-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Friday, October 27, 2006 9:12 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: What Employers Need to Know About Adaptive Technology


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

eSight Members Tell What Employers
Need to Know About Adaptive Technology

(New York City, NY - October 27, 2006) The members of 
eSight Careers Network - http://www.eSight.org - have 
collaborated online to provide employers with a quick 
reference about how adaptive technology helps them 
function as productive employees in today's mainstream 
workplaces. 

As an October 2006 National Disability Employment 
Awareness Month initiative, the eSight Networking Forum 
asked participants during the month what they thought 
employers needed to know how adaptive technology has 
changed the way they live and work. 

See "Advances in Adaptive Technology: What eSight Members 
Say Employers Need to Know," a summary article about the 
discussion at http://www.esight.org/View.cfm?x=1958 

The article includes personal stories from eSight 
members about the progress they've seen in adaptive 
technology and the challenges they face in showing 
employers how they can function with the aid of that 
technology in the workplace. 

A third section of the article provides a list of 27 
resources which trace the development of adaptive 
technology (particularly for those with visual 
impairments) and show the range of adaptive technologies 
and services available today. 

During the last 30 years (and especially during the last 
15), advances in adaptive technology have created greater 
opportunities for people with disabilities to communicate, 
learn, participate and work so they can live 
independently. 

Peter, for instance, a business consultant and one of the 
eSight members who participated in the October discussion, 
points out, "Assistive technology has exponentially 
increased my productivity." 

Helen, another participant, writes: 

"Adaptive technology has torn down many of the barriers to 
the workplace and, with the advent of assistive devices 
such as talking microwaves and thermometers for the home, 
people with disabilities can live and work more 
independently." 

Yet, in the U.S., employment among people with visual 
impairments is just over 30 percent, a level which hasn't 
changed much since the Americans with Disabilities Act 
(ADA) became law in 1990. 

Here's how Liz, another eSight member, reacts to that 
employment statistic: 

"The world doesn't adapt to us; we adapt to the world, and 
so we have to get better at talking about our strengths 
and weaknesses and what adaptive technology we'll need and 
how it works and how it can fit into an employer's 
situation." 

She offers this specific suggestion: 

"Now that computer flat screens are less expensive and 
JAWS or ZoomText can be built into computers (including 
laptops), visually impaired and blind people need to take 
the initiative and show employers during job interviews 
that being limited in sight doesn't have to limit their 
employability for work." 

The full eSight Networking Forum discussion about how 
adaptive technology has changed lives is available at 
http://www.esight.org/link.cfm?n=813 

The Associated Blind, Inc., a 68-year-old non-profit 
organization, has been providing members of eSight Careers 
Network opportunities to collaborate on disability 
employment issues through accessible online discussions 
and resource building since October 2000. 


CONTACT INFORMATION:

Source: The Associated Blind, Inc.
Contact: Nancy O'Connell, Executive Director 
Tel: (212) 683-4950
E-mail: [log in to unmask]

Online community: http://www.eSight.org

Blogs:
eSight Leadership Forum     - http://www.tabinc.org/st/
eSight Community News       - http://www.tabinc.org/blog/
Job Seeker's Network        - http://www.tabinc.org/jsn/
Swimming in the Mainstream  - http://www.tabinc.org/sim/

NOTICE:
We have no intention of sending unwanted messages.
Our goal is to share insights with professionals who
have an interest in disability employment issues.

To be removed from our mailing list please reply to this
message with the word unsubscribe in the body of the email.

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