Learning and Education Resources
Below are profiles of organizations, programs, services and useful websites from around the world. Don’t hesitate to check out resources from other countries; they may be useful to you even though they aren’t specific to where you live.
The largest educator of people who are blind or partially sighted in the world, with students in all 50 states and 100 countries, Hadley offers distance education courses free of charge to individuals and their families and affordable tuition courses to service providers in the field. Hadley is also the largest educator of braille. Students must be blind or partially sighted and over 14 years of age, a relative, or a service professional working with people who are blind or partially sighted.
Keywords: high school, post-secondary, free courses, distance education, online high school education, online continuing education, disability specific skills training, assistive technology
The largest
educator of people who are blind or partially sighted around the world, serving
more than 10,000 students annually in 50 states and 100 countries, Hadley’s
directory offers a comprehensive list of useful websites such as dog guide
schools, distance education, specialized schools employment, parenting and
independent living.
Keywords: international, independent living, parenting, guide-dogs, job seekers, employment, training, education, assistive technology, recreation, directory
PAL Reading Services
A registered charity, PAL provides recorded reading material for elementary and post-secondary school students, individuals, agencies and businesses.
Keywords: Audio
Canada, Pre-school, Elementary school, High school, Post-secondary, Education, Training, Communication skills, Career advancement
Offers a number of online resources for educators, including webinars, webcasts and a research library of more than 40,000 resource materials on blindness and deaf blindness. The Accessible Science section provides science activities that have been adapted for students who are blind or partially sighted. It also offers links to its training centre and some additional resources for professionals. The Perkins Training Center offers workshops and seminars and professionals can earn professional development and continuing education credits by watching Perkins webcasts. Perkins also writes and produces publications that serve as training guides for teachers, family members and caregivers. Its early literacy program helps parents teach early literacy skills to young children while the Assistive Device Centre gives important information on games and educational materials for children.
Keywords: Online learning
Pre-school
Elementary school
High school
Disability specific training
Classroom training
Video
Webinar
Webcast
United States
Games
Adult education
Offering a
large list of services in the US and Canada; you can also search via service or
organizational name and you can narrow your search to specific Canadian
provinces or American states. There are 325 listings under the heading
“employment, job training”.
Keywords: directory, international, training, employment, sports and recreation, workplace accommodations, financial assistance, education, job seeking, career preparation
A school for students who are blind, partially sighted or deafblind. It offers a residency program at its location in Brantford, Ontario and provides life skills training, music therapy and workshops for educators. Within the school you can also find a Resources Services Library which provides Braille and alternate print formats for students across Ontario.
Keywords: Ontario, life skills, training, high school , elementary school, post- secondary students, education, vocational training, music therapy, braille library, residency program, orientation and mobility, communication skills
Makes library services accessible to people across Canada who cannot read print because of a visual, physical or learning disability. Services, available in English and French, are free. You can receive books and other materials online through the CNIB Digital Library or by having them mailed directly to your home. Also, in some participating provinces, you can access the CNIB Library materials through your public library. Accessible formats include audio, Braille and e-text.
Keywords: Canada, directory, online learning, education, career preparation, job exploration
Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work
To assist students with disabilities in their pursuit for post-secondary education and training, eight scholarships, in the amount of $2,500 each, are available for the academic year. Applicants must be high school students entering a fulltime program at post-secondary institution and must be faced with a long-term disability that restricts their ability to participate in educational activities.
Keywords: Canada, scholarships, education, post- secondary
The
Hadley School for the Blind’s Forsythe Center for Employment and
Entrepreneurship (FCE) is a business and technology initiative designed to
assist individuals who are blind or visually impaired in achieving their
employment goals or starting or acquiring their own business. FCE courses are
designed to improve students’ employability and to enhance business and
technology skills for the workplace or self-employment. The FCE provides
courses, modules and webinars on current computer and smart phone technology,
as well as relevant accounting, legal, marketing, management and communications
information specific to the needs and concerns of individuals who are blind or
visually impaired. For more information or to enroll, visit www.hadley.edu/FCE or call
Student Services at 800-526-9909.
Keywords: entrepreneur training, self-employment, business skills
Public Service Commission of Canada
Provides job postings for opportunities with the federal government. It also offers resources for those searching and preparing for jobs as well as links to intern/coop placements for students, the Federal Student Work Experience Program and post-secondary employment programs and opportunities.
Keywords: Canada, job seekers, finding job leads, job search skills, career exploration, employment, federal student work experience program, job posting, available positions, internships, co-op positions, government jobs, high school, student jobs
Offers a comprehensive range of services and information to help people who are blind or partially sighted live independently. The website’s section on eye health includes information on various eye conditions; its employment section offers job tips and search opportunities. RNIB also runs schools for children, offers courses for adults and produces talking books and a number of magazines for people who are blind or partially sighted, including its member’s magazine, Vision. Among other services, RNIB offers technology support, advice on home safety and managing one’s finances. And for professionals, the organization provides training, consultancy services and practical online support, while offering information for employers too.
Keywords: UK, job search skills, interview skills, leaving home, starting college, parents, video
Offers a wide range of services includes help for employers and career seekers, adaptive technology consultancy services, training courses and mobility services. Vision Australia also places a strong emphasis on advocacy and community education through its Speaker’s Network and other offerings. The organization offers audio books, a radio station and other means for communication. And Vision Australia provides orientation and mobility series such as cane training and orientation with guide dogs. They also provide education and training for children and adults
Keywords: Australia, online learning, online courses, directory, disability specific, skills training, training, continuing education
American Foundation for the Blind
A video-radio series that follows Aaron, a teenager, as he searches for a job, deals with less-informed co-workers and gets college-ready, all the while offering tips, advice and good humour.
