[Trainer-Talk] (no subject)

[Humberto Avila]

Dear Kevin:

My name is Humberto and I, like you, would like to jump start into this 
field of access technology. I currently hold a B.A. degree from Central 
Washington University which I am sure will help me tremendously. I just 
graduated from college last fall. My degree is in education, with two 
minors in Accessibility Studies and Computer / Information Technology.

Also, like you, I completed my JAWS certification in December and am 
JAWS certified for 2019.

I, like you perhaps, am seeking to be in this field because I see quite 
an interesting but sad trend in our school districts and in our agencies 
working with blind people or students with disabilities. There is a lot 
of assistive devices, and just technology in general, that everybody is 
getting, and they just get it in their hands and say, "Good luck! Learn 
it!" And, no one has the right person / resource to help them learn the 
technology, or, no one has the patience to read the manuals, and just 
start being frustrated about. I saw this personally when I was going 
through my student teaching / internship program at my college. So this 
is why I have chosen to teach / train students and others in the 
accessible technology.

I am still looking for employment myself. I can assure you tat with just 
your JAWS certificate you can get ahead in this business, but you may 
have to do some additional learning or going to college may also help. 
If you already have a degree, as I do, then great, that should work. 
Just keep persisting and insisting, and the more learning opportunities 
and training yourself, as well as getting experience under your belt, 
the better you opportunities.

I am glad we are in the same boat and I can't wait to hear from you again.

Best,

Humberto

On 2/6/19 5:08 PM, Kevin Athey via Trainer-Talk wrote:
> Good eveing folks.
> I've been on this list for about a month now, and have decided to
> introduce myself, and let the intensions of why I have joined the list
> be known.  I am Kevin Athey, and live in Kansas City, Missouri.  I
> currently am employeed at a call center, working as a resource
> planner.  Though I love the job, and enjoy the challenge of preparing
> our team for new projects, using different websites, and the like, I
> have grown tired of the environment of this job after five years.
> After having a conversation with my friend, I decided to study, and
> prepare for the Jaws Certification Exam.  As of January 17, 2019, I am
> Jaws Certified in Jaws 2019.  My plans are to teach blind, or visual
> impaired individuals, assistive technology.  I know that just having
> Jaws Certification doesn't give me all the tools I will need to be a
> trainer, but it does give me some ground to stand upon.  I have been
> in the blindness skill training field previously, so know the
> importance of quality trainers.  Group I would ask a favor of any of
> you, that you share anything, whether it be advice, or any resources,
> that would assist me in becoming a quality new assistive technology
> instructor.
> Your new colleague,
> Kevin Athey
>