[Trainer-talk] The CISCO Academy for the Vision Impaired Enrollment is open for semester one 2013

[Jeanine Lineback]

I have been asked to circulate the following announcement. I have
studied with this fine group of people for a year, taking the
CISCO Information Technology Essentials course, the HTML5 and CSS
course and the Audio Editing Fundamentals course. In every course
the instructors were blind, they knew their stuff and they cared
about my success! This program, in my opinion, is the next best
thing to sliced bread for the blind person who wants to either
further their career with better computer skills, get basic
computer skills for school and college or simply play with
computer stuff as a hobby. Follow the links below to learn more
and check out the program. 

 

Do you know how to use your Windows or Mac PC and your screen
reader? Are you curious about the hardware inside of your
computer? Do you want to sharpen

your troubleshooting and computer maintenance skills? How about
designing a website or running a Linux server? Perhaps you would
like to build a computer

or home network of your own. 

The Cisco Academy for the Vision Impaired enables blind students
to enter the world of computer and Information technology whether
for career advancement

or to pursue a hobby. We provide courses tailored for blind and
visually impaired students around the world. We do this using
live online lectures by blind

and vision impaired instructors, written lessons, and a community
of students and instructors to network with even after students
have graduated our courses.

The academy is currently taking applications for the first
semester of 2013. We will be offering Computer 101 for Mac or
Windows, IT Essentials, Intro

to HTML 5 and CSS, Audio Editing Fundamentals, Discovery 1 with
Exploration 1, and Linux server administration courses starting
the second week of February.

Computer 101 is taught as separate courses for Mac and Windows
users. It teaches basic computer and screen reader skills
including adjusting screen reader

options, working with files, chatting online, using email, and
using web pages.

Intro to HTML 5 and CSS teaches blind people how to design
attractive business and personal websites including graphics,
audio, and video. It assumes no

prior knowledge of HTML.

Audio Editing Fundamentals teaches principles of audio including
how to choose and place a microphone, single and multi-track
editing using tools like

Goldwave and Reaper, and adding various effects to audio tracks.

IT Essentials is an introduction to PC repair including Hardware,
installing and maintaining an operating system, Troubleshooting,
portable devices, and

customer service. 

Discovery 1 is focused on home and small business networking. It
is being combined with our Exploration course to provide a
thorough background in networking.

Exploration is a more in depth look at networking, both
theoretical and practical for those students who wish to really
get into building and designing

networks. After completing Exploration 1, students will have the
skills necessary to take the CCENT exam.

The Linux Administration course introduces server-based Linux
systems administration for vision impaired users. Students will
learn how to install and

configure a Ubuntu server system and install and configure a
number of server based programs such as a web server, Email and a
wiki. The course aims to

take a student from asking, "what is Linux?", to installing and
using a Linux-based server system via SSH.

Each class runs for a total of six months, with online lectures.
The classes are self-paced so you can finish them in a month, or
take the entire semester

if desired. The cost for each course is 500 US dollars however;
scholarships are available to students who are paying for their
courses out of pocket that

lower the price to $150. Your eligibility for a scholarship will
be assessed as part of the application process and payment plans
are available. Students

are required to have good internet access skills and be familiar
with their screen reader of choice, or be willing to teach
themselves the necessary skills

as we go along. Students in the more advanced courses should be
familiar with reading Adobe PDF documents, as they may be
encountered while doing research

projects. Course content is online, so a broadband internet
connection is highly recommended. Students should also have a
working headset/microphone and

be willing to install Skype and Ventrilo, in order to attend
lectures and communicate with instructors. Applications will be
accepted until February 6,

2013. 

For more information on any of our courses or to request an
application, please email 

caviinfo at ciscovision.org

or visit our website at: 

http://www.ciscovision.org

Enrollment forms are on our Intake page at 

http://www.ciscovision.org/2011/intake.php

 

If you are enrolling in the Computer 101 courses and need help
enrolling, you can call 914-620-2284.

finally, we have a podcast about the CAVI program from our
student's point of view at: 

http://cucat.org/podcast/CAVI%20Potential%20new%20students2011.mp
3

We're looking forward to hearing from you. Start learning new
skills today.

Regards, 

The CAVI Team