Category: Online Learning

Punch-In – Resources for Young Adults Seeking Employment

Punch-In is a  project sponsored by the Great Lakes ADA Center. It is a free resource for young adults with disabilities preparing for and seeking employment.

One of the many offerings on the site is a free, online course to develop the skills and strategies necessary to be successful in career endeavors. Teachers and other professionals can set up a self-paced course to administered as group or individuals may take the course independently. The course includes over 100 high quality videos for instruction and advice.

There is also a moderator for every course to assist and encourage students.

There are five content modules:

  • Discover Yourself (Module 1) – This module is designed for students who are beginning to prepare for a job search. It offers tools to examine strengths in any potential job and explore careers options.
  • Get Prepared (Module 2) – This module offers the foundational steps to develop your work readiness skills and jump into the critical steps of writing a good resume and cover letter.
  • Find A Job (Module 3)- The Find A Job module helps set a job search in motion. A job search includes the way you find out, apply, and interview for employment. The module also has a special section on networking skills using social media to locate employment opportunities.
  • Know Your Rights (Module 4) – Understanding one’s rights and responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is critical in the employment process. This module is an introduction to the ADA and other disability laws.
  • Use Technology (Module 5) – This module is an introduction to Assistive Technology (AT). AT may be a critical component for a successful career.

If you are interested in administering or taking the newly updated course join the Punch-in network at success-network.punch-in.org. You may also contact Janet Peters with any questions.

 

Great Lakes ADA Center’s mission is to increase awareness and knowledge with the ultimate goal of achieving voluntary compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Great Lakes ADA Center is a member of the ADA National Network which is comprised of 10 regional centers funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), a division of the U.S. Department of Education.

Kyle Shachmut on “New Obstacle for Students with Disabilities”

“Most people assume technology expands opportunities for students with disabilities. While the potential exists, it can be realized only if technology is designed and coded [and utilized] with equal access in mind. Despite years of public-awareness campaigns, legal challenges, and advocacy efforts, many commonly used technologies built or purchased by colleges—email systems, learning-management systems, library databases, classroom materials—actually do more to prevent students with disabilities from equal participation than paper-based systems ever did.”

Kyle Shachmut “A New Obstacle for Students With Disabilities.” Chronicle of Higher Education 9/12/14.

Guide to Visual Disabilities and Online Learning

Online education is designed to open doors for students. Many students who might not be able to become a full-time residential student at a college or university  or who want a particular course, find online courses of value. However, for prospective students with visual impairments, online learning may create more barriers than gateways.

Obtaining a college education is no easy task, but for students with visual disabilities, the path to completing a degree program is lined with unique challenges and barriers. Accessible Colleges Online has prepared a resource exploring  how visual impairments impact the educational experience, what colleges  can do, and includes numerous resources, including insight and tips from students and experts in the field.

To read the entire resource, visit: A Guide to Visual Disabilities: How Colleges Help Visually Impaired Students Succeed

Accessible Colleges Online is designed to help students and parents identify colleges, degree programs, scholarship opportunities and more that fit their respective academic and financial wants and needs.  The site is also designed to help educate students and parents about the importance of accreditation.