Our Office Essentials program is designed to allow you to build your program of study. 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.

Training in Microsoft Office tests each student on their use and proficiency of the application in a realistic office setting. Call Center Specialist builds students’ soft skills, and Assistive Technology training develops students’ timeliness when working with screen reading software and screen magnification software in conjunction with demands of the office environment. 

Overall, Office Essentials will further assist students in obtaining employment to work in an office setting. The combination of resources allows each graduate the information and skills needed to find employment to excel in their career goals.

The course consists of a combination of areas and skills sets such as:

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)—Learning to use and perfect the use of all applications.

Proficient use of each application will be tested, but certification is not required.

Customer service and phone etiquette

Assistive Technology training

Each student will work with our career specialist to conduct job searches, develop resumes, cover letters, improve interviewing skills, apply for employment and participate in actual interviews when possible.

High school diploma or GED Keyboarding speed of 35 wpm (45 wpm preferred)

12th-grade spelling level

Print reading speed of 100 wpm with 75% comprehension

Excellent ZoomText or JAWS skills

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.