Category: Cram Session
Hi all,
This was the best place I could think of to post this question. I recently, thanks to my mother, decided to try taking a medical transcription course. About half an hour ago I placed a call to the company that offers the course and was able to learn that they have had blind people successfully take the course and find work. The question is for folks here in the US who might know of any agencies, whether specifically for the blind or not, that might be able to help me find funding for the project. I know that traditional financial aid avenues like the PEL grant can't be applied to it because it is a certificate program, but I'm hoping that since the cost of this course is fairly small, about 1500 dollars, that I can find an agency that might be able to assist me here. I already know that the Idaho Commission for the Blind is not an option. They don't see this as a viable career choice, either because they don't believe transcription will be around much longer, or simply because most if not all the work I would find would be done via the internet. Or maybe they have a reason totally different from any of those. But I figured I had to do something to speed the job search along and since my mother is taking the same course I saw no reason why I shouldn't at least try. So I'm wondering if anybody has any suggestions about who I might talk to. I'm going to try and see if the folks at my old college have any suggestions but I thought I would post here in case that turns out to be a dead end. I would really apreciate any help you guys can give me.
Try contacting a local chapter of The Lions Club. I'm not sure if they help with schooling, but it's worth a shot.
Hmmm. I'll have to look into that. I would think there would be a chapter in Idaho even if not right in Twin Falls.
Yeah, both national and state affiliates of the NFB and ACB also offer scholarship money. And, I'd get the specific reasons why your commission won't pay for it, and then take it up with the client assistance program in your state. That is your right, as a client of the agency. Every state has a CAP for situations like this. I wouldn't stop pressing your rehab agency just because they say no.
Well the basic jist of it is they believe transcription is a dying field. There's also the fact that most if not all work I might find in the field would be done via the internet. I approached them about a similar course last year and there was a nice long discussion on the subject. Apparently they won't pay for something unless there's a job right in my area that I would actually have to physically go to an office to do. And even if my particular counselor was amenable to the idea he'd still have to get approval from the higher-ups. As for the NFB and ACB, don't you have to be members of those organizations to receive help from them? I don't know much about the ACB but I've never cared much for the NFB. I mean I like what they're doing but certain policies of theirs just strike me as riddiculous.
I was not a member of NFB when I won my scholarship from them. Both groups use their scholarship programs to try and bring new, young people into their organizations, but there's nothing written that if you win, you have to join. But you wouldn't be able to apply for either group's national scholarship till next year. However, depending on when each organization holds its state convention, you could apply for a scholarship on the state level. I'd still also consider going to your Client Assistance Program, as it sounds like your commission is handing you a bunch of bullshit.
Just a question, are you sure that most of your work would be done via the internet? I once had aspirations to be a court reporter, but as soon as I learned that the techniques that I would learn would be obsolete, I went to college instead. Just in case this doesn't work, do you have a plan B? Have you thought about maybe doing some sort of medical billing? I don't think this field is obsolete. If most of your work will be done via the Net, wouldn't this make the need for a medical transcriptionist obsolete? I can understand your commission's decision, although I don't fully agree with it. You could search the web and see if there aren't more funding sources for medical transcriptionist training. Hth.
I've done quite a lot of research about this. Many doctors are resorting to the internet so they don't have to keep a transcriptionist right on the premises. Apparently it's less expensive that way. The transcriptionist downloads the audio of the medical report, transcribes it and then Emails it back to them. That was one of the major issues the Commission had, that their might not be jobs right here in Twin Falls, so probably no physically going to an office setting. And right now it's either this or possibly spend the foreseeable future washing dishes and/or tables, which seem to be the only type of jobs the rehab agencies seem either able or willing to try getting me. I realize the economy's a mess but still. And I can't really go to college in this small town if only because I can't afford the cost of transportation to and from. That's another thing the Commission refuses to assist with. I tried last year. There's no real bus system here and so I'd have to use the taxi service, which would be insanely expensive even with the half-off discount we get, which is, furthermore, only good for a certain number of trips a month. After that it would be eight bucks one way regardless of how far your destination is from home. And when you're only receiving SSI you can't really afford to spend a whole lot on transportation. So I had to do something to get my life moving again. Transcription was the first thing that came to mind.
Wow! You do have some issues to deal with. have you considdered going to a school where you could use on-campus housing? Perhaps this doesn't sound too appealing, but you should weigh all your options. personally, I am a fan of actually going to work. It shows that you're responsible and accountable. Plus, how are employers going to hire blind people in the future, if they don't see them out and about? Have you considdered something like AmeriCorps or another national service organization or some volunteer work? As odd as it sounds, I've had more luck applying for jobs that actually use my brain. Sorry, but dishwashing and bussing might give you some income, are they really what you want to strive for? Have you considered taking some type of career-assessment test? Would you consider going to school in Boise or another large city? This might improve your chances for a more diverse field of study.
