VISIONARY |
September 2013 |
Table of Contents
Spotlight
Personnel Actions
- We welcome our newest employees to the DBS family
- Congratulations to employees who received a promotion
- We wish our retirees the best in their future endeavors
Tech Tip
Success Stories
- Success Story for Ms. Twist
- Library of Congress Braille Music Transcriber Certification
- Hard Worker on the Move
Around the State
- Corporate Cup Challenge
- Compass Group Honored
- Lighthouse Works!
- Stutzman Retires
- Rehabilitation Council for the Blind to Host Quarterly Meeting
End Zone
Spotlight
2013 Exceptional Employer of the Year Nomination
By JoAnn Carrin
I am pleased to announce the Division of Blind Services (DBS) exemplary employer for 2013 is Sykes Enterprises, Inc., of Lakeland, which was nominated by District 7. This is a statewide process that we participate in with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) and the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) which will culminate in an award ceremony in Tallahassee on Oct. 9.
| District | Employer |
|---|---|
| 1 | Compass Group- Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola |
| 2 | Interim Health Care in Tallahassee |
| 3 | MammaCare Corporation in Gainesville |
| 5 | Sloppy Joe’s Restaurant in Daytona Beach |
| 5 | Center for Visually Impaired in Daytona Beach |
| 7 | Sykes Enterprises, Inc., in Lakeland |
| 9 | Manatee Diagnostic Center in Bradenton |
| 10 | Fresh Market in Vero Beach |
| 11 | 2-1-1 First Call for Help in Oakland Park |
| 12 | Norland Child Development Center in Miami Gardens |
Personnel Actions
We welcome our newest employees to the DBS family.
- Kairo Joseph, senior clerk - Library
- Rebecca Holladay, administrative secretary - Rehabilitation Center
- Mwedusasa Mtenga, OPS clerk - Tallahassee
Congratulations to employees who received a promotion.
- Glenda Josey, government operations consultant I - Tallahassee
We wish our retirees the best in their future endeavors.
- Douglas Hall, senior rehabilitation specialist - Rehabilitation Center
- Serge Faine, senior rehabilitation specialist – Miami
Tech Tip: Taking a Screenshot
How to Make Screenshots
By Kendra Jahnke
Have you ever wished you could take a picture of an error message or window on your computer screen and be able to share it with someone else? Below is a quick way to take a screenshot of your computer screen and a couple of options for what to do once you have taken it.
To take a screenshot of your entire screen(s), press the “Print Screen/SysRq” button. If you only want a screenshot of an active window, press the “Alt and Print Screen/SysRq” buttons together. Please note that you will not get a pop-up or confirmation that the screenshot has been taken.
There are a couple of things you can do with the screenshot you have just taken:
• Save the screenshot – Open Microsoft Paint and paste the screenshot by pressing “CTRL + V” at the same time. From there you can save or edit the screenshot as needed.
• Insert in an email or Word document – You can paste the screenshot in an email or Word document by pressing “CTRL + V” at the same time. You can also edit the screenshot after it is pasted in the email or document. If you left-click the image of the screenshot, you will notice a new tab on the ribbon appear: “Picture Tools Format.” Left-click the new tab and you will be able to choose options to crop, position and even add a border to the screenshot.
Taking a screenshot can be very useful when you need to relay information like an error message to the Helpdesk or AWARE support. When doing so, be sure to also summarize what the screenshot is showing so JAWS users can better understand the screenshot. You can practice by sending an email to yourself with a screenshot included, or paste a screenshot in a blank Word document to see how it works.
Success Stories
Success Story for Ms. Twist
By Joseph Doran
I would like to congratulate Teresa Twist for becoming employed as an after school classroom assistant with Marion County School Board at the Ward Highlands Elementary School in Ocala. She began her new job Aug. 12. Twist’s persistence and hard work along with her commitment to volunteerism has evolved into full-time employment in her chosen vocation. She had been a volunteer at the Wards Highlands Elementary School for six years as a teacher assistant and volunteer coordinator for the parent/teachers organization. During that time Twist has obtained her high school diploma from the Hadley School for the Blind and a paraprofessional certification from the Marion County School Board.
Twist is an example of how success is achieved through hard work and never giving up on a dream. Twist does not let her disability stand in the way of her desire to succeed in life. In addition to her new job, Twist is busy honing her entrepreneurial skills as an independent Avon salesperson. Congratulations Teresa Twist on beginning your new career.
Library of Congress Braille Music Transcriber Certification
By Virginia Jacko
It is with great pride that Miami Lighthouse announces that Jin Ho Choi, a certified braille instructor, has received the prestigious Library of Congress Braille Music Transcriber Certification. Choi, who has been teaching at Lighthouse for more than 10 years, studied every evening and weekend for the past two years in order to achieve his goal of obtaining the certificate.
Blind since age 19, Choi wrote and has been teaching the copyrighted course to students for two years, while expanding it for distance learning. This curriculum is a series of braille music lessons from our nationally acclaimed Better Chance Music Production Program which was launched June 1 in a distance learning format.
Through our innovative curriculum Choi will open the door for other blind musicians to read braille sheet music. If you or a client are interested in enrolling, contact the Miami Lighthouse at 305-856-2288.
Hard Worker on the Move
By Janet Chernoff
Lilian Pemberton was destined to be a top operator and a star in the Bureau of Business Enterprise (BBE) program from the very beginning. Steve Moss, training instructor, commented on her exit memo “if all my students worked this hard I would be out of a job.” Hard work is what Pemberton is all about. She signed a temporary contract for her first vending facility in 2008, the same day she received her license. The same year, she accepted a permanent contract for a vending facility at the Federal Correction Institute in Marianna. In 2010, she headed to Miami to manage a vending facility at the Krome Detention Center.
