[Trainer-Talk] Remote Opportunities at Allied Instructional Services
mevers421 at gmail.com
mevers421 at gmail.com
Wed May 20 15:32:40 UTC 2026
Hi Chris and All,
I think Skylar raises a very important point, and honestly, I believe this issue is contributing to the shortage of qualified assistive technology trainers in the blindness field.
Over the years, many organizations and school systems have increasingly emphasized expensive certifications and highly specific credential pathways, often expecting blind professionals to pursue those certifications on their own or rely on Vocational Rehabilitation funding to subsidize them. At some point, I think the field needs to take a hard look at whether that model is sustainable or even realistic.
There are many of us who have decades of lived experience using assistive technology every single day, along with years of informal training, mentoring, troubleshooting, leadership, and professional experience. In my own case, I have been using and helping teach assistive technology for more than 30 years. I also have direct experience in higher education administration, accessibility services, training, and supporting blind students and professionals in real-world environments.
That kind of practical knowledge has value, especially when it comes from someone who actually depends on the technology personally rather than only understanding it from a technical or academic standpoint.
I absolutely understand the desire for standards and quality assurance. However, I think organizations may eventually need to reconsider how they approach certification requirements if they truly want to expand the pool of qualified trainers. If certifications are becoming essential to employment, then employers, agencies, school systems, or partnering organizations may need to invest more directly in creating paid pathways, apprenticeships, mentorships, or employer-sponsored certification programs rather than expecting applicants to absorb all of the cost and risk themselves.
Otherwise, we risk excluding highly capable blind professionals who already possess extensive practical expertise simply because they lack a particular credential.
Just my thoughts on the broader issue. I appreciate Chris sharing the opportunities and providing additional perspective.
Best regards,
Michael Evers
Email: mevers421 at gmail.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Nusbaum <canaccesssolutions at gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2026 3:30 PM
To: trainer-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [Trainer-Talk] Remote Opportunities at Allied Instructional Services
Hi Skylar:
That's correct at this point—not as much because AIS insists on that experience, but more because the schools themselves are beginning to be more choosy about the certifications and experience levels they want. When I started working there in 2023, I had fairly extensive experience working with students through summer programs and other volunteer activities, but none directly in the schools. I would still encourage you to at least put in an inquiry; they may decide to use you for a certain placement once they know your background if they think the nature of the placement fits your skill set, or at the very least you would be on the list for future opportunities.
Chris Nusbaum
CAN Access Solutions
(443) 487-6262
canaccesssolutions at gmail.com
Schedule a meeting with me: https://fantastical.app/cnusbaum/cas
> On May 19, 2026, at 2:34 PM, skylar covich via Trainer-Talk <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> Aside from certification being necessary, they also seem to want
> people who have experience in the school system. Hard to break in for
> those of us who have experience only in adult services.
>
>
>> On Tue, May 19, 2026 at 5:01 AM <trainer-talk-request at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
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>> Today's Topics:
>>
>> 1. Remote Training Opportunities (Chris Nusbaum)
>> 2. Re: Remote Training Opportunities (Christopher Murphy)
>>
>>
>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>> -
>>
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Mon, 18 May 2026 12:18:35 -0400
>> From: "Chris Nusbaum" <canaccesssolutions at gmail.com>
>> To: "'List for teachers and trainers of adaptive technology'"
>> <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Subject: [Trainer-Talk] Remote Training Opportunities
>> Message-ID: <01fe01dce6e1$fa4f66d0$eeee3470$@gmail.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>>
>> Hi All:
>>
>>
>>
>> Since several people have expressed in recent threads their interest
>> in remote AT training, I wanted to pass along a few opportunities
>> from Allied Instructional Services, where I work as an independent
>> contractor. AIS seems to have an unusually high number of openings at
>> the moment, so now would be a good time to take advantage of the
>> opportunity if you have experience working with K-12 students and you
>> want to work as a contractor. There are a few that are AT only, and
>> many more for TVI, so if you can do both, that's a big plus. Here's
>> the link to check out the current openings:
>> https://alliedinstructional.com/opportunities
