New Accessible Feature Phone, MiniVision2, now Available
RAZ Mobility is excited to announce that the MiniVision2 cell phone for people who are blind or low vision is now available! The primary objective of the MiniVision2 is simple: allow individuals with vision loss to use a basic cell phone just as fully and effectively as individuals who are sighted.
The MiniVision2 is a fully accessible mobile phone with features such as large tactile buttons, a voice guide to inform the user of what is on the screen and what buttons have been pressed, the ability to place calls, send text messages and enter contacts by voice, and a SOS button. These features offer individuals with vision loss the ability to access every feature of the phone without barriers. The MiniVision2 could make the ideal choice for seniors who want accessibility combined with simplicity.
In addition to basic features, such as calling and messaging, the MiniVision2 offers advanced capabilities, including calendar, FM radio, color identifier, money identifier, weather, where am I?, calculator, voice memos, notes, camera and photos.
The phone’s voice guide is available in English, Spanish, and many other languages. It also has a high-contrast display with adjustable font size, the option to bold text, and to select between six different color schemes.
The MiniVision2 is an unlocked 4G LTE device and is compatible with providers such as AT&T, T-Mobile, MINT Mobile, Cricket Wireless, Consumer Cellular, Red Pocket Mobile, Straight Talk, and Metro by T-Mobile. RAZ Mobility has partnered with the prepaid wireless provider MINT Mobile to offer consumers a free SIM card and 3 months of free service. The cost thereafter is as low as $15/month.
Perkins School for the Blind Offering Two Virtual Programs for Young Adults who Are Preparing for College and Career
The first program is Career Launch, a training and career services program, which was designed with one goal: help blind and visually impaired young adults, ages 18 to 35, land professional, career-track jobs.
The program is intense and comprehensive, but most importantly for prospective applicants, it’s proven. Participants have gone on to succeed in internships and permanent employment—in some cases, receiving their first-ever paycheck.
The virtual session starts with two months of thorough career training, including customer service simulations, extensive Salesforce.com training, access technology lessons, guest speakers, mock interviews and more. That's followed by a year of ongoing instruction, as well as job acquisition and coaching support from the Perkins Career Services team, which aims to ensure a strong start in the working world.
The application is open for the next virtual session, scheduled to begin in March 2021. For more information, contact Deana Criess, Associate Director of Recruitment & Admissions, or visit the Career Launch site.
Compass is a nine-month virtual program designed to help blind and visually impaired high school students in grades 9 through 11 proactively explore and develop a plan for building the critical academic and blindness skills they need to reach their post-secondary goals.
The program engages current research on adolescent development and learning to create an enrichment program to challenge and support students, families, and educators. Through group work and individual coaching for the student and their educational team – including family members and their TVI – Compass works to fill the often-overlooked gaps in college and career preparation.
This Learning Triad approach helps highlight skill gaps early enough to make plans to develop skills, prior to high school graduation. Through coaching, students also get authentic feedback on the many skills they need to develop as they plan their next steps. Each team leaves the program with an action plan individually tailored for that student’s secondary goals and post-secondary journey.
The application for September 2021 is now open. To learn more, email CollegeSuccess@Perkins.org or submit an inquiry online via the College Success website..
