How a Passion for Languages Led to an Interpreting Career and International Life

From childhood, Elizabeth Sammons knew that she had a talent for language. She would weep when listening to a foreign-language film, so passionate was her desire to know what people were saying. Living in a small town in Ohio, she had little opportunity to develop this until studying high school French. Additionally, her family cultivated … Continued

Maintaining Your Drive in the Face of Adversity

By now, you may know retinitis pigmentosa (RP) barged its way into my life during my college years. My CareerConnect blog posts have documented many of the challenges it created while pursuing goals, but I want to talk about maintaining the drive to reach them. Let’s be honest. No one anticipates losing their vision. It’s … Continued

Negative Feedback: How to Handle It and How to Use It

Are you familiar with feedback yet? You know. When someone like a teacher or a manager tells you what she thinks about your performance or your progress. Sometimes it is called constructive criticism. Oh yes, now you remember. If you’re in the academic world, then feedback may be coming from a teacher, a professor, or … Continued

Workplace Note-Taking Skills for Blind and Visually Impaired Employees

No matter what line of work you choose, note-taking skills will be necessary. You will have to take notes for many reasons. Most often, it occurs when you attend a meeting like a staff meeting or a one-on-one meeting with your manager. Managers use these kinds of meetings to relay information, to assign tasks, or … Continued

The Right Way to Archive Career History

Last week, a friend encouraged me to submit my resume to a nonprofit organization. She told me its executive director began searching for a new grant writer. Years ago, I would have dreaded the burden of updating my resume, but I was ready for it last week. See, I used to think a resume was … Continued

Considering the Pursuit of a Degree? New Article Addresses the Impact of College on Employment Rates and Earnings

Ladies and gentleman of the jury, I recognize you have a weighty decision upon your shoulders—do you or do you not pursue a postsecondary education to include a vocational/trade school or traditional college? Perhaps you’re soon to complete high school and you have the "work vs. additional school" choice on the horizon. Or maybe you … Continued

Turning a “Can’t” Into a “Can” As an Individual with Vision Loss

There have been many times in my life where I had to tell myself, "Steve, you are your own worst enemy!" Simply put, I made excuses for myself. Whether justified or not, I was my own worst enemy. I prevented myself from making timely progress. Timely is the operative word. No doubt, from time to … Continued

Turning a “Can’t” Into a “Can” As an Individual with Vision Loss

There have been many times in my life where I had to tell myself, "Steve, you are your own worst enemy!" Simply put, I made excuses for myself. Whether justified or not, I was my own worst enemy. I prevented myself from making timely progress. Timely is the operative word. No doubt, from time to … Continued

Students with Visual Impairments, College Is Different from High School!

Did you wake up in your dorm room during your first few weeks of college and think, "College isn’t anything like high school!" For many students with vision loss, this can be a rude awakening. You no longer have a teacher of students with visual impairments to adapt materials, make sure you have your textbooks … Continued

Are You Prepared to Succeed in College As a Student Who Is Visually Impaired?

Once you graduate from high school, your adult life as an individual with vision loss begins; a life that will be shaped by the decisions you made in high school. After you receive your diploma and toss your cap, will you have a plan to succeed in the workforce and to fulfill your dreams as … Continued