When BBE needed someone to temporarily operate facilities in Miami, Pemberton volunteered. Currently, she operates vending businesses at the Krome Detention Center, the Community Health Center and the U.S. Border Control.
Pemberton embodies the attributes that make a good BBE business operator. She is likable, energetic and business minded. She is always willing to do what is needed to be successful, even if that means moving to Marianna, Fla.
Lilian Pemberton is originally from Honduras and became a citizen in 1996. She gives back to her community by sponsoring the Coral Springs Basketball Club. Pemberton has two sisters and a brother who are also successful food service and vending facilities operators.
Around the State
Corporate Cup Challenge
By Walter Blackmon
Four years ago, DBS state office participated in the Corporate Cup Challenge, a yearly event held in Tallahassee to promote wellness of body, mind and spirit. To promote the wellness of blind and visually-impaired persons and to market the strengths, competence, spirit and commonality of our clients with individuals who do not display obvious disabilities, the state office is going to lift high the torch and compete for first place in the 2013 Corporate Cup Challenge Oct. 12. We are encouraging other DBS staff to join us in this worthy event.
Whether it is bike riding, distance running or strength conditioning this event has something to offer. The event is scheduled for Oct. 12 at Tom Brown Park so we have plenty of time to get prepared. If you cannot or do not want to actively participate, you can still join the team by helping to sponsor the $80 team entry fee. Please contact Sharon Scurry or Gayle Newton for donations. For additional details regarding teams or general questions contact Wayne Jennings or Walter Blackmon. You can also visit www.workingwellonline.com for additional details.
“Together, step by step, day by day, we can do it!”
Compass Group Honored
By Bryan McKernan
July 25 the Florida Rehabilitation Council for the Blind recognized the Compass Group at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola for employing DBS clients. The Compass Group has proven to be a diligent employer of blind residents in Northwest Florida.
Operation managers Liz Sims and William Mitchell have worked with Cedric Haynes, employment placement specialist, for the past year and a half to help clients attain gainful employment. This has led to multiple placements at Sacred Heart Hospital, the largest acute care facility in Pensacola. District 1 staff looks forward to continuing the working relationship with The Compass Group and the many benefits that will come from clients reaching their employment goals.
Lighthouse Works!
By Perry Athanason
In 2008, Lighthouse Central Florida (LCF) conceived plans for a new division to be called Lighthouse Works! (LW!) - A social enterprise with two overarching objectives:
- to create long term sustainable funding for LCF; and
- to create professional career opportunities for the blind and visually impaired.
LW! currently operates two primary business lines.
- LW! Customer Care Call Center is equipped to service and support a company’s inbound and outbound customer relationship management needs. Call center service packages range from customer service and quality assurance training to e-commerce, mystery shopping and client surveys.
- LW! Sourcing Solutions & Fulfillment provides end-to-end sourcing solutions including inventory management, labeling, kitting and shipping integration, as well as high-level distribution services to meet the specific needs of its customers.
Revenue generated is re-invested in LW! along with funding core vision rehabilitation services provided by the Lighthouse. LW! is fully engaged in providing key bottom lines.
- People with blindness and low vision have traditionally struggled with a 70 percent unemployment rate. LW! employs individuals who are severely visually impaired in competitive jobs, leading to greater personal dignity, and reducing public assistance costs for unemployed workers.
- LW! often saves money for our customers, as we are able to provide services and products for a lower cost, while at the same time meeting or exceeding all specific requirements and quality standards.
If you have any questions about LW!, or how Lighthouse Central Florida uses this model to support services for the blind contact Dani Mihalic at 407-898-2483.
Stutzman Retires
By Phyllis Dill
Dr. Mary Stutzman will retire from Florida State University in October. She has conducted the annual client satisfaction survey on behalf of the Florida Rehabilitation Council for the Blind since 2002. During the June council meeting in Pensacola, Council Chairman Bruce Miles presented Dr. Stutzman with a plaque for her hard work and commitment to producing a quality survey every year.
Rehabilitation Council for the Blind to Host Quarterly Meeting
By Phyllis Dill
The Florida Rehabilitation Council for the Blind will conduct its next quarterly meeting Oct. 17, 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., and Oct. 18, 8:30 a.m., until 12 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Embassy Suites, 1601 Belvedere Road, West Palm Beach, Fla.
The council will hold a public forum Oct. 16, from 5:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. The forum will be held at the Lighthouse for the Blind of the Palm Beaches, 1710 Tiffany Drive East, West Palm Beach, Fla.
For a copy of the agenda contact Phyllis Dill at 850-245-0392 or Phyllis.Dill@dbs.fldoe.org.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), persons needing a special accommodation to participate in these meetings should contact the local DBS office, no later than 10 working days prior to the meeting at 561-681-2548 or toll free 866-225-0794, or the Florida Telephone Relay system 711.
End Zone
Publication and Submission Information
We hope you found this month’s newsletter interesting. Remember, we need your submissions each month. Let us know what’s going on in your district or facility. The publication date for the Visionary newsletter is the first week of each month. The deadline for submissions is the 15th of each month. Comments, suggestions, and submissions should be directed to:
DBS Communications: Communications@dbs.fldoe.org
Additional useful links and telephone numbers:
To request a Braille version of this edition of the Visionary contact the Braille and Talking Book Library: al.peterson@dbs.fldoe.org or call 800-226-6075.
MIS Help Desk:
Phone: 850-245-0360
Email: DBS.HelpDesk@dbs.fldoe.org
AWARE Help Desk:
Phone: 850-245-0395 or 866-841-0912
Email: Aware.support@dbs.fldoe.org
Division of Blind Services website (external): dbs.fldoe.org.