First of all I tried on campus housing and hated it. That and I couldn't afford it. The financial aid didn't cover it all. In fact I was paying more each month than I am for my fixed income housing. As for the big city, that wouldn't be much better, at least not in Idaho. Public transportation is and has been problematic all over the state for a lot of years. And right now I really can't afford an out of state move. Besides, being a Navy brat and having moved all over the country for most of my life I'm not keen on another move so soon. As for the dishwashing and bussing, that's exactly the reason I'm looking at this transcription course, so I can hopefully avoid that. That would exercise my brain and, if I did get work, give me more money to work with so I could actually get out and go have fun on a regular basis. As for college I don't even know what I would want to study there so even if I went I'd likely be wasting time I could be spending working. At first I thought software design but my abysmal math skills made me reconsider that. Then I thought communications but quickly realized that wasn't what I wanted either. But since I have good computer skills I saw no harm in looking into transcription. As for the financial part I may have found a possible solution to that problem. While chatting with a few folks from my old college I was referred to the Idaho Department of Labor, who have apparently covered other people's costs for other courses from the same company. I'll be filling out the application this weekend and we'll turn it in Monday. So with any luck soon I can start my studying.
Good luck on your studies. I hope you won't rule out college. I have a Bacheloreate degree and I really enjoyed college. Do you like people? Why not considder a social science. Animals? you could be a Biology major. There are so many fields of study that you could go into. With your medical transcription, you might develop an interest in writing or journalism. Do you like science? Volunteer work is a great way to discover your interests. Will you be happy working at home? Do you think you'll miss the camaraderie of other coworkers? Will internet-based employment give you a steady salary?
Back to funding. :) Okay it may seem like begging, but it's not. Many larg churches will fund your program easy. Even if your not a member they have programs to help people, and this would be helping someone who is truly trying to help themselves. Next check with the Light House For The Blind. I believe they have funding as well. If you have a lending library for talking books and such in your area ask them for funding sources.If I think of any other ideas I'll post these as well. Good luck.
Oh lastly have you ask the school your wanting to take the course through if they'd sponsor you? Yes strange, but being blind, and all your reasons for wanting to take the course might sway them to give it to you. Write that letter. It can't hurt.
I know that Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic offers scholarships as well. I work for a rehab agency, and while I understand their reluctance to support training in courses where employment opportunities are largely from homeand over the Internet, I don't necessarilly agree with this stance. Perhaps if you were to start out with Hadley's course of study to show them your level of motivation, that might help. Also, I believe there is a national organization for medical transcriptionists. They might be of help in funding, and also, a clearing house for employment opportunities. You could also go to the Commission armed with some research to try to get them to help you with some of the funding costs involved.
Good luck,
Lou
Well for the momennt my main concern is bringing in more money. I would like to meet folks to hang out with but the only obs the COmmission and the rehab agency seem able or willing to get me, as I already said, are not the sort that would use my brain. Washing dishes and tables? I'm sorry. I know I have to be open-minded here but that's not the same as selling myself short. That's why I'm looking at this transcription course. As for volunteering, IF I can find transportation to and from, IF being the key word there, I might volunteer at the Humane Society. That would get me out of the house and hopefully meeting folks around my age. As for writing, that's not a career I've entirely ruled out either. And juding by the fact that I aced both college English classes I took two years ago I could probably do it if I decided that's where I wanted to go. But as I said I may have found a funding source for this course through the Department of Labor. They apparently have a program that covers these types of courses. They paid for a woman to take two different courses from the same company. So I'm going to fill out the application and see what happens. The fact of the matter is I can't move because I can't afford to, so I have to do the next best thing and get working as best I can here.
The previous posters have made some great suggestions with regard to funding. Even if you don't pursue writing right now, at least you haven't ruled out. Sorry if this is off-topic, but if you want to volunteer, try to get in touch with an agency, and see if you could carpool with another volunteer. Now that you know the Idaho board of Labor has funded other individuals, you should feel pretty encouraged.
I do. In fact my mother and I went there this morning and filled out the application. So now someone's going to call me and we'll do an interview and go from there. Like I said I may look into the Humane Society. If i can find someone willing to carpool who lives in my general area I could do that a few days a week as long as it didn't interfere with my studies. I could meet folks and hang out with all kinds of furry critters.
I wish you the best.