Date of birth: 14/02/1959

Telephone number: (01902) 880111

Email: smithg17@sky.com

Profile

A highly skilled individual, with over 10 years experience in tutoring visually impaired people. Adept with the latest in adaptive technologies for the visually impaired, and able to share this knowledge with both sighted and non-sighted people. Hardworking and committed, and always keen to empower individuals who have limited skills and prospects.

Employment History

1999 – Present – Beacon Centre for the Blind – IT Trainer

Providing specialist training for visually impaired computer users using assistive technology such as JAWS screen reader and Braille technology.

2001 – Present – Adult Education Centre, Wolverhampton – Tutor

Provide level 1 & 2 IT training in CLAIT and ECDL to visually impaired students, using assistive and Braille technologies. Many of the students are referrals from Action for Blind People.

*From 1997 – 2001 was in full time education

1989 – 1997 – Owner/Manager Holiday Hostel, County Kerry

Dealt with the everyday running of the hostel. The role included taking bookings, marketing the hostel to the public, dealing with finances and stock replenishment for consumable goods and housekeeping.

1977 – 1983 – Company Director, Selcor Engineering, Kingswinford

Managed the ordering and production process for making steel products. As director I was responsible for much of the quality assurance and dealing with orders and distribution of products.

Education

2003 – 2005 – Wolverhampton University

BA Post Compulsory Education

· Modules Covered

o Assessment Module

o Curriculum – Analysing curriculum model

o Inclusion – Considering dealing with learning difficulties etc.

o Counselling and Guidance

o Resource based learning

2001 – 2003 – Wolverhampton University

Certificate in Education – Won school prize during completion

2001 – Wolverhampton College

ECDL level 2

1987 – 1989 – OCR Distance Learning

City & Guilds – Level 3 in word processing, spreadsheets and databases

1977 – 1979 – University of Maynooth

Certificate in training people with special needs – 2^nd class Hons

Additional Information

In recent years I have also done ad-hoc work for Wolverhampton and Walsall Colleges, doing CLAIT and entry level IT training. I have also completed a number of short courses including building computers, creative web design and a course dealing with adult abuse.