Why is that?  Well, the answer lies in the fact that a contemporary Access Technology Specialist needs to have skills at various levels of business to truly be successful.  He or she must be a programmer, happy to delve into the depths of computer logic to make a successful and efficient solution materialize for the client.  He or she must be a businessman, able to talk to IT personnel at a Fortune 100 company just as easily as he or she might brief a panel of top executives for that same company on project management and progression.  He or she will need to fluently and confidently speak a language that can be understood by all parties (also including HR, legal, facilities, etc.). He or she must have solid technical knowledge, even beyond the software/developer role... and including desktop, network, and enterprise ERP experience.  Many times he or she will be the first (and also many times the ONLY) ambassador for the visually impaired to a company or other organization.   This responsibility can be all at once incredible and critical for the future of the current employee, and for the fate of all potential people who might work for that company now or in the future with a visual impairment.

      The task is a multi-faceted one, requiring a roundness of personality and technical skill that is tough to find.  To make matters tougher, there is no current certification for Rehab Engineers or Access Technology Specialists who work with visual disabilies.  So the decision-makers in private and public agencies have no real way to determine qualification and suitability of vendors for these services. At Accessibility Options, we understand the needs.  We understand the laws.  We know what companies, counselors, and visually impaired people are going through and how to help...  And we have engineers who are versed in all aspects of Access Technology solution provision.   Simply stated:  We know Access technology, we know the blindness community, and we speak business.  This is a winning combination for anyone touched by vision loss:  employers (big business and mom-and-pop shops), case managers and counselors who help people gain or retain work, or simply help them lead independent lives, and especially our end users, who we invest all of our attention and consideration while providing ANY solution.