HomeEnhancing Employment Outcomes for Persons with Visual Disabilities
There are 6 major research projects funded under the 2010-2015 NIDILRR RRTC grant addressing these topics: transportation, mentoring, VR-employer interactions, the Randolph-Sheppard program, accessible office equipment, and employment outcomes for persons receiving SSDI. In this section, researchers will be sharing results and discussing implications of their research findings. The amount of CRCC, ACVREP, or NBPCB credit available is listed on the page for each course.
Employer Attitudes
SSDI Outcome Predictors
by J. Martin Giesen & Brenda S. Cavenaugh
Working with Employers
Working with Businesses
Transportation Barriers
by Adele Crudden
Technology Accessibility
by Aaron Preece
Employment Mentoring
Randolph-Sheppard Staff Training
The National Online Training Curriculum for Randolph-Sheppard (R-S) Business Enterprise Program (BEP) Staff is designed to help orient new BEP staff members to the Randolph-Sheppard Program, although anyone, including blind entrepreneurs and vocational rehabilitation staff, are welcome to use the curriculum. The curriculum is composed of 14 individual modules, each covering an important aspect of the R-S program. After completing each module, there is a quiz that will test the student’s mastery of the subject. The student must pass the quiz with a score of 80% in order to generate and print a certificate verifying successful completion of the module. Students are allowed to retake the quiz until that score is reached. An overall certificate of completion may be requested when a student successfully completes and passes all 14 module quizzes. There is no fee associated with taking and completing individual modules or the entire curriculum. No continuing education credits are offered for modules in this section. Contact Doug Bedsaul at dbedsaul@colled.msstate.edu or 662-325-8243 for more information on this curriculum.
The Vocational Rehabilitation Program and How It Intersects with the Randolph-Sheppard Program
The Randolph-Sheppard Act: What the Business Consultant Needs to Know
Active Participation - What It Is and What It Isn't
by Terry Smith
Assistive Technology and Its Potential for Blind Entrepreneurs
by BJ LeJeune and Scott Cass
The Role of the Business Consultant
by Terry Smith
Basic Business Principles and the Randolph-Sheppard Enterprise
Human Resources and the Blind Entrepreneur
by Terry Smith
Marketing and Customer Service
by Jacqui Bybee and Terry Smith
Marketing the Randolph-Sheppard Program to Outside Parties
by Jacqui Bybee and Terry Smith
Partnering with the Private Sector: Expanding Opportunities for Blind Entrepreneurs
Social Security Disability and the Randolph-Sheppard Entrepreneur
Healthier Food Options
by Terry Smith
Introduction to Blindness and Low Vision
by BJ LeJeune
Working with Blind Entrepreneurs with Hearing Loss
by Jacqui Bybee and BJ LeJeune
Introduction Courses
These introductory courses provide basic information for rehabilitation professionals. For those wanting to take more courses on medical aspects of blindness and vision loss, it is highly recommended that you start with the Anatomy & Physiology of the Eye so that you can have the basics of how the eye operates and applicable terminology. The amount of CRCC, ACVREP, or NBPCB credit available is listed on the page for each course.
Introduction to Blindness
Anatomy of the Eye
How to Read an Eye Report
Adjustment to Blindness
Special Topics
These courses provide basic information on specialized topics for rehabilitation professionals. The amount of CRCC, ACVREP, or NBPCB credit available is listed on the page for each course.
Basics of Brain Injury
by BJ LeJeune
Accessing Textbooks
by Kendra Farrow
The Low Down on Low Vision
by Kendra Farrow
Intro to Assistive Technology
by Cheryl Saucier
Common Adult Eye Conditions
It is highly recommended that you start with the Introductory Course on Anatomy & Physiology of the Eye before continuing with these units. These units are taught by a non-physician and are meant as a basic overview of the eye conditions from a rehabilitation professional’s point of view. Questions concerning specific individuals should be directed to a qualified personal eye care physician. These units are combined into one course for 3.5 CRC credits .
Macular Degeneration
Cataracts
Diabetic Retinopathy
Glaucoma
Retinitis Pigmentosa
Other Eye Conditions
Working with Older Individuals who are Blind
These courses were developed by the Older Individuals who are Blind Technical Assistance and Training Center (OIB-TAC) located at the National Research & Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision (NRTC) at Mississippi State University. The OIB-TAC provides training and technical assistance to designated state agencies and others serving older individuals who are blind or visually impaired. The OIB-TAC is funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) and receives project support from American Foundation for the Blind, Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults, Hadley Institute of the Blind and Visually Impaired, and VisionServe Alliance. For a list of other courses that may be useful to staff working with older individuals who are blind, look on our Community of Practice website. The amount of CRCC, ACVREP, or NBPCB credit available is listed on the page for each course.
Introduction to the OIB Program
by Julie Brock and Rita Houston
An Introduction to Community Outreach
by Cheryl Standley
Community Outreach: Creating Targeted and Accessible Presentations
by Cheryl Standley
Best Practices for OIB Programs
by Hadley Institute