>>
>>
>>
>> Also, AIS is hosting an "Ask Me Anything" to answer questions about
>> contracting generally and working with them specifically on Thursday
>> at
>> 3:30
>> PM Eastern. Teams link here: Join Teams meeting <
>> https://teams.microsoft.com/dl/launcher/launcher.html?url=/_%23/meet/
>> 277449
>>
>> 111979492?p%3D95k0TOiBwRe32xAJlA%26anon%3Dtrue&type=meet&deeplinkId=8
>> 20d8110
>>
>> -6df5-4364-b48d-fd983aa62866&directDl=true&msLaunch=true&enableMobile
>> Page=tr
>>
>> ue&suppressPrompt=true&fbclid=IwVERDUAR4F95leHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwc
>> F9pZAo2
>>
>> NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe_xLIWkaLOw0i-2_J9XjW0-f0c3HSr3J3C3apQWBYvhkgjjZIVL1o-
>> Ud_Fm0_
>> aem_T7mbwYIDRb0AQUtNKX-tsa
>> <https://teams.microsoft.com/dl/launcher/launcher.html?url=/_%23/meet
>> /277449111979492?p%3D95k0TOiBwRe32xAJlA%26anon%3Dtrue&type=meet&deepl
>> inkId=820d8110-6df5-4364-b48d-fd983aa62866&directDl=true&msLaunch=tru
>> e&enableMobilePage=true&suppressPrompt=true&fbclid=IwVERDUAR4F95leHRu
>> A2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe_xLIWkaLOw0i-2_J9XjW0-f0c
>> 3HSr3J3C3apQWBYvhkgjjZIVL1o-Ud_Fm0_aem_T7mbwYIDRb0AQUtNKX-tsa>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> I hope this is of some help to those who are seeking employment. If
>> you can't make the call on Thursday or would just like another
>> perspective, I would be glad to chat off-list about the contracting experience.
>>
>>
>>
>> Warmly,
>>
>>
>>
>> Chris
>>
>>
>>
>> Christopher A. Nusbaum, B.A., JAWS Certified
>>
>> Independent Assistive Technology Trainer for Blind and Low-vision
>> Students
>>
>> CAN Access Solutions, LLC
>>
>> Assistive Technology Specialist (Independent Contractor),
>> <http://www.alliedinstructional.com/> Allied Instructional Services
>>
>> Assistive Technology Trainer,
>> <https://mdod.maryland.gov/tam/Pages/mat.aspx> Maryland Accessible
>> Telecommunications
>>
>> Office: (443) 487-6262
>>
>> Cell: (443) 547-2409
>>
>> Email: <mailto:canaccesssolutions at gmail.com>
>> canaccesssolutions at gmail.com
>>
>> <https://fantastical.app/cnusbaum/cas> Schedule a meeting with me
>>
>>
>>
>> "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish
>> and you feed him for a lifetime." -Maimonides
>>
>>
>>
>> This email message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of
>> the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential information
>> covered under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
>> If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are
>> hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of
>> this message, including any attachments, is strictly prohibited. If
>> you have received this message in error, please destroy all copies of
>> the original message, including attachments, and notify me
>> immediately by reply email message. Thank you.
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 2
>> Date: Mon, 18 May 2026 11:21:44 -0500
>> From: "Christopher Murphy" <cjohnmurph at gmail.com>
>> To: "'List for teachers and trainers of adaptive technology'"
>> <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Subject: Re: [Trainer-Talk] Remote Training Opportunities
>> Message-ID: <007301dce6e2$6be3c980$43ab5c80$@gmail.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>>
>> Good morning,
>> Thanks for sending this. I'll check out the link and see what
>> happens.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Christopher Murphy
>> Email:
>> cjohnmurph at gmail.com
>>
>> this is a CONFIDENTIAL communication and is not to be duplicated or
>> forwarded to other individuals or organizations unless the email says
>> otherwise. This electronic message, including all attachments, is
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>> contain legally privileged and confidential information. The
>> authorized recipient of this information is prohibited from
>> disclosing this information to any other party unless required to do
>> so by law or regulation and is required to destroy the information
>> after its stated need has been fulfilled. If you received this
>> message in error, please do not use, disclose, copy, or disseminate
>> any of the information in this message. Please notify the sender by
>> reply e-mail and delete the original message
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Trainer-Talk <trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of
>> Chris Nusbaum via Trainer-Talk
>> Sent: Monday, May 18, 2026 11:19 AM
>> To: 'List for teachers and trainers of adaptive technology' <
>> trainer-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Chris Nusbaum <canaccesssolutions at gmail.com>
>> Subject: [Trainer-Talk] Remote Training Opportunities
>>
>> Hi All:
>>
>>
>>
>> Since several people have expressed in recent threads their interest
>> in remote AT training, I wanted to pass along a few opportunities
>> from Allied Instructional Services, where I work as an independent
>> contractor. AIS seems to have an unusually high number of openings at
>> the moment, so now would be a good time to take advantage of the
>> opportunity if you have experience working with K-12 students and you want to work as a contractor.
