NCSAB

Randolph Sheppard Committee

Training Survey

Summary of Results

Does your agency have a training program that is required of all persons entering your business enterprises program?

37 Yes 1 No

Does your agency provide the training or do you contract?

26 Self Operated 6 Contract 5 Both

If you contract, with whom do you contract?

Local Junior College

Private Non-Profit Agency

Small Business Development Center

Nominee Agency

Technical College

How long is your training program?

Average: 19.4 Weeks

Range: 4 to 62 Weeks

Does your training include:

1 Classroom training

3 Training in existing facilities

33 Both of the above

How long is your training in each of the above?

9.3 Weeks Average for Classroom training

9.9 Weeks Average Training in existing facilities

Do you have a full-time trainer?

17 Yes 21 No

Do you have an established curriculum that you follow?

36 Yes 2 No

With respect to your curriculum:

19 We developed our own

1 We use the curriculum of other organizations

18 Both of the above

Which of the following modules do you include in your curriculum?

34 The Randolph Sheppard Act

34 State rules and policies and procedures

34 Health and Sanitation

35 Financial Management

33 Business Management

33 Personnel Mgt /Employee Relations

31 Taxes

36 Customer Service

36 Merchandising

29 Food Preparation

34 Vending Machine Operations

Are there alternatives to completing the organized training program?

15 Yes 23 No

If yes, please specify:

Hands-on and practical application

Person with extensive food services background may challenge the

Course

Testing out

Serv-Safe Certification

Can customize training based upon education and experience

Length of training can be adjusted depending on needs of individual One-on-one training at a vendor site

Individual modules can be waived based upon experience

If trained person is not available an untrained blind person can be assigned and that experience counts for the training

Previous experience may be substituted

College credit

Six months running a location may substitute for training

Can your trainees test out of any portion of your training?

15 Yes 14 No

Do prospective trainees have to undergo a vocational evaluation before being admitted into training?

33 Yes 5 No

Do you have minimum requirements in math for entry into the training program? Briefly describe.

8th grade level was the predominant answer

Do you require a high school education or a GED?

22 Yes 16 No

Do you require prospective candidates for the program to have a written form of communication (Braille or print)?

28 Yes 10 No

Describe any other minimum requirements that you might have in your state.

Applicants must meet federal statute requirements

18 years of age

No criminal background

Drug testing

ServSafe training

Reading and spelling at sixth grade level

Adequate daily living skills

Business competency test

Complete orientation center training

Good people skills

Independent travel skills

Computer skills

Job shadow current vendors

Recommendation by staff psychologist

Manual dexterity

Must complete a business plan

Are your trainees required to use computers during the training?

16 Yes 22 No

Does your state recognize a license granted by another state?

4 Yes 33 No

Does someone licensed in another state who moves to your state have to go through your entire entry level training?

17 Yes 20 No

Do you believe that your state would ever accept a license issued by another state?

17 Yes 15 No

Would your state consider allowing trainees to complete at least a portion of your training on line?

28 Yes 10 No

Would you like to see a standardized national curriculum?

31 Yes 3 No

Would you have money available if a meaningful national training curriculum were available for you to purchase?

25 Yes 5 No

If a group is put together to try to develop a national curriculum, would you be willing to serve?

28 Yes 4 No

How many blind vendors do you normally train each year?

Average 5.9

How many entry-level classes do you conduct each year?

Average 1.8; 2 Classes per year was the predominant answer.

28. What is your biggest unmet training need?

Qualified Applicants (Most common answer)

Personnel Management

Sanitation

Food Service

Customer Service/Financial Management

Inadequate Staff

Computer Skills

Staying abreast of industry developments

Financial Management

Inventory Control and Merchandising

Limited staff time

Finding licensed vendors willing to do OJT

Cost Management

Appropriate OJT Sites

Inadequate financial resources

Money Management

Since numbers are small training can be inconsistent

Profit and Loss Statements

Pricing

The role of the Elected Committee of Blind Vendors

Hot Food Preparation

Transition from Training to Assignment

Catering

Upward Mobility

Leadership Training

Orientation and Mobility