Technology plays key role in MCI call center?s outstanding employer award

The MCI Springfield Call Center, at 1720 E. Prim-rose, received Nov. 1, 2001, the Outstanding Em-ployer of the Year Award from the Rehabilitation Services for the Blind district office in Southwest Missouri.

"The award was announced at a chamber of commerce meeting by Richard Haege, former district supervisor for the Rehabilitation Services for the Blind. Richard then came to the MCI Center in Springfield and presented an official award to the management staff.

"Brent Stanton, center director, and Pam Hogue, human resources manager, accepted the award," said Lauren Kallens, MCI spokesperson.

The Outstanding Employer of the Year Award is given in each of Rehabilitation Services for the Blind's seven districts in the state, said Mark Laird, acting district supervisor of Rehabilitation Services for the Blind.

As Laird explained the process of selection, the recipient employer is selected by a process in which the vocational rehabilitation counselors in the district office submit the names of one or more employers they have worked with throughout the year to the local district supervisor.

Then the decision is made as to which employer has done something above and beyond in recruitment, selection, retention or advancement in employment for qualified people with visual disabilities.

The nominee's name is sent to the state office in Jefferson City.

Last year within Rehabilitation Services for the Blind's 22-county Southwest district, the outstanding employer selected was the MCI Springfield Call Center.

"MCI distinguished itself in active recruitment, selection and retention of qualified individuals who happen to be blind or visually impaired. MCI was cooperative in making simple necessary accommodations to allow equal access to their recruitment and selection process to otherwise qualified blind or visually impaired applicants," Laird said.

He added, "There was great cooperation between Rehabilitation Services for the Blind and MCI in making reasonable accommodations for blind and visually impaired employees so that they could perform their jobs as well as sighted peers."

Laird noted that, technology in many forms is central to creating access for blind and visually im-paired employees.

Screen-reading programs utilize an integrated voice synthesizer and the computer's sound card to output the content of the computer's screen to the speakers. MCI uses for Job Access With Speech, also known as JAWS.

"MCI is proud to have taken the initiative in incorporating the JAWS Network in the Springfield Center. Through this type of program, we're able to extend employment opportunities to the visually impaired community in a profession not otherwise open to them," said Brent Stanton, MCI Springfield Center director.

The JAWS Network

With the JAWS Network, "The MCI representative's computer is modified so the on-screen product and customer information is read into the representative's right ear while the customer's voice is heard in the left ear," said Stanton.

"This technology gives the visually impaired residents of Springfield yet another employment opportunity within the area. We're happy to be able to open our doors to even more people and to further diversify our workplace. We believe this results in a happier and more rewarding work environment for everyone," he said.

Laird said he's happy to share information about software and other measures that can help employers diversify their work forces.

"If a company called and asked about how it works, I'd give them a name and contact person of similar companies that have experience with employees who are blind or visually impaired a variety of screen reading technologies. Then they can talk about how well it works, how easy it was to provide access to essential job duties, and the type of success to expect. When employers talk to employers, there is a good connection," Laird said.

And he added, Rehabilitation Services for the Blind can help with the cost of diversification tools, such as the JAWS software.

Stanton noted that MCI has benefited from the agency's help.

"The Rehabilitation Services for the Blind has played a vital role in helping us to initiate this program and maintain its success and we are grateful for their constant support," said Stanton.

"MCI has always been committed to developing a diverse work force. Incor-porating the JAWS Network in the Springfield Center, which enables us to hire visually impaired workers is one way we are able to reinforce that commitment," Stanton added.

MCI WorldCom's Web site is www. worldcom.com.

In SBJ's 2001 list, "Springfield's Largest Commercial-Service Employ-ers," the company reported 1,300 full-time, local employees.