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2007 EPIC Award Recipient

EXEMPLARY PUBLIC INTEREST CONTRIBUTION (EPIC) AWARD honors public interest organizations that have supported equal employment opportunity and linked their efforts with those of federal contractors to enhance the equal employment opportunities for minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans.

Sensory Access Foundation (SAF) was created to act as a conduit between the employers and the qualified individuals with disabilities. For over thirty years, SAF has assisted individuals who are blind or visually impaired to find and keep competitive employment throughout California

SAF's mission is to assist individuals with disabilities to obtain and retain competitive employment by providing the highest quality access technology assessment, computer training, job placement and accommodation services with a goal of achieving 100% job retention.

This office serves clients throughout the State of California. For over thirty years, Sensory Access Foundation (SAF) has assisted individuals who are blind or visually impaired, to find and keep competitive employment.

Description of Exemplary EEO Support Program:

SAF provides clients with:

• Job Preparation and Placement Services: This includes providing career counseling, resume writing, interview skills building, job clubs, and benefits counseling.
• Access Technology: This includes comprehensive evaluations of functional vision, job tasks, work environment, home environment, educational setting, lighting environment, and existing technology. Access technology integration services are also available to help evaluate and assess appropriate accommodations. Equipment is available onsite for evaluation.
• Access Technology Training Services: Occupational Skills Training (OST) services are defined as a series of focused computer application/adaptive technology training courses and "Business interpersonal skills training" presented in small, classroom-style presentations or individualized sessions. These courses provide an individual with the fundamental skills to work effectively with the most common computer applications and customer & administrative services skills necessary for today's job market. Some of the training included are:

Customer/Administrative Skills Training (CAST): This training is targeted to address the training needs of individuals seeking to acquire or enhance their business interpersonal skills commensurate with their job search or job retention. The CAST course provides each person with the necessary and appropriate skills for today's work environment.

PC Power Series Training: This series of courses is designed to meet the general needs of the beginner-to-intermediate computer user and instruct the user in the most commonly used applications. The classes are provided on a regular schedule.

Individual Access Technology Training: SAF provides individualized training for job advancement, or for individuals who must use proprietary software at work.

SAF provides employers:

• Pre-screened qualified job-ready candidates with diverse experience and education.
• Access evaluation and training on-site or at SAF.
• On-site evaluation of job tasks and work environment.
• Recommendations for cost effective accommodation or restructuring.
• Assistance in identifying appropriate access technology for specific needs.
• Assistance in interfacing access technology with existing systems.
• Follow-up support services to guarantee success of a placement or retention.
• Conduct seminars for employers on the successful hiring and accommodation of people with visual impairments.

SAF's employment services program assists clients in obtaining new employment or in retaining their current employment if they are in jeopardy of losing positions due to changing functional vision, new job tasks, or change in work environment. In this process the clients needs are assessed, access technology suitable to the needs are identified, strategies are designed to acquire access technology including short term equipment loans. Counselors teach vocational and computer skills as needed to prepare clients for employment; work with employers to accommodate and/or reconfigure each clients work environment; work with employers to integrate access technology with their existing systems; monitor and evaluate client progress and job environments for up to 3 months; and train rehabilitation professionals on access technology.

When SAF does not have a qualified candidate for a particular position, the organization shares the position's information with a network of community rehabilitation providers. Its Business Advisory Council, composed of representatives from business, labor, and service organizations, supports the SAF in meeting its goals. In 2006, 248 clients were served and 85 clients were placed in competitive employment with 99% retention rate.

The organization's average Return-on-Investment (ROI), for fiscal year 2006 is 169%. The ROI is based on the comparison between the cost of the organization's employment program, the total savings in reduced disability benefits, plus federal and state taxes paid.