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<div align="center"><b>New Hadley Entrepreneurship Modules Emphasize
Networking and Technology<br>
</b></div>
In September 2011, The Hadley School for the Blind announced the launch
of The Forsythe Center for Entrepreneurship (FCE). The goal of this
new business, entrepreneurship and technology program is to provide
individuals who are visually impaired with the knowledge, resources and
networking opportunities enabling them to advance in their careers or to
successfully launch and grow their own businesses.<br>
The program is designed to be practical, relevant and interactive.
Courses are open to anyone who is blind or visually impaired, over age 14
and is serious about starting or growing a business. Coursework is
offered free of charge and is mostly online. Since the FCE opened in
September, more than 400 students have enrolled.<br>
As of June 4, 2012, Hadley has introduced five new “modules” as part of
the Center:<br><br>
· FCE 290-Using PowerPoint
2010<br><br>
· FCE 280-Networking with
LinkedIn<br><br>
· FCE 220-Networking
Skills<br><br>
· FCE 210-Obtaining
Financing<br><br>
· FCE 180-Federal Government
Benefits<br>
<br>
“Using PowerPoint 2010” introduces the steps in creating a presentation
in PowerPoint and discusses what is involved with making a formal
presentation to an audience. The module includes an exercise in preparing
a slide show presentation.<br>
<br>
“Networking with LinkedIn” describes the social networking site and its
importance as a networking tool. It presents the basics of getting
started with LinkedIn, such as opening an account, creating a profile,
and adding connections. It also explores some of LinkedIn’s more popular
features. The module includes an exercise in preparing your personal
profile. <br><br>
<br>
“Networking Skills” presents three common networking techniques:
establishing or identifying new relationships, expanding on these
relationships, and then maintaining these established relationships. The
module includes links to a number of social networking sites, as well as
an exercise in outlining your personal networking strategy.<br>
<br><br>
“Obtaining Financing” presents the two basic types of financing: debt
financing and equity financing, and their advantages and disadvantages.
It also discusses primary funding sources such as family and friends,
traditional banks, and business angels, along with secondary funding
sources such as crowd financing, microlenders, and federal government
loans.<br><br>
<br><br>
“Federal Government Benefits” explores the federal government benefits
programs available to those who are visually impaired. Monetary programs
such as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental
Security Income (SSI), and Social Security retirement are discussed,
along with insurance programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, Pre-Existing
Condition Insurance Plan, and Medigap. Work incentive programs such as
the Ticket to Work program and state vocational rehabilitation, as well
as how to retain government benefits while working, are also
presented.<br>
<br>
In addition to the new modules, the FCE has introduced three new
toolsthe FCE Discussion Group, Minding Your Own Business (MYOB) and the
Business Directory. The Discussion Group is a conventional mailing list,
where members can discuss any aspects of starting and running a business
by posting questions or responses. In addition, list members are
encouraged to use these contacts for networking among each other.
FCE-related announcements will also be posted on the list.<br>
<br>
Minding Your Own Business (MYOB) is a series of business-related online
discussions around specific pre-determined topics, based on students’
needs. The format of MYOB is relatively flexible; usually it will start
with a short presentation followed by open discussion. The next MYOB is
“Social Networking for Your Business” and is scheduled for June 4 at 2:00
p.m. Central Time.<br>
<br>
The Business Directory includes contact information for businesses owned
or operated by blind and visually impaired individuals. This directory is
designed to provide current and future business owners with inspiration
and access to the listed businesses, with the goal of initiating
networking opportunities among blind and visually impaired business
owners.<br>
<br>
“I’m very excited about the launch of these new modules and resources.
They cover several different areas of expertise needed to launch or grow
a businessfrom practical issues such as financing, to essential ‘soft
skills’ such as networking to utilizing technology such as LinkedIn and
PowerPoint. I’m confident our students will find them interesting and
valuable,” says Program Director Tom Babinszki. <br>
<br>
For more information on the FCE and to enroll, please visit
<a href="http://www.hadley.edu/fce">www.hadley.edu/fce</a>. <br>
<br>
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<br><br>
<br>
<b>About Hadley:</b> Founded in 1920, The Hadley School for the
Blind’s mission is to promote independent living through lifelong,
distance education programs for people who are blind or visually
impaired, their families and blindness service providers. The world’s
largest educator of braille, Hadley enrolls 10,000 students in all 50
states and 100 countries each year. For more information, visit
<a href="http://www.hadley.edu/" eudora="autourl">www.hadley.edu</a> or
call 800-323-4238.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Tom Babinszki<br>
Director, Forsythe Center for Entrepreneurship<br>
The Hadley School for the Blind<br>
700 Elm Street<br>
Winnetka, IL 60093-2554<br>
Phone: 847-784-2804<br>
Fax: 847-446-0855<br>
E-mail: babinszki@hadley.edu<br>
<br>
Check us out online:<br>
<a href="http://www.hadley.edu">www.hadley.edu</a> <br>
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/thehadleyschoolfortheblind" eudora="autourl">
www.facebook.com/thehadleyschoolfortheblind</a><br>
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/thehadleyschool">
www.twitter.com/thehadleyschool</a> <br>
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