[NFBOH-Cleveland] Agenda Available for the NFB of Ohio-Cleveland Forum on Employing Persons With Disabilities

Tue Sep 18 10:41:34 UTC 2018

Good Morning,

The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio-Cleveland Chapter would like to
invite you to attend a Forum that will prove to be a great benefit to
employers, community entities, job seekers and you. The agenda is attached
and below for your convenience. Please spread this important and influential
endeavor.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please email me offline.

Thank you for all you do to support the Blind of Ohio

Suzanne

National Federation of the Blind (NFB) of Ohio-Cleveland

Presents

A Town Hall Forum on Employing Persons with Disabilities

September 20th, 2018 at 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.

Cleveland Public Library, Main

325 Superior Avenue East, 2nd floor, Cleveland, Ohio 44114

Have you ever seen gold ore?  It's basically quartz rock with a few yellow
streaks running through it. Who would imagine it could be worth that much?
Blind people are the same way, often overlooked in favor of sighted people
who are far less qualified.  It's time to see them as they are - one of the
world's great untapped resources! 

We offer the largest Job Networking Organization for blind and low vision
job seekers in the world.  You'll be amazed at the skills our job seekers
have, and if you don't know how capable blind and low vision people can be,
this is a great place to learn! 

Registration will begin at 9:30 A.M. 

Cost: Free! There is no charge to employers or job seekers participating in
this Forum. 

TOPIC DISCUSSIONS

10:00 A.M.

Open Remarks and House Keepings:

Suzanne Turner, NFB of Cleveland President

10:10 a.m.

Wilbert Turner, NFB of Cleveland Employment Chairperson

People with vision loss experience a rate of unemployment that far exceeds
that of the general population. The American Federation of the Blind reports
that in September 2010, the most recent period for which there is data, 75
percent of the estimated 4 million adults in the U.S. who are completely or
partially blind are not in the labor force. A number of factors contribute
to this high rate of unemployment among the blind, and the exact rate of
unemployment itself is difficult to determine. 

10:20 A.M.:

Americans with Disability Act (ADA)

Attorney Franklin Hickman of Hickman and Lowder Law Firm

Discrimination and Unemployment-Though legislation such as the Americans
With Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against potential employees
on the basis of disability, companies can still decline to hire a blind
person on the basis that the applicant is unable to perform the duties of
the job. However, if the applicant isn't given a chance to prove that he is
able to do the required work, dismissing his abilities solely on the basis
of his disability is a form of discrimination. A March 2008 article in
Forbes Magazine cited discrimination as one of the biggest obstacles to
employment for the blind.

///

10:45 A.M.

Para Transit and Autonomous Cars

Sam Henderson, Supervisor of Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority
(GCRTA)

Practical Considerations-Though employers are required under the Americans
With Disabilities Act to make accommodations for disabled workers, these
workers still face other obstacles to employment that may not be so easy to
overcome. For instance, in areas without adequate mass transportation, blind
employees may find it difficult or impossible to get to work. Blindness also
makes the task of applying for jobs and even finding jobs to apply for more
difficult. 

///

11:05 A.M.

Social Security Administration Safe Guards "Working While Disabled"

Kathy Seecamp-Kiker, Work Incentives Program Administrator

The Social Security Administration has several work incentives that can
allow you to maintain your cash and medical benefits while working. The
threat of loss of disability benefits may keep some blind people from
looking for work. If a blind person takes a job and then learns she can't do
the work, or she loses the job for some other reason, she's left without
income and it may take some time to reinstate SSI, and or SSDI. The good
news is that SSA has safe guards that will assist the blind while working.

11:30 A.M.

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD (BSVI)

Brandon Wray, Vocational Rehabilitation Supervisor

The Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities Agency (OOD) is the state
agency that partners with Ohioans with disabilities to achieve quality
employment, Independence and Social Security disability determination
outcomes through its Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation (BVR), Bureau of
Services for the Visually Impaired (BSVI) and Division of Disability
Determination (DDD). OOD's vocational rehabilitation (VR) bureaus (BVR/BSVI)
serve Ohioans with disabilities to help them obtain and keep a job. OOD
begins working with individuals at age 14 to assist them as they transition
into high school, college and the workplace. 

NOON

LUNCH Provided for Speakers

1:00 P.M.

Job Evaluation and Exploration 

Rosalie Daily, Cleveland Sight Center Manager of Employment Services 

The Cleveland Sight Center (CSC) offers several inclusive classes for adults
who are visually impaired and blind.  These programs cover a wide range of
opportunities, including employment training and on-the-job support, access
to adaptive aids and technology.    

The Cleveland Sight Center's comprehensive employment services prepare
working age adults to either enter the work force and work with sighted
coworkers or return to a job after experiencing vision loss.

///

1:30 P.M.

Scripting, Accessibility, Training and Development

Randy Knapp, Cleveland Sight Center Senior Assistance Technology Specialist

///

2:00 P.M.

Tips, Techniques and Tools to live well with vision loss    

Tom Sawyer, Cleveland Sight Center Community Outreach Manager   

Alicia Howerton, Cleveland Sight Center Community Relations Specialist

Closing Remarks

Attorney Robert Campbell, Cleveland Employment Committee Member

NOTE: There will be technology and Literature available.

Cleveland Employment Committee Members:

Wilbert Turner

Octavia Ealy

Attorney Robert Campbell

Brooke Dowdy

Evelyn Morison-Eaddie

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.

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