Podcasts about minnesota state services

Minnesota State Services for the Blind (SSB) like every other state rehab agency, is certainly not exempt from the impact of COVID-19. Like much of the Nation’s  business and governmental sector, the staff began working from home back in mid-March. Jesse Anderson, Assistive Technology Specialist, Joins Jeff Thompson in the Blind Abilities Studio to talk about how his department has adjusted to the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 and how they are keeping the virtual doors open for services. Jesse describes the many areas that SSB had to adapt to the ever-changing needs of their clientele, such as the growth of remote online schooling and meetings,  and associated technical issues such as the lack of internet connections or bandwidth limitations in some areas of the state. Add to this the skill deficiency relating to these new methods of attending classes or joining meetings which SSB had to fill, and we can see how busy they have been. Jesse says, it is always been a matter of adapting to changes, even outside the COVID-19 pandemic,  with the rapid development of technology: mainstream with the prevalence of multiple platforms like iOS, Android, Mac and PC, and so many assistive features associated with each of them.  .  We have always focused on making clients more productive and competitive, in whatever endeavor they targeted. The Assistive Technology Unit continues to provide up to date and state of the art services and guidance, both for youth transitioning to college and the workplace and for individuals who are new to the SSB services being offered. Join Jeff and Jesse and learn how you can inquire and find out more about the services provided by SSB. Yes, the doors are open virtually and to find out more about Transition Services, contact Sheila Koenig: Sheila.Koenig@state.mn.us or call 651-539-2361.  Contact Your State Services If you reside in Minnesota, and you would like to know more about Transition Services from State Services contact Transition Coordinator Sheila Koenig by email or contact her via phone at 651-539-2361. Contact: You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com Send us an email Get the Free Blind Abilities App on the App Storeand Google Play Store. Check out the Blind Abilities Communityon Facebook, the Blind Abilities Page, and the Career Resources for the Blind and Visually Impaired group

Stevie Ray is the co-founder and executive director of Stevie Ray’s Improv Company.He an entertainer, writer, keynote speaker and corporate trainer for many Fortune 500 companies to small organizations, nothing is too big for Stevie!He has been published in over a dozen national publications and is a nationally syndicated columnist for the Business Journal newspapers, writing for the publication since 1997.Served as Master of Ceremonies for several notable events!Stevie Ray began his career, as an extremely talented comedianat the age of nine and has been making people laugh ever since. Entertaining around the world with his clean, fast-paced, and funny acts. Stevie has opened for Paula Poundstone, Rich Hall, Marsha Warfield of “Weird Al” Yankovick.The only person in the country to design his own college degree in Theory and Performance of Comedy at Minnesota State University-MoorheadA martial artist since 1977 and holder of four black beltsA former bodyguard, one client was Pee Wee Herman The owner of Steve’s Bees Minnesota Honey, producing natural honey from his own beehives A volunteer for the Minnesota State Services for the Blind, recording books on tape for the blind and visually impairedAn award-winning blues harmonica playera man of endless talents and credits to his name, such an overachiever!!Small screen appearances on comedy specials What’s So Funny and America’s Funniest People.stevieray.orgFridays & Saturdays 8:00 p.m. Chanhassen Dinner TheatresOrder tickets: By calling 952-934-1525 or reserve online

David J Bates President, Alternative Homes of Minneapolis Inc. Dave has been working in the field of chemical dependency and mental illness for the past 27 years. His blindness is caused by retinitis pigmentosa which caused his sight to fail in mid-2013. He attended Blind, Inc. the following year which allowed him to continue in the job he loves. Dave is involved with the Coon Rapids Alano Society, the NFB, his church, and in the Republican Party of Minnesota as a delegate. You can contact Minnesota State Services for the Blind on the web at www.MNSSB.org and be sure to contact your State Services to find out about upcoming events and Career Expos.

Susan D’Mello, Ph.D. Research Scientist, HumRRO Susan D’Mello is a research scientist at the Human Resources Research Organization (HumRRO), where she helps a variety of companies to hire, promote, and develop their best employees. She earned a Ph.D. in Industrial Organizational Psychology from the University of Minnesota, and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Michigan State University.   You can contact the Minnesota State Services for the Blind on the web at www.MNSSB.org and inquire about upcoming events and Career Expos. Be sure to contact your State Services to take advantage of the opportunities they offer.

Charlotte Czarnecki Federal Investigator, United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Charlotte graduated with her masters degree in communication arts and sciences in 1995. She worked in the Independent Living movement for three years, then earned a dual masters degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling and rehabilitation teaching. She now investigates complaints about employment discrimination. Charlotte is an active member of the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota. She enjoys shopping, walking around the beautiful metro area, and reading good books. You can contact Minnesota State Services for the Blind on the web at www.MNSSB.org and find out about more events and upcoming Career Expos. Be sure to contact your State Services and stay in touch with the latest opportunities.

This week's show starts with Executive Producer Chase Crispin presenting his weekly technology Update. Bill McCann from Dancing Dots introduces us to products from Dancing Dots and demonstrates their software package that allows a blind musician the ability to read and compose music on their Windows based computer with all the features and flexability of some of the best music composing software on the market. MainMenu staff member David Woodbridge from Vision Australia shows us the Light Detector app for your Apple iOS device that gives the blind person an excellent light probe on their device. MainMenu listeners in the Minneapolis/St Paul twin cities area who listen to MainMenu through Minnesota Radio Talkingbook will need the new digital receiver supplied by Minnesota Radio Talkingbook starting on June 25th in order to hear MainMenu from that service starting next week. If they do not have the new digital radio they should contact the Communications Center at Minnesota State Services for the Blind to request that a new digital radio be sent to them at (651) 642-0500. Meantime they can also access MainMenu through the MainMenu page at www.mainmenu.acbradio.org or through www.mnssb.org and take the link in the Communications Center to Radio Talkingbook, and finally login at the listen live link where they can find the latest MainMenu link for on demand listening! It's all on MainMenu this week on ACB Radio Mainstream! Main Menu can be first heard on Fridays at 9:00 pm Eastern time. It airs throughout Saturday on ACB Radio Mainstream. http://www.acbradio.org/mainstream It is also available in the iTunes store, in the iBlink Radio app for IOS and Android devices, and is available to Radio Reading Services around the world. Subscribe to the Main Menu podcast feed at: http://mainmenu.acbradio.org/rss.php Follow MainMenu on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/mainmenu Subscribe to a list where you can interact with other Main Menu listeners and the Main Menu staff by sending a blank email message to: mm-friends-subscribe at acbradio.org