IFB Beat – Week of July 5, 2022

News to Know

Luis Quiles living the mission!

The strength, success, and longevity of IFB Solutions and the AbilityOne program is derived from shared experiences and the diverse background of its participants and the commitment to exceed customer expectations. IFB Solutions has been aggressive in advancing opportunities for careers of choice for people who are blind. Meet Luis Quiles our Overall Employee of the Year an Optical Shipping expert. No matter the challenge in life, Luis bills himself as an overcomer. Earning a college degree, starting a family, and purchasing a home are just a few of the items he’s checked off his personal bucket list.

Watch and be inspired: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vjnK3NQ8o4&t=17s

 

How to stay in the know at IFB:

So many ways to know what you need to know when you want to know it!

  • Please make sure your cell phone number is up to date with HR, so you won’t miss out on receiving the text message link sent every Sunday for the IFB Beat newsletter.
  • Listen to what is going on at IFB! You can call the Employee Information Line to find out what you need to know! The phone-line is updated in English and Spanish every Monday for your convenience. English line/336-245-5691, Spanish line/336-245-5663
  • You can receive The IFB Beat via email! For all IFB employees that do not have an IFB Solutions email and would like to receive the newsletter please submit your email address to Faith Harding at fharding@ifbsolutions.org or Shonn Redmond at sredmond@ifbsolutions.org.
  • We’re even on the web! Please visit, https://ifbsolutions.org/ifb-beat/
    Don’t forget about the Employee Information Wall! This is located in the employee entrance in Winston-Salem. Get your braille and large print copies of information! (Note this wall is a pilot in Winston-Salem before being displayed at other manufacturing locations.)

 

Update to PFF for All Employees

Effective July 1, 2022, IFB Solutions will discontinue the People First Fund. (PFF) resources available to cover time out of work for employees required to quarantine due to COVID-19.)

Policy updates:

  • Employees who have symptoms of COVID-19 or test positive for COVID-19 are required to report this to their supervisors and not return to work until cleared by IFB Solutions medical team
  • We will revert to our normal PTO policy and practices as related to the use of sick time.
  • In accordance with current CDC guidelines, IFB will clear employees who test positive for COVID-19 to return to work as early as 5 days following the first appearance of symptoms, provided the symptoms are no longer present. A member of the IFB Solutions medical team must give explicit permission to return to work
  • IFB will no longer fundraise specifically for PFF – if you have this highlighted in your email signature, please remove

IFB remains committed to our core values and will continue to adapt as necessary to our ever-changing environment. Please continue to utilize our staysafe@ifbsolutions.org email or speak with your supervisor directly for questions or concerns related to COVID-19.

 

 

Programs and Services

See what S.E.E. is Doing!

two kids playing outside, covered in shaving cream

A crazy way to spend some summertime outside is to play a game of shaving cream tag. S.E.E. Day Camp Winston filled their hands with shaving cream and then chased and tagged each other. What good, clean fun!

 

Adult Support Group Meetings:

  • Tuesday, July 5 VIPS Club meeting from 12:00-1:00 in TADS Room.
  • Wednesday, July 6 RP support group meeting from 12:00-12:45 in TADS Room.
  • Thursday, July 7 Sight Adjustment support group meeting from 12:00-12:45 in TADS Room.

Community Low Vision Center

CLVC Summer Sale!

During the Month of July, the Community Low Vision Center will be hosting a Discount Sale on various Products. Come by your local Center and check out the discounted items. Discounts are as high as 50% off.

CLVC Item of the Week:

Heavy Raised Line Paper – $19.95. Heavy raised line paper has tactile lines which are one-half” apart. Lines are not printed, only raised. Pad measures 8.75″ x 11″ and comes in a gummed pad of 165 sheets.

The Low Vision center is a one stop shop! While you are purchasing a pack of heavy raised line paper check out a low vision 20/20 pen!

 

CLVC July item of the month:

A hand grips the strap of the Ramble Tag, which is affixed to the upper arm of the leader

Ramble Tag/Metro Cuff – $39.95.

This is a simple yet clever device that allows a sighted individual to more easily guide a visually impaired person who is wanting a guiding arm. The Ramble Tag/Metro cuff wraps around the guide’s upper arm. A drop loops from the cuff gives the guided person a handhold for guiding, without having to physically hold or touch the sighted guide. This allows for close contact guiding, while not having to get too close. The loop affords a little more space and independence between the guide and the guided and may offer a more comfortable way for a stranger to guide a person needing assistance. As a contactless guidance method, Ramble Tag is particularly useful for those who wish to avoid touching their guide and physical boundaries can be easily respected.

 

Insider Corner

Braille-on-Demand pilot project

As part of its braille modernization initiative, NLS launched the Braille-on-Demand pilot project on Monday, June 20, 2022. This project will allow active NLS patrons to request and receive one hard-copy braille title per month, which they can retain for their personal use. If an individual who is not registered as a patron submits an order, NLS will refer the individual to their local network library to begin the process of becoming a patron.

