Blind Veterans from Oklahoma Graduate from Relay Training from Veterans Workshop
Oklahoma City, OK (PRWEB) July 29, 2013 -- Class A-225 began as a group of strangers, but quickly evolved into a band of brothers. The veterans began their training with a clear mission - to learn how to be "relay operators", making relay phone calls for the veteran who has lost their hearing in effect changing the way they communicate. The group used a saying familiar in the military of “leave no man behind” and worked together to ensure that the entire group was successful in their training. After putting in the required time and effort the group is proud to be graduates of the program.
The non-profit Veterans Workshop trained the group of veterans from Oklahoma with funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program (VR&E) of Oklahoma City and the State of Oklahoma, Department of Rehabilitation Services. The training was all completed remotely which was a major factor for many of the veterans. As recent graduate Chuck Smith states, “Being able to attend meaningful job training where I can learn skills and become employed helping my fellow veterans from the comfort of my home means a lot to me. Not being able to drive due to my vision restrictions really limits the training options that I could find. When the Veterans Administration told me about a program learning from home I jumped at the opportunity to become active again!”
The veterans used Google+ hangout technology to learn how to assist deaf veterans making phone calls. Their training exposed them to many new techniques and concepts that they had not previously been exposed to. One of the highlights of their training was hangouts done towards the end of their training to showcase their skills and how they can lead to jobs for the disabled veteran community. Attendees at these hangouts included Oklahoma First District Representative Bridenstine a veteran combat pilot of Iraq and Afghanistan, staff from Oklahoma Senator Inhofe’s office and Mr. John Medve , Executive Director, VA-DoD Collaboration Service at the Department of Veteran Affairs. The Google+ Hangout allowed these staff members and esteemed representatives from Oklahoma and Washington, D.C. to interact with disabled veterans in ways that traditionally would be difficult due to the veterans’ low vision and varying locations.
The Veterans Workshop provides job training for deaf, blind and paralyzed combat-wounded US veterans. This includes programs on teaching blind veterans to make phone calls for deaf veterans using Google+ technology; training deaf veterans on Adobe CS6 software that allows them to work converting websites to be 508 compliant and usable by the blind; and equipping the paralyzed and unemployed with new job skills.
There are 26 million veterans in the United States. Of those, 4.7 million are living with service-related, life altering disabilities.
Injured US veterans often face a barrage of unexpected obstacles upon returning home. Difficulty finding proper employment, trouble communicating and networking, lack of mobility due to physical or perceptual disabilities and limited access to education and training are common challenges.
For more information on Veterans Workshop or if you're a veteran interested in training, please visit http://veterans911.com/our-programs.
MEDIA CONTACT
For interviews with Veterans Workshop staff or to speak with veterans currently participating in trainings, contact:
Hilary Snyder
202-695-8103
hilary(at)veterans911(dot)com
About Veterans Workshop:
Veterans Workshop provides free job training to combat-wounded deaf, blind and paralyzed veterans—training them on technology that is enabling blind vets to make phone calls for fellow deaf vets on Adobe CS6 software to convert websites to be compliant and navigable by blind vets and more. Our mission is to equip injured vets with quality job training that allows them to embark on meaningful careers—with a purpose. Learn more about our training programs for wounded veterans at Veterans911.com
Hilary Snyder, Veterans Workshop, http://www.veterans911.com, 202-695-8103, [email protected]
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