Disability training prepares business leaders, managers, and employees to work with and support individuals with mental and physical impairments.  These individuals are qualified and capable, however may require accommodations to facilitate them in performing work.  Such accommodations may be tangible or intangible, including physical structures like wheelchair ramps as well as nonphysical environmental constructs like coworkers who can communicate with sign language.  In a world that becomes increasingly diversified by the day, businesses that utilize disability training remain competitive in terms of hiring, maintaining Federal compliance, and providing goods and services to a richly varied customer base.

Program Development Associates excitedly offers many resources for disability training professionals of most all industries.  These multimedia training products are ideal for human resource departments, newly diversified workplaces, and educational professionals alike.  The following selection of disability DVDs are Specials from PDA that are sure to meet your needs for 2011, no matter what your budget:

Disability Awareness Special—this disability video bundle includes the Ten Commandments for Communicating with People with Disabilities, as well as the Getting It Right DVD.  Ideal for diverse organizations that want to teach courteous communication and engage in sensitivity training.

ADA Information Special—keep managers, human resources personnel, and employees up-to-speed on the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Includes ADA quiz book, CD-Rom, and existing facility checklist to evaluate current compliance.

American Sign Language Special—Deaf Americans are among the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population.  Prepare to hire, train, and serve this growing population with this comprehensive set of CD-ROMs.

These specials and more are available at the Program Development Associates disability video Specials and Clearance store.  PDA wishes you and your organization a Happy Holiday, and a prosperous start in 2011!

(i) http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/edi/disabilitystatistics/reports/cps.cfm?statistic=prevalence

Internal Communication Skills:  Employees and Sign Language

In recent months, our Disability Training Blog has focused on the importance of employing a diverse range of individuals.  The number of Americans with a hearing impairment is estimated to climb to 40 million by 2025 (ii).  Using this data, we can safely predict that an increasing percentage of job applicants are expected to have a hearing impairment of some kind through the coming decades.  Organizations are smart to consider this in building their channels for recruiting and training new employees.  Expanding employee skill sets to include knowledge of sign language will make an organization’s long-term recruiting methods easier and more successful in achieving diversity.

Sign Language and Public Relations

A second way in which organizations stand to benefit from incorporating sign language courses in employee training programs is in the realm of public relations.  The number of Deaf Americans is climbing, evidencing an emerging market with special needs.  These needs are both tangible and intangible, ranging from assistive communication devices to social constructs that enable effective communication.  Organizations vary in function and cannot all be expected to produce goods for the growing population of hearing impaired individuals.  However, businesses of all industries can facilitate communication with Deaf people simply by training their employees to do so.  This represents a significant competitive advantage that cannot be overlooked.

Program Development Associates has a range of products to assist business professionals, elementary school teachers, parents, and university professors in learn and teaching American Sign Language.  Additionally, PDA has a number of disability training resources to complement the diversification initiatives of most businesses, schools, and universities.

(i) http://www.hear-it.org/page.dsp?area=858

(ii) see above.

http://www.disabilitytraining.com/product-info.php?American_Sign_Language_Clip_and_Create_CDROM-pid960.html

Resource # : ASLF939W

VERSION 5

American Sign Language Clip and Create 5 CD-ROM

New Features for Clip and Create 5 include:
• Over 5,555 sign pictures (more than 1,500 new signs)
• Sign-O pictures are larger
• Print the User’s Guide
• Access the categories from Custom Print section
• More categories of signs to choose from
• Print the pictures in grid and individual form directly from the dictionary

The Custom Printing section allows you to create various types of materials (e.g., single and double-fold cards, stationary, 2-5 page banners, labels). Once you have selected the type of material you want to make, you can import sign clipart from the dictionary, use shapes or draw freehand, add text, import other images, and of course, save, and/or print your creation. A layering feature allows you to decide which pictures to move to the front, and which to move to the back. Each of your creations can be saved within the program, or as a bitmap, to be used in other programs.

ASL Clip and Create 5 contains seven templates that can be customized by using any of the vocabulary in the dictionary. Make your vocabulary selections, and get instantaneous crossword puzzles, word searches, SIGN-O cards, fingerspelling scrambles, and ABC order worksheets. An Alternate Display button allows you to retain the same vocabulary but create different worksheets. All templates can be saved within the program or as bitmap files!

There are four games on this software too:

• Con-SIGN-tration requires the player to match a sign picture with its English word equivalent. There are nine categories of words and two levels of challenge. The game keeps score of clicks and matches, and entertains with an animation when the game is complete. Because it randomizes every time it is played, there is always a new challenge.

• Spell Well can be played on any of six categorical gameboards. Use the keyboard on the screen or your own to spell the English word equivalent of each sign picture that appears. Your game piece will follow the trail until you reach the end, when an animation appears.

• Match Madness is a vocabulary matching speed game. You have four gameboard choices. Once you have picked your gameboard, you can choose your level of challenge by deciding how many words will appear simultaneously (2-6). Click on the word that matches the sign picture that appears. To win, make 10 correct matches before the third item drops.

• Sort It Out! focuses on categorization skills. A menu appears that asks you to decide the number of categories into which you must sort pictures containing signs and words. After choosing your number of categories, a screen appears with that number of categories and the names of the categories. The