A career planning and employment resource for people who are blind or partially sighted

​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 Hadley School for the Blind

    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 Hadley School for the Blind - Directory

    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

    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

  • Perkins School for the Blind

    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

  • American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) Directory

    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

  • W. Ross Macdonald School

    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

  • CNIB Library

    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

  • Youth Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities

    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

  • Forsythe Center for Employment and Entrepreneurship

    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

  • Careers in the Federal Public Service

    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

  • Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)

    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

  • Vision Australia

    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

  • CareerConnect - Aaron’s Adventures in Employment

    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

  • Lighthouse International

    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

  • NAPVI – useful links

    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

  • Bookshare

    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

  • Links/Resources Canadian Council of the Blind

    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

  • Learning Ally

    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

  • Scholarship Program

    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

  • Statler Center

    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

  • Balance for Blind Adults

    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

  • Funding Your Education

    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

  • AER – College and University Programs

    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

  • NFB- Newsline

    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

  • AFB CareerConnect

    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

  • Accessible Colleges Online

    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

  • Employment Services for Clients

    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,

  • Online Colleges

    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

  • ASO - Accredited Schools Online

    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


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