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Conference - Employment and Visual Impairment:
Policy and Practice
The Computer Center for Visually Impaired People, the School of Public Affairs,
and the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities at Baruch College
presented a FREE day-long conference
Included breakfast, lunch, and reception
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
8:15 am to 4:30 pm, reception followed
Sponsored by:
American International Group (AIG)
Verizon
New York Community Trust
Lavelle Fund for the Blind
Baruch College, City University of New York
Baruch Conference Center, Room 14-220
William & Anita Newman Vertical Campus
55 Lexington Avenue (at 24th Street)
This conference was intended for policy makers, blind and visually impaired persons, practitioners in the vision impairment field, and interested faculty and students.
Agenda
Workshops
1. Negotiating Agencies and Systems

Moderator:
Jane Thompson, Helen Keller Services for the Blind
Presenters:
Mike Godino, President, American Council of the Blind of New York State
Andy Pasternak, President, Unlimited Potential Resources
Sherry DeFrancesco, Westchester Disabled on the Move
In this workshop find out how a visually impaired job seeker moves between public and private rehabilitation agencies, employment development groups and potential employers to secure the best possible employment outcome.
2. Servicing Diverse Cultural Communities

Moderator:
Iris Rosen, Director of Social Work, University Optometric Center, SUNY College of Optometry
Presenters:
Christina Curry, Executive Director, Harlem Independent Living Center
Louis Mercado, Vocational Rehab Counselor, New York State Comission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped
Brett Eisenberg, American International Group (AIG)
This workshop will identify and explore what issues are important to members of these groups and to companies seeking to increase their diversity portfolio.
3. Breaking the Corporate Barrier

Moderator:
Nancy Miller, Executive Director, VISIONS
Presenters:
Arnold Kramer, Supervisor and Placement Specialist, New York State Comission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped
Michelle Pularo (morning session) and Lara Crampe (afternoon session), Taproot Foundation Patrick Allen, HR Executive, Merrill Lynch and
R. Brian Watson, JPMorgan Chase
What does it take for placement professionals to interest employers in the recruitment, training, hiring and promotion of visually impaired job seekers? This workshop will enable participants to have a basic understanding of corporate and nonprofit relationship, how to develop an outreach strategy for building corporate partners, and how to create presentations that will demonstrate the value of creating organizational infrastructure that incorporates blind and visually impaired employees.
4. Trends in Technology

Moderator:
Pratik Patel, Director, Information Technology Access, City University of New York
Presenters:
Mike Calvo, President and CEO, Serotek Corporation
Caroll Stone, Humanware
Jeff Pledger, Verizon
Guido Corona, IBM
What is the state of assistive technology in supporting employment of visually impaired people and what new trends will continue to enhance employment possibilities?
5. Internet: Key Tool in Career and Job Search

Moderator:
Sandy Kupprat, Career Counselor, Student Center for Disabilities, Baruch College
Presenters:
Julie Jansen, Freelance Corporate Consultant and Career Coach
Lynnette Tatum, Senior Instructor, Computer Center for Visually Impaired People, Baruch College
Using assistive technology the presenters will explore several sites and explain how they can help people assess their skills, identify markets, and access those markets. The importance of the Internet as a networking tool will be stressed in this presentation.
Presenter Bios
Conference Participants
Networking
Conference Administration
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