Tennessee Disability Pathfinder offers a growing library of disability resources available at TNPathfinder.org. In addition to the growing directory of resources on Pathfinder’s website, here are some we’re highlighting this month.
Blindness or low vision can affect how a person accesses printed information, technology, transportation, a new workplace, or specific job tasks. It does not determine what kind of career a person can pursue. The right resources can help a person identify tools, training, and strategies that match their employment goal.
Depending on individual needs, services may include guidance and counseling, vocational training, postsecondary education, orientation and mobility training, independent-living services, personal-adjustment training, work adjustment, technology-related services, job placement, and information and referral. The goal is to help eligible individuals enter, return to, or retain employment.
Assistive technology may be another important part of the employment plan. The Tennessee Technology Access Program, known as TTAP, helps Tennesseans explore and obtain assistive-technology devices and services through programs such as device demonstration, device loan, reutilization, and funding assistance. For a person who is blind or has low vision, technology might include screen-reading software, magnification, braille technology, accessible mobile tools, or other devices based on the person’s needs.
Workers and employers can also use the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) for free, confidential guidance about workplace accommodations. JAN offers practical accommodation ideas, tools, checklists, and information about the accommodation process.
And if you are not sure which resource fits your situation, Tennessee Disability Pathfinder can help. Our statewide directory, community calendar, and Resource Navigation Team can connect Tennesseans with disability-related services and help narrow down options based on what a person needs and where they live.
The first step does not have to be knowing the name of the right program. It can simply be knowing your goal and asking for help finding the next step.
Source: Tennessee Blind & Visually Impaired VR Services – https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/ds/blind-visually-impaired-services/bvis-vrservices.html
Source: Tennessee Technology Access Program – https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/ds/ttap/
Source: Job Accommodation Network – https://askjan.org/
Source: Tennessee Disability Pathfinder – https://www.tnpathfinder.org/
Pathfinder Finds: Opportunity East — Lions Volunteer Blind Industries
Some of the most helpful employment resources are not always the ones people hear about first. This month’s “Pathfinder Find” takes us to Morristown, Tennessee, where Lions Volunteer Blind Industries is creating another pathway to employment for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Opportunity East is part of Lions Volunteer Blind Industries, a nonprofit organization that combines employment preparation with the experience of a working business environment. That connection makes the program different from a traditional classroom-based employment program. Participants are introduced to the routines, expectations, problem-solving, and independence that come with being part of the workforce.
Lions Volunteer Blind Industries also employs people who are blind or visually impaired in its operations, where products are produced for government and commercial customers. For someone who has never worked before, is adjusting to vision loss, or is considering what employment could look like in the future, seeing people with similar experiences actively working can be just as valuable as learning a new skill.
Opportunity East can also serve as a bridge between vocational rehabilitation and the workplace, giving participants an opportunity to prepare for employment in an environment connected to real-world work.
That is what makes this month’s find worth sharing. Employment resources do not always come from large agencies or well-known programs. Sometimes a smaller nonprofit in a Tennessee community is quietly helping people discover what they can do, prepare for what comes next, and see employment as a realistic possibility.
Individuals interested in Opportunity East should connect with Tennessee Vocational Rehabilitation to learn more about eligibility and the referral process.
Opportunity East – Lions Volunteer Blind Industries
758 W. Morris Blvd.
Morristown, TN 37813
Phone: 423-714-1673
Learn more: https://www.volblind.org/
SENIOR RIDE NASHVILLE: A NEW WAY TO RIDE
Senior Ride Nashville has launched a new Ride Voucher Program, giving older adults more flexibility in how they get around. Through the program, qualifying Davidson County residents age 60 and older receive four round trips, or eight one-way rides, each month. Participants schedule their own rides through the Lyft app using Lyft Pass. The program is designed for older adults who have reliable access to a smartphone and are comfortable using the Lyft app to manage their own rides. Vouchers can be used any day or time and for trips to any destination, subject to Lyft availability and program limits.
Whether it is a doctor’s appointment, an errand, a visit with friends, or somewhere else you need to go, the Ride Voucher Program offers another way for Senior Ride Nashville to help keep older adults connected and moving.
Interested? Visit Senior Ride Nashville’s website to review program details and complete the Ride Voucher Program interest form. Contact: info@seniorridenashville.org
Address: 44 Vantage Way, Suite 450, Nashville, TN 37228