Seminars@hadley - Business, Employment And Vocational Skills

As a blind person in the workforce, there are many things you need to consider: What tools will you need to get and keep a job? What are your legal rights in the workplace? How can you effectively advocate for yourself? Is it always appropriate to disclose your disability to a prospective employer? How do you deal with employer concerns about hiring a blind person? Join Seminars@Hadley as Kelsey Thompson, Rehabilitation Counselor, CRC, CCM, LCRC with The Chicago Lighthouse, answers these and other questions about being blind and on the job.

The resume remains one of the most important components of a successful job search, but studies show the average employer only spends about 30 seconds reviewing each one. So how do you write the perfect resume, the one that highlights your skills and seizes the attention of your potential employer? Join Seminars@Hadley as Trae Shaw and Stephen Pandov, Career Guidance Instructors at Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center, share the secrets for writing attention-getting resumes to help you stand out from the crowd and get the interview.

Does this sound like you: You want your own business but can't seem to find the resources to get started and you're worried about maintaining it once you begin? Well, worry no more. The Forsythe Center for Entrepreneurship at the Hadley School for the Blind is creating a curriculum for entrepreneurs to help them successfully start and operate their own businesses.

Many of us dream of being our own bosses and earning a living from home. For a variety of reasons, we consider leaving our day jobs and pursuing different career paths; but the bottom line is there are many things to consider before making the transition from employee to operating a business from home. Join Seminars@Hadley as Urban Miyares, nationally-recognized entrepreneur and President of the Disabled Businesspersons Association, discusses considerations and opportunities for those pursuing home-based self-employment.

Making the leap to be your own boss involves more than just having a dream. It may even take more than talent. In order to succeed, you'll need to increase your knowledge and skills about running your own business. But where to begin? How do you master the skills and obtain the tools and information you'll need for success? Urban Miyares, nationally-recognized entrepreneur and President of the Disabled Businesspersons Association, discusses how to increase business knowledge and find practice opportunities on your way to becoming a successful entrepreneur.

Choosing a career is an important decision; and with so many different options from which to choose, it can seem somewhat overwhelming for a young job seeker as well as for those professionals who are trying to help him or her. But don't despair - there is plenty of help and information available to assist young adults in finding the career that's right for them. Join Seminars@Hadley and explore the world of career opportunities. Discover the resources available to you as well as crucial elements every young person needs to consider before putting their career plan into action. This 60 minute seminar will be presented by Dr. Karen Wolffe, Career Counseling Consultant, and moderated by Billy Brookshire, Hadley Texas Outreach Coordinator.

So, you’ve landed an interview for what seems like a great job. How do you prepare? Learning to interview is a large and important part of the job search process. But learning to do it well takes time, practice and motivation. Knowing how to promote yourself and the benefits you offer coupled with a professional attitude and appearance will help you get your preferred job and show prospective employers that you are the right choice. Join Seminars@Hadley as we discuss simple yet highly effective tips for interviewing success; tips that can give you a competitive edge and help you walk into a job interview with confidence. This one hour seminar will be presented by Mrs. Rosario Manning, Career Guidance Instructor at Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center in Austin, Texas, and moderated by Mr. Billy Brookshire, Hadley Texas Outreach Coordinator. .

Consumers, rehabilitation providers and employers each have distinct but overlapping opinions, perceptions, and experiences concerning success and best practices in employment of persons who are blind/visually impaired. An overview of major barriers to employment will be explored, along with strategies recommended for overcoming those barriers. This hour-long seminar will be presented by Dr. Adele Crudden and Ms. B. J. Lejeune, both with Mississippi State University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, and moderated by Billy Brookshire, Hadley’s consultant in Texas.

What is most important for today’s leader: completing tasks quickly or focus and decision making? Why are we working more hours per week than ever before without greater results? Does chronic multitasking have lasting negative effects? Using time wisely is more important than ever for maximum personal effectiveness. In this Seminars@Hadley, Les Stocker, president of the Braille Institute, will discuss time management, the cost and benefit of multitasking and how to maximize your effectiveness while minimizing stress and mental strain. This hour-long seminar presentation, moderated by Hadley Senior Vice President Dawn Turco, will provide additional time for questions and answers.

