Employment Insights with the NRTC

Helping you Navigate Rehabilitation and Transition to Careers

The NRTC on Blindness and Low Vision is committed to enhancing employment outcomes for people with vision loss. Whether navigating the vocational rehabilitation process, beginning to consider careers, or seeking to gain or maintain employment, our webinars and podcasts are designed to help individuals with blindness or low vision along their employment journeys. We aim to provide stimulating podcasts and interactive and informative webinars that include knowledgeable guests.


Webinars

Leveraging Your Disability to Find a Job

This webinar features speakers discussing services offered by their organizations, emphasizing the strengths gained from living with a visual impairment and providing insights on how to leverage these strengths to market oneself effectively.

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Linking Up with LinkedIn to Increase Employment Opportunities

This webinar explores how individuals with vision loss can utilize LinkedIn's extensive platform to enhance their professional network and employment prospects by showcasing their strengths and skills effectively.

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Who Needs to Know?: When and How to Disclose Vision Impairment

This webinar explores disclosure considerations for job seekers and employees with vision loss, covering timing, methods, necessity, and preparation, with insights from panelists with varying levels of vision loss sharing their disclosure strategies and experiences.

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Navigating the VR System: Services are Better When We Work Together

This webinar aims to provide individuals with blindness or low vision, who are either receiving vocational rehabilitation (VR) services or considering applying for them, with insights into the VR process.

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Podcasts

Follow Season 1 of the Employment Insights with the NRTC podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Episode 1: 150 Resumes Later: Entering Employment with Blindness and Low Vision (Joe)

For people who are blind or have low vision, finding and maintaining employment is often a challenge. On this episode, we are joined by guest Joe Roan, who talks with our host, Sylvia Stinson-Perez, about his employment journey. Joe shares the challenges he faced in his first years of employment and tips he learned as he grew in his career.

Listen on Spotify    Download Episode 1 Transcript

Episode 2: Experiences with Disclosing Blindness or Low Vision at Work (Stephen)

In this episode of Employment Insights, we are joined by guest, Stephen Podley, and our host, Sylvia Stinson-Perez. Stephen shares his employment failures and how that directed him towards a successful career.

Listen on Spotify    Download Episode 2 Transcript

Episode 3: Gaining Success as a Notetaker and Assistive Technology Specialist with Braille (Judy)

In this episode, Judy Matthews joins us to talk about how her work experience and the skills she has learned led her to the career she has today.  

Listen on Spotify    Download Episode 3 Transcript

Episode 4: Using Self-Improvement and Problem-Solving Skills for Success in the Workplace (Quan)

In this episode, we hear from business development manager and mentor, Quan Leysath. Quan not only shares insight into his employment journey, but he also shares how mentoring and developing strong blindness skills have helped towards his success in the workplace. 

Listen on Spotify    Download Episode 4 Transcript

Episode 5: Any Job is Better Than No Job: Using an Interim Job and Mentorship to Find Full-Time Employment (Jessica) 

Jessica Loomer joins our host, Sylvia Stinson-Perez, to talk about her employment journey. Jessica shares her journey of starting over in her career, tips on how she discloses her vision impairment, and how mentors have helped her along the way. 

Listen on Spotify    Download Episode 5 Transcript

Episode 6: Finding Accommodations for Retinitis Pigmentosa as a Social Worker (Pat)

In this episode, our guest, Pat, joins us to talk about her eye condition that developed later in her career, her challenges, and her advice for others in a similar situation. 

Listen on Spotify    Download Episode 6 Transcript

Episode 7: Using Adaptability to Succeed as a Spanish Translator (Lucy)

On this episode, we are joined by our host, Sylvia Stinson-Perez, and today's guest, Lucy. Lucy shares about how she used her knowledge of speaking a second language and turning it into her career. 

Listen on Spotify    Download Episode 7 Transcript

Episode 8: Navigating Massage Therapy Work with Blindness (Jinnerfer)

We are excited to bring you another episode where we sit down with an individual that is blind or has low vision and talk about their employment journey. In this episode, we are joined by host Sylvia Stinson-Perez and our guest, Jinnerfer. Join us to listen to more about Jinnerfer's career that led her to become a massage therapist.

Listen on Spotify    Download Episode 8 Transcript