Career Training Programs
World Services for the Blind offers a wide variety of career training programs on-campus and online. On-campus clients receive full-time training at our campus in Little Rock while online training can help give clients more flexibility in completing career training.
With Zoom Videoconferencing fully integrated into Canvas, we offer face-to-face video chat with an instructor; or students can gather ‘round a virtual classroom table for an intriguing lecture as a group. Instructor not in the office? No problem! Schedule a meeting with your other online students to collaborate on class assignments and projects before that all-important due date.
One can still participate in the ever-changing lifestyle of today’s society. Whether you have a job and need to partake in classes after normal business hours, are in school/college and want to further your education in an online and adaptable space personalized to your individual needs, or just want to show off some newly found skills, you can do it all with World Services For The Blind who provides a leading helping hand to achieve your professional career goals. WSB also offers online program fundamental courses if you are unsure of which program you want to pursue online!
Clients participating in Career training online courses through World Services for the Blind are recommended to have access to the following:
Windows 10, 8.1 or 7 with Service Pack 1 (or later).
Processor: 2 GHz i3 dual core processor or similar. i5 or i7 recommended.
4 GB Ram required. 8 GB recommended.
Video/Graphics card or integrated graphics with support for DirectX 10 or higher.
Hard drive space: 500 GB. SSD drive recommended.
Internet speeds of no less than 25 Mbps.
Functioning microphone and webcam
World Services for the Blind also offers extensive employment preparation for every client completing a career training program. WSB boasts an 85% placement rate for graduates. WSB also offers opportunities for internships, on-the-job training, or work experience training to allow an individual who is blind or visually impaired to acquire the knowledge and skills required for the performance of a specific job.
Vocational Training Programs
Every program except for, Massage Therapy and IT Specialist are available for online study.
Accessibility Professional
World Services for the Blind is proud to offer pathways for the blind and visually impaired to become accessibility professionals. Individuals who complete the Accessibility Professional course will learn to identify a variety of disabilities and challenges, use assistive technologies, compare and contrast accessibility and usability, identify local and international standards, laws, and management strategies in order to develop plans and actions resulting in products and services universally designed for all in mind. Students in this course will also take part in a small business management course aiding graduates in weighing their options in future employment.
Learn more about the Accessibility Professional Program Here
teacher showing a magnifier to student with white text “assistive technology instructor available on-campus & online”
Assistive Technology Instructor
Our Certified Assistive Technology Instructor program provides students with the skills necessary to be an effective, highly employable assistive technology instructor and a consummate professional. Study topics ranging from computer fundamentals to advanced teaching theory. The program puts a strong focus on the practical application of skills and the reality of today’s workforce. WSB offers two tracks for the ATI program: CATIS certified and the WSB ATI track.
You can learn more about this program on the Assistive Technology Instructor Webpage
Business Start-up Microcredential
In partnership with the The Forsythe Entrepreneurial Center at The Chicago Lighthouse and Miami University of Ohio, are proud to offer the first-ever Business Start-up Microcredential Certification for individuals who are interested in starting a business. Students who successfully complete the “Starting a Business” and “Accounting Basics and Financial Reports” workshops and the Miami University CMR 105 “Introduction to Marketing” course will earn a Business Startup Microcredential Certificate from The Chicago Lighthouse and Miami University.
You can learn more about the Microcredential on the webpage.
back of woman’s head with a headset in focus and blurry computer with blue text “call center specialist on-campus and online" with wsb logo above
Call Center Specialist
Offering impeccable customer service is critical for any organization or company hoping to create and maintain a loyal customer base. World Services for the Blind’s eight-week Call Center Specialist program imparts a vast skill set upon its participants so that, upon graduation, they are prepared to take on the role of call center representative with confidence.
close up photo of people handing off a credit card with white text “credit counseling”
Certified Credit Counselor
Certified by the National Association of Certified Credit Counselors (NACCC) our Certified Credit Counselor program prepares students to serve individuals in need of credit counseling, bankruptcy counseling, financial coaching, student loan debt counseling and housing counseling.
IT Specialist
Our IT Specialist program is tailored towards blind and visually impaired individuals seeking a career in information technology. Students are given the tools and resources to guide them on their path to certification of their choosing from CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, or Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA)while working alongside the organization’s IT department to gain real world, hands-on, practical experience.
