 2011

Hi Ashley,

The jobs I held in the past are as follows:

Qwest Communications--Long Distance Operator: Telephone company. Used Alva
braille display with DOS computer from 1995 through 2000. I worked for 5
years there in San Antonio, Texas.
Sears Home Central Call Center--Customer Service Associate: Call center. I
used Alva braille display with JAWS for Windows using Windows NT. I had to
use a temporary one from Texas Rehabilitation agency until Sears bought
their own site license to use for more than one blind person. At that time,
I have my own company but it was a standard JAWS package and not the
Professional version. Last year I have upgraded the package to a
Professional so that I can use it on older machines at other employers in
the future. Worked there from 2000 to 2004. Just four years.
Current job Braille Proofreader--Clovernook Center for the Blind and
Visually Impaired: Braille printing house and rehabilitation center. I have
been there for a little over 5 years from July 2006 until now. Currently use
Perkins Brailler to generate braille reports for braille correctors when
reading on plates by myself. Most times I am reading with a copyholder who
is sighted that reads from the print. They write the report longhand and I
give them instructions on the errors and the corrections to those errors
when found. We take turns reading each page throughout the day. I will
answer more questions if necessary.
Have PacMate Braille dispalay with speech unit which stores all rule books
from BANA and instructional manuals from all the codes for literary, music,
and textbook formatting. Have the math codebook but no instructional manual
in electronic format as braille text files.
Braille Enthusiast Dictionary in electronic braille showing divisions of
words both in uncontracted form showing how they are divided and the format
as written in whole in grade 2. Not always agreeable between that dictionary
and the braille copy of the 72 braille volumes of the Webster's World
Collegiate Dictionary.

-----Original Message-----
From: nabop-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabop-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Ashley Bramlett
Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2011 6:55 PM
To: National Association of Blind Office Professionals
Subject: Re: [nabop] Introduftion to the List

Hi Lisa,

This list is pretty quiet. Well, I'm sure there's several subscribers. I've 
noticed that entry level office jobs such as administrative assistants are 
not entry  level; they are requiring 2 years experience.
I finished my BA in liberal studies in 2009 and since then the economy has 
not been the greatest.

But something I can do with little to no experience is customer service 
work. I like talking and my communication skills are strong.
I've used my oral and written scommunication skills in my internships.
And such an experience would not only bring me some money, but
it would allow me to sharpen my interpersonal skills.

So what did you do as a customer service representative?
Did you have to use a database and how accessible was it? Was your work full

time? Do you use jaws? What accomodations did you use?
I might look for customer service jobs at hotels, airlines, and department 
stores. I know these large corporations such as Marriott, Hilton, Macy's and

Sears have call centers.
So, if anyone else has done or does this work, chime in.
Also, what do you mean as long distance operator?
What company was that for?

Thanks.
Ashley

-----Original Message----- 
From: Lisa Hall
Sent: Friday, September 09, 2011 9:33 PM
To: 'National Association of Blind Office Professionals'
Subject: Re: [nabop] Introduftion to the List

Hi Ashley and everyone,

I am Lisa Hall President of National Association of Blind Office
Professionals. I work for Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually
Impaired. I am a Braille proofreader but holds an NLS certification as
Literary Braille Transcriber from NLS as of May 2004. I have been working
for Clovernook for a little over 5 years now.
I work with several copyholders in proofreading the Braille. Our job is to
make sure that Braille matches print.
In the past I have worked as Long Distance Operator, Customer Service
Representative, Clerk typist Receptionist, and a host of other
responsibilities over the years. In addition, I am volunteering for
Cincinnati Association for the Blind as a volunteer reader reading USA Today
on the air through the radio reading service radio station WRRS.

-----Original Message-----
From: nabop-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabop-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Nancy Coffman
Sent: Saturday, September 10, 2011 8:36 PM
To: 'National Association of Blind Office Professionals'
Subject: Re: [nabop] Introduftion to the List

I started out at Nebraska Services for the Visually Impaired 24 years ago as
a volunteer services coordinator.  I was in charge of my own filing and
paperwork.  I Braille labeled anything print I thought I would need for
records sake.  I Brailled my calendar and other documents such as volunteer
contat information so it would be handy.  I now work with technology
services and don't know how to get out of a email account.  I teach
computer, fix them, break them and hope other people learn how to use them.
Be creative and you'll find something.

Nancy Coffman

-----Original Message-----
From: nabop-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabop-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Ashley Bramlett
Sent: Friday, September 09, 2011 3:19 PM
To: National Association of Blind Office Professionals
Subject: Re: [nabop] Introduftion to the List

Dani,
This list is rather quiet. I hope we get answers.
I'm Ashley and you saw me on the nabs list.
I graduated with a liberal studies degree in 2009 from Marymount.
I focussed on psychology and communication. I also have done office work in
my internships.
I worked at National crime prevention council, NCPC, where I did online
research, wrote up some reports, generated a list of books for an online
book club and a few more tasks. I helped out with the circle of respect
campaign, a national project to stop bullying.
I just finished an internship with NLS where I helped write articles.

I have the same questions as you. I applied for administrative jobs and some
of the work is visual: sorting mail, distributing mail, filing, organizing
papers. I don't see how I can do this. I can label the file in the cabinent;
I could label the copier and fax machine in braille.
But I still need to read the labels to sort, organize, file, etc. Maybe I'd
have to work with a reader there.

I'm open to many jobs especially since the economy is bad. I want to do
event planning, outreach work, fundraising, or public affairs. But
realistically, I might somewhere doing clerical or administrative tasks.
That is because I have a general BA degree and some internship experience.
So helping out as an administrative assistant is what fits my qualifications
now. Other communication jobs require experience I don't have yet.
I might get that experience via volunteering though. I want to use my
written and oral communication skills in my job because it is a strength of
mine.

On a different note, does anyone do braille proofreading here?

Ashley
-----Original Message-----
From: Danielle Antoine
Sent: Friday, September 09, 2011 3:06 PM
To: nabop at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nabop] Introduftion to the List

Hi Group,
My name is Danielle and currently live in south LA with my family and guide
dog. I have had some informal experience with office work doing receptionist
and clerk tasks. I do have an interest in doing that formally soon as I am
currently working on an MBA and plan to start a business. I am interested in
the types of environments you all work in and how you manage the influx of
print materials such as memos, distributing office mail, and handling large
files and anything else you might like to share. I might add that i am
totally blind. I do have some idea of how I would handle things but I wanted
to hear others points of view and methods from those who have expertise.
Blessings, Danie

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