>> There are a few that are AT only, and many more for TVI, so if you
>> can do both, that's a big plus. Here's the link to check out the current openings:
>> https://alliedinstructional.com/opportunities
>>
>>
>>
>> Also, AIS is hosting an "Ask Me Anything" to answer questions about
>> contracting generally and working with them specifically on Thursday
>> at
>> 3:30 PM Eastern. Teams link here: Join Teams meeting <
>> https://teams.microsoft.com/dl/launcher/launcher.html?url=/_%23/meet/
>> 277449
>>
>> 111979492?p%3D95k0TOiBwRe32xAJlA%26anon%3Dtrue&type=meet&deeplinkId=8
>> 20d8110
>>
>> -6df5-4364-b48d-fd983aa62866&directDl=true&msLaunch=true&enableMobile
>> Page=tr
>>
>> ue&suppressPrompt=true&fbclid=IwVERDUAR4F95leHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwc
>> F9pZAo2
>>
>> NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe_xLIWkaLOw0i-2_J9XjW0-f0c3HSr3J3C3apQWBYvhkgjjZIVL1o-
>> Ud_Fm0_
>> aem_T7mbwYIDRb0AQUtNKX-tsa
>> <https://teams.microsoft.com/dl/launcher/launcher.html?url=/_%23/meet
>> /277449111979492?p%3D95k0TOiBwRe32xAJlA%26anon%3Dtrue&type=meet&deepl
>> inkId=820d8110-6df5-4364-b48d-fd983aa62866&directDl=true&msLaunch=tru
>> e&enableMobilePage=true&suppressPrompt=true&fbclid=IwVERDUAR4F95leHRu
>> A2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe_xLIWkaLOw0i-2_J9XjW0-f0c
>> 3HSr3J3C3apQWBYvhkgjjZIVL1o-Ud_Fm0_aem_T7mbwYIDRb0AQUtNKX-tsa>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> I hope this is of some help to those who are seeking employment. If
>> you can't make the call on Thursday or would just like another
>> perspective, I would be glad to chat off-list about the contracting experience.
>>
>>
>>
>> Warmly,
>>
>>
>>
>> Chris
>>
>>
>>
>> Christopher A. Nusbaum, B.A., JAWS Certified
>>
>> Independent Assistive Technology Trainer for Blind and Low-vision
>> Students
>>
>> CAN Access Solutions, LLC
>>
>> Assistive Technology Specialist (Independent Contractor), <
>> http://www.alliedinstructional.com/> Allied Instructional Services
>>
>> Assistive Technology Trainer,
>> <https://mdod.maryland.gov/tam/Pages/mat.aspx> Maryland Accessible
>> Telecommunications
>>
>> Office: (443) 487-6262
>>
>> Cell: (443) 547-2409
>>
>> Email: <mailto:canaccesssolutions at gmail.com>
>> canaccesssolutions at gmail.com
>>
>> <https://fantastical.app/cnusbaum/cas> Schedule a meeting with me
>>
>>
>>
>> "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish
>> and you feed him for a lifetime." -Maimonides
>>
>>
>>
>> This email message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of
>> the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential information
>> covered under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
>> If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are
>> hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of
>> this message, including any attachments, is strictly prohibited. If
>> you have received this message in error, please destroy all copies of
>> the original message, including attachments, and notify me immediately by reply email message. Thank you.
>>
>>
>>
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>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Subject: Digest Footer
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>> ------------------------------
>>
>> End of Trainer-Talk Digest, Vol 247, Issue 5
>> ********************************************
>>
>
>
> --
> Skylar J. Covich, Ph.D., Political Science Vice President of the Board
> of Directors, Xavier Society for the Blind Member of Santa Barbara
> Access Advisory Committee Freelance assistive technology trainer, AI
> advisor and public policy researcher
> _______________________________________________
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