Clients and Practitioners

Enabling Resource Centre

The Resource Centre was established to provide practical job search and employment counselling services to persons with disabilities.

The Resource Centre features the following hardware and software:

One-Handed Keyboard - The WinMini Keyboard is a small alternative keyboard which enables all functions of a standard keyboard to be activated with the use of one hand.

Four computer workstations with Internet Access, Corel WordPerfect and Microsoft Office Suite. These workstations are fitted with adaptive programs and equipment.

Four Large-screen monitors and one Touch-screen monitor - Monitors have 21 Inch screens with glare reduction.

Zoom Text Xtra - A family of low-vision software that combines magnification, screen reading and scanning with OCR, providing complete access to Microsoft Windows programs and printed material. An adaptive software program specifically designed to meet the needs of the visually impaired. It provides screen magnification up to 16x regular screen size.

JAWS - Software that reads aloud the information on your computer screen.

Kurzweil 1000 Reader - Scans text documents and reads them back to you.

Track ball mouse - Allows persons with motor difficulties to maneouver around a computer screen with the greatest of ease.

Big Keys Keyboard - a full-featured alternative keyboard with 60 1-inch-square keys.

Office Proficiency Assessment and Certification - This program tests your skill levels in five modules of office administration. These modules include: Keyboarding and Wordprocessing, Language Arts/Records Management, Financial Bookkeeping and Applications, 10-Key/Data Entry, and Medical/Legal Terminology Tests.

Typing Tutorials - Teaches you how to efficiently type using proper techniques and keystrokes.  

Five Finger Typist - A typing tutorial that teaches you how to type with one hand.

Dragon Naturally Speaking - An innovative speech recognition program that lets you communicate with your computer by voice.

Talking Dictionary and Thesaurus - An all-in-one language teacher. Using its new ClariSpeech, it speaks words and definitions (does not speak the letters as they are typed) plus it has a large keyboard with adjustable type size and screen contrast.

Talking Calculator - Enables you to efficiently use the calculator despite a visual impairment. 

Other Resource Centre features include: 

Books and Videos related to job search skills, interview preparation, career exploration, resume writing, disability awareness, and much more. 

Employment Counsellors, who can provide you guidance and assistance in accessing and using the information provided by these resources.

A Printer, Photocopier and Fax Machine are available for client use to aid in the job search process.

A comprehensive web site that provides hundreds of employment and disability related links, program information, an E-Counsellor feature, e-mail archives, Career Lens newsletter, Opening Doors to Success Magazine and much, much more.

The Resource Centre is open to clients on a drop-in basis Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. However, if you wish to meet with the an Employment Counsellor, you should contact the Office of Employment Equity for Persons with Disabilities at 729-5881, or TTY:729-5441, to set up an appointment.

If you live outside the St. John's area you can contact us toll free at 1-800-950-4414.

The Counsellors may be able to assist you over the phone/Internet or may be able to connect you with an organization in your area to help you with some of the more practical aspects of your job search, such as preparing your resume or preparing for an interview.

The Employment Counsellors will also put you on to other resources that may be of assistance to you in your job search or in identifying financial assistance for training. Check out the links page on this site to direct you to any specific resources.