It takes 2 to Tango. Jan Bloem July 25, 2014 TeleWork International Fair Bogota, Colombia

Transcription

1 It takes 2 to Tango Jan Bloem July 25, 2014 TeleWork International Fair Bogota, Colombia

2 Overview Personal background Work experience Office organisation Office tasks Expectations and opportunities Statistics Dutch situation Summary for success

3 Personal background Family status 47 years old, living in the Netherlands Married with Chantal and have 2 kids, Tycho and Rosalie Education Agricultural Management, specialization: Informatics Professional status Since 2006 International Sales Manager for Freedom Scientific (home office)

4 Personal background Handicap Progressive RP and MD Low vision at the age of 18 End of my dream to become a dairy farmer Legally blind at the age of 25 Rehabilitation At the age of 25 acquired braille, mobility, orientation and daily living skills

5 Work experience Before rehabilitation Software System developer in the agricultural sector Big struggle with loosing sight (no knowledge about assistive technology) After Rehabilitation Big relieve, work is still possible with assistive technology Computer with a screen reader (speech and braille output) and screen magnification CCTV devices for desktop and handheld, OCR technology and braille embossers From MS DOS to Windows 8

6 Work Experience Employment from 1993 till 2001 Manager Support at ALVA bv, Dutch manufacturer of braille displays Training, helpdesk and after sales Volunteer work 7 months in Nepal and Tibet Project for the blind, Braille without Boarders 3 years in Nigeria, West Africa VSO, Sharing skills, changing lives Teacher for the blind at a school for the handicapped in the north of Nigeria Setting up computer training for the blind in Nigeria

7 Work Experience Today International Sales Manager Freedom Scientific, the leading company in the assistive technology sector Operating out of my own house via teleworking Travelling world wide for attending exhibitions, conferences and presentations Training dealers on our products

8 Office organisation MS Windows Desktop computer Software: JAWS, MAGic, Openbook Hardware: Focus 80 braille display, Scan printer combination, Topaz XL HD camera only, SARA CE MS Windows Laptop Software: JAWS, MAGic, Openbook Hardware: Focus 40 Blue braille display, Pearl camera for OCR, Ruby XL HD handheld camera

9 Office organisation Smartphone and tablets NEXUS 7 with TalkBack and BrailleBack Iphone with VoiceOver Windows 8 Tablet with JAWS, MAGic, Focus 40 Blue, Openbook and Pearl camera

10 Office tasks Requirements Reliable internet for telework Skype for meetings and discussions , Internet and social media for information exchange Dropbox for effective file exchange Note taking Office on Windows 8 tablet Nebulous notes on smartphone Voice memos on PlexTalk Light weighted solutions with Focus Blue braille display

11 Office tasks Special apps on smartphone Whatsapp IBlinkradio Daisy book reader Moneyreader Air carrier apps Ariadne GPS

12 Expectations and opportunities To perform in my job, I need: Reliable tools The best assistive hard- and software Up to date knowledge Good training on your assistive technology is a must Job opportunities In a digital world you can compete with a sighted colleague

13 Statistics Data from a project of the University in Maastricht, the Netherlands. Factors Related to the Employment of visually Impaired Persons: A Systematic Literature Review, by Yvonne H. H. Goertz, Brigitte A. G. van Lierop, Inge Houkes and Frans J. N. Nijhuis Global Employment rate between 33 and 42% Netherlands 36.8% Minimum 12 hours work week

14 Statistics Blind and Visually Impaired Adult Rehabilitation and Employment Survey: Final Results By Edward C. Bell, Ph.D. and Natalia M. Mino Edward C. Bell, Ph.D., serves as director of the Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness, Louisiana Tech University. 37 % of the visually impaired population is achieving competitive employment

15 Dutch situation Funding Government funding for study and work Health ensurance funding for private situation Job re-integration policy No risk policy, Government will pay for the salary in case the employee won t be able to perform his/her job due to the disability Salary subsidy, what will add the salary to the national minimum, if the employer can not Mobility policy, to fund special actions necessary for the job. For example a job coach or special software custimizations New law with minimum number of staff, employers have to pay a penalty if they fail to employ a fixed number of people with disabilities

16 Summary for success Skills of blindness Orientation and mobility skills Braille and assistive technology skills Personal attitude Quality of assistive and technical tools Technical support and service Family support

17 QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!