Professionalism is both an attitude and a skill set. It is also an essential tool for success on your career path. At its heart, professionalism is a genuine desire to enrich the lives of those with whom we interact. It encompasses our personal ethics and attitudes about work, but it also includes our behaviors: how we look, talk, write, act, and work. Join presenters Billy Brookshire, Hadley Texas Representative and Walter Ashby, Financial Advisor, as we talk about professional attitudes and behaviors and how they help each of us be successful in the workplace. This hour-long seminar will be moderated by Hadley Director of Student Services Karen Woodfork.

Socializing can be tough in unfamiliar settings. People unfamiliar with visual impairments can often present challenges. Be it at a party or get-together, work related conference or meeting, or just mingling with others when venturing out somewhere new, how do you grab the attention of the group? How do you meet people and become included? Does nonverbal communication and body language impact participation? Are you comfortable with table etiquette when dining out? Join us as we share strategies and techniques for "being a part of it all." Join us for this Seminars@Hadley as we share solutions with presenters Doug Anzlovar, Patti Jacobson, and Sue Melrose, all Hadley School faculty and lifelong "socializers."

Interested in self-employment or entrepreneurship? This seminar will feature a brief overview of the successful way to launch a business from home, increase your economic prospects, gain extra income, and create business goals by joining us for "Self-Employment and Working from Home" with Urban Miyares. As a business owner for more than 40 years, Miyares is the recipient of numerous honors and awards by the White House, U.S. Congress, U.S. Small Business Administration, and others, including the honor of being named Inc. Magazine's Entrepreneur of the Year. He shared some valuable expertise in his 2008 Seminar@Hadley, Successful Business Ownership. Join him again on May 15 as he and Hadley President Chuck Young discuss self-employment and entrepreneurship.

If you're a business owner or a customer service representative looking for a few fresh ideas, join Hadley as we present "The Customer Service Frame of Mind". Michael Rydel, the dean of curricular affairs at Hadley has over 25 years of management and training experience, and he will describe the best practices for supporting and keeping satisfied repeat customers. Phone and e-mail customer service will be discussed, as well as tips for managers of representatives. Time for questions and answers will be provided.

Are you pursuing your first job or considering a career change? Are you struggling with major life decisions? If so, you are most certainly not alone. Join Seminars@Hadley as we explore ideas that support sound personal decisions with Richard Nelson Bolles, the author of the best-selling job-hunting book in history, "What Color Is Your Parachute?" Richard will join Chuck Young, president of Hadley, to discuss creative resources and strategies everyone can use to achieve personal goals. Richard Nelson Bolles is acknowledged as "America's top career expert" by Modern Maturity Magazine, "the one responsible for the renaissance of the career counseling profession in the United States over the past decade" by Money Magazine, and "the most widely read and influential leader in the whole career planning field" by the U.S. Law Placement Assn.

Are you interested in starting your own business? Are you a business owner or manager looking to stay competitive? Join Seminars@Hadley as we host Urban Miyares, a nationally recognized successful entrepreneur who is blind. Over the last 40 years, Urban has launched more than 20 business ventures and assisted thousands of individuals with disabilities in their own businesses. He is also the founder of the Disabled Businesspersons Association and the National Disabled Veterans Business Center. The seminar will be co-hosted by Chuck Young, president of Hadley, and moderated by Dawn Turco, senior vice president of Hadley.

Seminars@Hadley focuses on all aspects of employment Why can't blindness or visual impairment (BVI) be considered an asset to employment? How does a prospective BVI employee approach the topic of visual impairment in a job interview? What is "reasonable accommodation?" How does an applicant best discuss his or her needs in an interview? Chuck Young, president of Hadley, has 30 years experience assisting the so-called "disabled"find employment, including individuals who are homeless, alcohol and drug dependent and those with cognitive disabilities. Gil Johnson, American Foundation for the Blind's Western Regional Director, has studied the BVI issue and employment from the position of counselor, administrator and trainer. Mike Bullis, of the Blind Industries and Services of Maryland, has been a student of this topic his entire life.

This 45-minute interactive seminar will be presented by staff from the Hadley School and will explore the various ways employees more effectively share data in the workplace using email, PDFs or word processed documents. Presenters will share tips for handling tables and graphics along with other kinds of electronic files.

Richard Nelson Bolles, author of the best-selling job-hunting book in history, "2006: What Color Is Your Parachute?" will give a seminar over the Internet. Participants will listen to Mr. Bolles field questions on finding a successful career, disabilities in the workplace and connecting to your spiritual life. Born in Milwaukee, Mr. Bolles is hailed as "America's top career expert" by Modern Maturity Magazine, and "the one responsible for the renaissance of the career counseling profession in the United States over the past decade" by Money Magazine.