Pre-Employment Program (PEP)
Pre-Employment Program (PEP)
The Pre-Employment Program (PEP) from BALANCE for Blind Adults takes a practical, experience-based approach to getting ready for work as a blind or partially sighted jobseeker.
Instead of asking “What jobs can I do with my disability?”, PEP focuses on:
- The skills and experience you already have
- How to communicate your value
- How accommodations can help you do your best work
This program is offered at no cost to participants, thanks to support from United Way Greater Toronto.
What Is PEP?
PEP is a free, virtual, five-week program designed for people who are blind or partially sighted. It combines skill-building, discussion, and real guidance from instructors and participants who understand the workplace opportunities and possibilities that come with vision loss.
The program helps you build:
- Clarity about your strengths and work style
- Confidence in how you talk about your skills
- Connections with people who have similar experiences
What You’ll Learn
Tools and Technology That Support Your Work
You’ll explore assistive technology and everyday apps that can make tasks easier and more efficient. You’ll also learn how to choose tools and settings that work for you.
Communicating Your Skills and Experience
You’ll practice:
- Preparing for interviews and workplace conversations
- Describing your strengths in simple, clear language
- Sharing examples of your experience
- Talking about accommodations as practical tools
Real-World Strategies You Can Use Right Away
The program focuses on next steps you can act on immediately, such as:
- Targeting jobs that match your skills and interests
- Understanding employer expectations
- Staying organized in your job search
- Building routines that support long-term success
Learning From People Who’ve Been There
PEP gives you a chance to learn with and from others who understand what it’s like to navigate work with a visual disability. You can ask questions, test ideas, and hear strategies that come from lived experience—not theory.
What Participants Say
“I am glad I took this program. It helped me understand what I was doing right and wrong in my job search.”
“I would highly recommend this five-week course. The classes were great, and the materials are helpful to keep using afterward.”
Take Your Next Step
If you’re ready to move forward in your job search, PEP can help you build practical skills and a clearer sense of direction.
Learn more at BALANCE for Blind Adults Pre-Employment Program or Email us.
Thanks to support from United Way Greater Toronto, this training is available as part of BALANCE’s Pre-employment Program at no cost to Jobseekers.