Yes, employers are more flexible these days in the current tight job
market in many regions of the United States.  the comment that you heard
regarding looking for attitude and will train for skills is a call to the
many generalists out there who may lack some of the highly focused skills
of many of today's jobs.  Further, most sighted people can get the hang
of Windows 95 and a common application, such as word, excell, or
explorer, in an afternoon.  Our learning curve is longer and steeper,
which requires us to be more familiar with skills that others may take for
granted.  Additionally, it is necessary for us to determine in *advance
what computer accommodations work best for us and the people in our area
who could set up and install the adaptive technology and get it running.
If rehab funding is used, we have the right to choose who would provide
these services.  My observation has been that when blind people arrive
with few skills and are hired, they often can't learn the technology fast
enough or meet performance goals in the timeframs expected.  also, when
little thought has been given as to who will install and configure the
adapted technology, it can often be a disaster in the making as problems
often result from incompetence.

kelly