Keywords: international, employment, high school, video, audio, success stories, mentor, training, interview preparation, interview follow up, workplace accommodation, career advancement, college preparation
The New York-based organization is dedicated to helping people with low vision enjoy safe, productive and independent lives. Lighthouse runs three unique schools: an integrated preschool, a music school and an adult continuing education school. The organization also publishes informational tip sheets and publications. Lighthouse runs an online and physical store, selling an array of vision-friendly products
Keywords: United States, continuing education, music, tip sheets, assistive technology store
Links by NAPVI— a national membership-based organization providing parents of children who are blind or partially sighted with information, resources, leadership, support and training. Links include schools in the U.S., parenting sites, health information and private and government organizations.
Keywords: United States
friends
family
relatives
caregivers
health
parenting resources
support
training
online education
pre-School
elementary School
high School
Benetech
An online library of digital books for people with print disabilities, members download books, textbooks and newspapers in a compressed, encrypted file, then read the material using adaptive technology.
Keywords: international, education, training, directory
A host of links to various sites in Canada and across the globe. Categories include sports and recreation, employment, education and literacy, technology products and eye health resources.
Keywords: international, directory, sports and recreation, disability specific skills, training, schools, employment, job seeking/search skills, finding job leads, interview preparation/follow-up, career advancement, health
A collection of more than 70,000 digitally recorded textbooks and literature titles, downloadable and accessible on mainstream as well as specialized assistive technology devices.
Keywords: international, directory, online learning, education, books, high- school, post- secondary, career exploration, job preparation
Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians
Each year, AEBC awards a scholarship to a post-secondary student who is blind, deaf-blind, or partially sighted. Emphasis is placed on academic achievement, leadership, and the student’s perspective on accessible education.
Keywords: Canada, education, scholarships
The Statler
Center offers job training and placement in two industries: Hospitality and
Customer Care. The Hospitality Program is a ten week course with start dates in
January, May, and September; the Customer Service program a seven week course
with start dates in February, May and September. Both programs are offered
through the Olmsted Center for Sight at 1170 Main Street, Buffalo, New York 14209. For informationconcerning tuition or other details, please contact the Statler Center or call 716-888-4526<
Keywords: hospitality training, customer service training
Offers a range of services including income support, employment accommodations, language programs, adaptive technology support, recreation and health facilities. Services are only available to those living in Toronto, Ontario.
Keywords: Toronto, Ontario, sports and recreation, training, online learning, workplace accommodation
American Foundation for the Blind
Offering advice on how to find scholarships, grants and other funding sources for educational purposes. Also offers links to funding organizations across the United States.
Keywords: United States,Scholarships,Grants,Education,High school,Post-secondary education,Apprenticeships,Internships,Disability specific skills training,Directory
Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired
Providing links to colleges and universities in the United States, Canada and other countries that offer courses in education and rehabilitation of people who are blind or partially sighted.
Keywords: international, online learning, education, scholarships,continuing education, career advancement, advocacy
National Federation of the Blind (NFB)
Offering individuals who are blind or partially sighted the ability to hear the content of over 300 newspapers and magazine in various languages, whether over a phone line or via the web.
Keywords: United States, online, audio, news, entertainment
American Foundation for the Blind
Hosts articles on job seeking skills, a database of mentors who are blind or partially sighted, and success stories. Job seekers can register to obtain further resources, including an online course on choosing and pursuing a career (Job Seeker's Toolkit), a résumé builder, message boards, and the chance to contact the mentors profiled on the site.
Keywords: United States, job search skills, mentors, success stories, online learning, resume preparation
Guide for Students with Visual Disabilities and Online Education
We created this guide to show how today's colleges and universities are improving their technology and resources to help students with visual disabilities earn degrees. The new guide also provides a list of online technologies and literary resoruces that students with impairments can use on their own to get ahead. Other key elements include:
- A breakdown of technologies central to visually impaired learning.
- College success tips for students with visual impairments.
- A detailed look at accommodations colleges are making for fully and partially blind students.
- A print screen option.
- Full JAWS compatibility.
Keywords: Education, international, self-help, training, online learning, assistive, technology
March of Dimes
Although not all services are free the march of dimes employment service offers a functional abilities evaluation, vocational assessments, psycho-vocational assessments, labour market surveys. They also offer a success rate of 80% for all people serviced.
Keywords: Toronto, Canada, job seekers, assessments,
College Accessibility for Visually Impaired Students
Online Colleges discusses how students with visual impairments can make the most of their college experience. It includes sections on ways to get more involved in school, a list of curated scholarships for students with visual impairments, and outlines the best assistive technologies for visually impaired students to use.
Keywords: Education, United States, Long-Distance Learning, Scholarships, Information
Helping Students with Visual Impairments
Addressing each need of students with visual impairments and improving
overall accessibility are vital to their academic success. This guide
explains how colleges are creating more welcoming and inclusive learning
environments, with a sharp focus on assistive technology, campus
resources that provide assistive services and tools, information about
scholarships for students with visual impairments, and online resources
they can access to facilitate academic and career success.
Keywords: Online learning
Disability specific training
Classroom training
United States
Adult education
Online Resources