Press Release October 25, 2000

Source: The Associated Blind
Press Contact: Nancy O'Connell at 212-683-4950

eSightCareers.net Internet Service Launched Providing Blind and Visually Impaired with Employment and Career Management Information

New York, October 25, -- The Associated Blind, announces today the launch of a comprehensive, free Internet service to help blind and visually impaired individuals and companies create new career and employment opportunities.

eSight™Careers.net has been developed to meet the career management needs of blind and visually impaired people by utilizing the power of Internet and the opportunities it creates for this group. The service is designed to be totally accessible and easily navigated in order to accommodate users with low or no vision. As a result, people who are blind, using special synthesis software that "reads" the text on a computer screen in an artificial voice, can access high quality, relevant and authoritative content on careers, assistive technology, entrepreneurship. eSight™ will offer chat and dialogue boards for individuals to communicate with each other about careers, employment, jobs, and companies. The site is platform independent, simple to use site, and provides customer service and technical support.

The need for the services offered by eSight™ was recently confirmed by a market research survey. eSight™ conducted an opinion research survey of blind and visually impaired individuals to determine their needs and expectations for the Internet. The two strongest needs expressed were (a) access to reliable, actionable information, especially about using assistive technology; and (b) ability to conveniently interact with others. eSight™ is responsive to both these needs.

The Associated Blind built eSight™ to help overcome the very high unemployment rate faced by blind and visually impaired individuals who are unable to access available career information that helps them gain the necessary resources for employment. Ruth Ellen Simmonds, President, The Associated Blind, stated "The Internet provides a powerful tool to help solve this problem and the ability to help this community gain greater independence will have enormous social and economic benefits."

Primary support for eSight™ has been provided by Verizon Communications, Matilda Ziegler Foundation, Chase Bank, Pearle Vision, ABC, Inc., Mellon Bank, and other foundations, corporations and individuals.

The web site address for eSightCareers.net is www.esightcareers.net.

For additional information, contact Nancy O'Connell, (212) 683-4950

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