Welcome to the Access First Training and Development Program!

Committed to the personal and professional growth of consumers who are blind or visually impaired, Access First conducts vocational training classes lasting four to twelve weeks, all with a 100% successful placement goal for our graduates. Courses can be taken at training sites in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; San Antonio, Texas; online via accessible webcasts; and at locations nationwide upon request.<

A DIFFERENT TYPE OF TRAINING ORGANIZATION

We’re not a rehab center, and don’t teach orientation and mobility, basic blindness skills, or daily living strategies. Our role is to deliver qualified candidates the critical skills, knowledge, practiced ability, and confidence they need to get hired, thrive, and achieve long-term success in competitive, high-demand fields. If you, a colleague, or a consumer client you work with is:
  • unemployed, and frustrated with the lack of quality career options out there
  • needing to upgrade skills to qualify for advancement, promotion, or other opportunities
  • facing a lay-off or cut in hours
  • toiling away at a job that is below your ability or potential
  • simply looking to increase personal earnings and stability
you’ll appreciate that all of the courses we offer include:
  • Small classes: Only 4 to 6 students in each class. More time for discussion, questions, and practicing key skills.
  • Accessible materials: Books, handouts, and other learning aids in Braille, large print, audio/mp3, or in electronic format.
  • Paid internship: Earn a competitive wage while gaining valuable on-the-job experience in a supportive, helpful environment
  • More convenience: Come to our training center, or logon and participate from your home town. The choice is yours.
  • Help finding work after class: four months expert assistance finding opportunities, managing your resume, and support as you transition to your new career

    • Current Courses

    Success in Professional Sales (SIPS) Series

    Four weeks intensive training, paid internship, and post-training support preparing you to launch, maintain, and ultimately succeed in one of the growing number of sales positions. Upcoming Sessions: March 5 – March 30, 2012 (San Antonio, Texas) View the SIPS program page here Register now!  

    Easy Registration Process

    To sign up for an upcoming class: 1. Complete the following preregistration form, selecting the date/location you’re interested in joining. 2. Once your preregistration has been received, you’ll be contacted by one of Access First’s enrollment specialists to schedule an informal telephone information session/interview 3. You’ll then be sent a full enrollment kit to review and return to us with your approval 4. Once your application has been accepted, and payment has been authorized, you are welcome to make travel arrangements, and we’ll look forward to seeing you in class.



    Why Training from Access First?

    1. Because we are foremost a sales organization teaching you how to sell. We practice what we teach, and do so every business day of the year. We know how, and will help you master what you need to know, do, and the pitfalls to avoid to work in this excellent field.
    2. Because we’re also a team of seasoned blind professionals, with a vast store of experiences, techniques, and alternative methods related to working in sales. We help you avoid wasting time with inaccessible technologies, refine your ability to overcome accessibility obstacles, and ultimately carve a path to success that is realistic for you.
    3. Our single focus is on preparing you to be the best possible sales professional, find the best opportunities for you, maximize your earnings and career satisfaction, and to do so in the shortest possible amount of time.
    4. Because you deserve a better range of opportunities than those typically suggested for the blind, and developing sales skills is, we feel, the best way to open up your options and ensure your chance of future success.

    Learn More

    We want to hear from you! Get answers to your questions, discuss your, or your client’s unique situation, and register for any of our courses over the phone by calling our enrollment team at (412) 452-9700 Hours of operations are Monday – Friday 8:00 AM EST to 8:00 PM EST with limited availability on weekends.

    Note to rehabilitation professionals

    Access First welcomes feedback, questions, and registration inquiries from rehabilitation counselors, instructors, and other advocacy professionals serving blind consumers. We’d enjoy helping you and your client determine whether or not our training is right for them, discuss actual job options in sales, and develop a preliminary action plan with their goals in mind. Also, if your agency conducts regular department or section meetings, we’d be happy to come and discuss our Success in Professional Sales training program, and sales work as a viable, accessible job option with high earning potential, and excellent projected growth.
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