Braille titles will be limited to books that are currently available on BARD, the NLS Braille and Audio Reading Download service. At this time, requests are limited to one book per patron per month. Only complete titles will be distributed. Requests for partial titles (for example, volume one of a three-volume book) will result in receiving the entire book.

The form to request a braille-on-demand book can be found linked from https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NLSbrailleondemand. Patrons may complete the form themselves or contact their network library for assistance. They may also contact NLS Reference at nlsref@loc.gov for assistance in completing the form.

 

Have some interesting information to share or topic you would like to see in the Insider Corner? Whether it is your favorite podcast, website, or article that caught your attention, send to Faith Harding at fharding@ifbsolutions.org and we will post it!

Community Connections

Throwback to the ’90s! Lasers and Libations: July 9, 6-9:30 pm

Light up the night with Kaleideum’s second Adult Laser Extravaganza! Play Laser Tag in the museum, have a 90s-themed snack, taste libations from Broad Branch Distillery, and check out some the 90s favorite entertainers with two hour-long laser shows!

• 7 pm: Brittney Spears and Christina Aguilera
• 8:30 pm: Backstreet Boys and ‘NSYNC

Tickets give you access to the museum; laser shows and the snack buffet. Broad Branch Distillery will have a cash bar at the event. Tickets to play a 20-minute Laser Tag by Sabertooth Taggers are sold separately. Each session costs an additional $12 and holds up to ten people. A link will be sent to you after you register to sign up for a session.

Advanced registration preferred. Tickets will be available at the door.

Adult members $8; Adult non-members $13
Adult members with Laser Tag $20; Adult non-member with Laser Tag $25

Laser Tag Sessions will be sent in separate email. There will be a limit of ten people per session:

• Session 1: 6:30 to 6:50 pm
• Session 2: 7 to 7:20 pm
• Session 3: 7:30 to 7:50 pm
• Session 4: 8 to 8:20pm
• Session 5: 8:30 to 8:50pm
• Session 6: 9 to 9:20 pm

Seeking Grant Reviewers with Disabilities

ACL’s Administration on Disabilities is seeking paid peer reviewers for a variety of grant competitions reviewers with disabilities. ACL believes in the importance of meaningfully including people with disabilities at all stages of our work, including grant review.

Reviewers are responsible for:

  • Attending a virtual reviewer training.
  • Independently reviewing and scoring assigned grant applications in an online system.
  • Participating in one or more conference calls with other reviewers to discuss their independent application reviews; and
  • Submitting final scores and comments by the deadline.

Reviewers will receive a stipend for completing the tasks above. Reasonable accommodations are available, if needed, to complete the review process.

To be considered as a reviewer, please create an account and upload a copy of your CV or resume to the Reviewer Recruitment Module (RRM) in Grants Solutions.

Below are specific opportunities for people with disabilities to serve as reviewers this summer. Please follow the above steps to create your RRM account and then reach out to the respective contact if you are:

  • A person with a disability and intersectional identities, contact: Jack.Brandt@acl.hhs.gov.
  • A person with co-occurring intellectual and development disabilities and mental health disabilities, contact: Dana.Fink@acl.hhs.gov
  • A person with a traumatic brain injury, contact: Elizabeth.Leef@acl.hhs.gov.

 

Opportunities

Just a friendly reminder!

The Winston Salem location has a $250 referral bonus program for any current employee that refers a blind or visually impaired candidate or sighted/temporary candidate to IFB.
Please contact HR for referral bonus program criteria. Associates at other locations should ask your HR Manager or supervisor for the specific programs available at your location.

Job Announcements

Benefits Administrator

Education and work experience:
• 3-5years proven experience as Benefits Administrator
• BS/BA in Business Administration, Human Resources, or related field

Internal candidates may apply at
https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=41820&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909&jpt=ce8685cef740a6280b5fcb492b556fa5
External candidates may apply at
https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=41819&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909

Manager, Contracts and Customer Service

Education and work experience:
• Bachelors degree preferred or equivalent
• 4+ years directly related experience with Federal Government contracts preferred

Internal candidates may apply at
https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=41802&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909&jpt=ce8685cef740a6280b5fcb492b556fa5
External candidates may apply at
https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=41801&clientkey=8B43E6E34C5D5C9AA3D07BB04DBEB909

For more information, please contact Brent Burkholder at 336 245 5611 or bburkholder@ifbsolutions.org.

 

Zoom Meeting Links

Adult Support Groups Zoom

https://ifbsolutions.zoom.us/j/99498078576?pwd=ODJzK0sxcXZrME9yN25YRTdiNXBSQT09
Meeting ID: 994 9807 8576
PASSWORD: 92638
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Meeting ID: 994 9807 8576