Licensed Massage Therapist Certification
The profession of massage therapy is growing rapidly, with a projected employment increase of 26% between 2016 to 2026. World Services for the Blind’s new Licensed Massage Therapist Certification Program is designed to meet that demand. By training certified massage therapists, the program will address the industry’s need for professionals while helping people who are blind or visual impaired gain meaningful employment. While massage therapists work in a variety of environments, solo practitioners account for the largest percentage of practicing therapists (67 percent). Sixty percent work at least part of their time at a client’s home/business/corporate setting, 23 percent in a healthcare setting, 29 percent in a spa setting, and 38 percent at-home practice.
relaxed woman receiving a massage with white text “licensed massage therapist certification available on-campus”
overhead photo of a computer and stethescope with white writing “certified medical billing”
Certified Medical Billing Representative
Certified Medical Billing Representatives make up a crucial part of the Health and Information Technology sector. Because medical offices are moving away from clipboards and paper files and focusing on electronic records, this shift in the industry is making jobs more accessible to blind and visually impaired individuals who already have the technical skills required to do the job. In this profession, certified individuals have the potential to work in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, administrative support centers, and even medical laboratories. With such a wide variety of organizations requiring experts, there is a dynamic job market with plenty of options. Becoming a medical biller is just one of many jobs within the medical administration field and is a great step into the medical administration career pathway. Many open positions are remote work, work from home with high flexibility as many hospitals operate 24/7. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates demand for medical billing and coding specialists to rise by 11% from 2018 to 2028. This program is available online.
Microsoft Office Specialist
The Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) program is designed to effectively prepare adults who are blind or visually impaired to successfully earn certifications for the Microsoft Office applications. The program prepares a student to function in an office environment or as a first-level application support specialist. The program includes training in Microsoft Windows with Microsoft Office products. Computer training is accomplished with the use of assistive technology such as screen-reading programs and magnification programs, depending on the individual’s needs.
Visit the Microsoft Office Specialistt Webpage to learn more!
close up of a person typing at a computer with white text “microsoft office specialist”
overhead photo of computer keyboard and various office supplies with wsb logo in the middle and blue text “office essentials on-campus & online”
Office Essentials
Our Office Essentials program is tailored to fit your needs. We combine aspects of Microsoft Office Specialist, call center specialist, Assistive Technology, and employment preparation —into one program, ensuring students are receiving the best training and the most up-to-date information, with the greatest opportunity to enter into the workforce.
Small Business Management
Our Small Business program aims to teach individuals the aspects of developing and maintain a business of their own. Clients will develop a business plan, register with their state, file with the IRS and identify a means of raising capital.
Workforce Development
Workforce Development Services are offered at WSB to provide individuals with visual impairments with the tools needed to enhance and sustain their employability. Through our prevocational and vocational training programs, we provide the education and skills training to jobseekers that employers are looking to hire long term. By producing qualified workers, it helps the individual become more marketable and benefits the employer by reducing their cost of on-the-job training and improving turnover rates for their company. WSB’s focus is to provide services of employment assistance for jobseekers with visual impairments which will assist them in getting competitive integrated employment. Through job preparation and job coaching, certain tools and resources will be provided for the client to be successful in their job search, such as assistance in locating local job fairs, employment workshops, and/or participation in online or virtual job fairs.
In the first 30 days, an extensive assessment is completed in order for WSB to meet the client’s needs where they are. An extensive Interpretive Career Report will be provided to the client and their Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor on the assessment of their career interests, career training potentials, job satisfaction indicators, career exploration and career recommendations completed with the assistance of our qualified workforce staff and a Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist. Each client’s program will be individualized based on their needs and level of employability. During the skills evaluation period, students will work on a career readiness program tailored to their personal needs in areas such as, their academic skills in areas they may need improvement, assistive technology and computer literacy, daily living skills, and orientation and mobility skills training. Each individual will learn how to complete a resume or update their current resume, interviewing skills, “dress for success” skills, participate in mock interviews, learn soft skills, independent living skills and essential workplace skills. This will assist in the client’s preparation and future choices of a Pre-Vocational or Vocational program, or their area of interest for employment.
Internships
WSB offers opportunities for internships, on-the-job training, or work experience training to allow an individual who is blind or visually impaired to acquire the knowledge and skills required for the performance of a specific job. These work opportunities, when properly planned and monitored, can serve as a valuable service to people who are blind and visually impaired to acquire job skills. These opportunities may be unpaid, paid or client will receive an agreed upon stipend, depending on the rules of your state agency and your individual plan of employment. Opportunities are available for graduates of WSB vocational programs, clients trying to build job experience/work history, or professionals needing to learn additional skills in one of our many career tracks. For more information contact training@wsblind.org