Looking for a way to achieve your goal as an entrepreneur? Are you a person with disabilities? Do you have an interest in computers? If so, this could be the program for you!

Internet Business Development for

Entrepreneurs with Disabilities (IBDE) Program 

                                          

                                                                 

Business Enterprise Resource Network of Barrie South Simcoe (BERN) has partnered with the Canadian Society for Social Development (CSSD) and is offering an online web design training program for persons with disabilities. CSSD is a federally incorporated society with charitable status that provides online skills training to persons facing barriers to employment. With funding assistance from Human Resources Skills Development Canada they invite you to apply for the accredited Internet Business Development for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities (IBDE) Program. 

This three-month online web design course is designed to teach you new computer skills which will allow you to establish a web design business for yourself.  The IBDE course consists of seven modules that you proceed through online in the comfort of your own home over a period of three months (http://www.ibde.ca/). Each module must be completed in a certain timeframe, but you can choose the specific hours that you work each day.  You should be prepared to devote approximately 30 hours per week to be able to complete the curriculum in the allotted three-month period. 

Following your online web design course is a three-month supervised work experience program, where you build your first website under the guidance of your online instructors.  If you complete both three-month segments of the program you will earn an accreditation certificate from Selkirk College. 

The IBDE Program is delivered entirely online as follows:

  •   Participants will use the online IBDE course curriculum to complete each module
  •   Some of the modules are supplemented with textbooks
  •   Participants will have email and MSN text messaging access to online instructors who will assist

                them in completing each section of the course

Once your website is completed your link can be featured in the Virtual Mall web portal, which showcases other websites made by entrepreneurs with disabilities from other parts of Canada. 

Please visit http://www.virtualmall.ca .

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Course Outcomes (see attached Outline)

Upon successful completion of this program each participant will have the necessary skills to:

  •   Use the Internet effectively for conducting “day to day” business
  •   Develop a web site using HTML coding
  •   Read HTML coding to assist in web marketing
  •   Develop a web site using MS Front Page with shopping cart feature
  •   Create custom images for their web site
  •   Enhance product photos for web site content
  •   Select effective Domain Names and Hosting Options and set these up
  •   Publish and update their business web sites
  •   Market their business effectively on the Internet

 

Prerequisites

Must have some computer skills and be familiar with:

  •   Basic keyboarding skills
    • Working knowledge of Windows 98, 98 2nd Edition, 2000 or XP
  •   Strong file management skills
    • Know how to create folders and subfolders for document storage
  •   Working knowledge of Email
    • Sending, receiving email messages
  •   Experience Surfing the Internet

 

IBDE Program Computer Specs
  •   Intel Pentium III or 4
  •   Processor: 800MHz or faster
  •   Windows XP Home (or Professional) OR Windows 2000 with Service Pack 4 or later
  •   800MB of available hard disk space
  •   Minimum of 256MB of RAM but 512MB recommended
  •   Color monitor minimum 17”  (19” better)
  •   Color monitor with 16-bit color or greater video card
  •   Super VGA 1024x768 monitor resolution or greater
  •   CD-ROM Drive/ Burner (Optional)                       
  •   Modem:  56.6 minimum – high speed connection preferred           
  •   Scanner/printer/camera (optional but important for building websites)      

All necessary software and books will be supplied at a cost of $500.

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Internet Business Development Online Program For Entrepreneurs with Disabilities
Course Outlines 2005 - 2006
IBDE102: Introduction to the Internet
  •   Introduction to the Internet and the World Wide Web
    • History, Potential and Getting Connected
  •   Basic Email: Integrated Browser Email Software
    • Evaluating Email Alternatives
  •   Browser Basics
    • Introduction to Netscape & MS Internet Explorer
  •   Searching the Web
    • Using Search Engines and Directories Effectively
  •   Information Resources on the Web
    • Finding, Evaluating and Using Web Information Resources
  •   FTP and Downloading Programs and Data
    • Obtaining Software Tools and Data for Your Work

 

IBDE104: HTML Programming
  •   Introduction to HTML and XHTML
  •   Applying Web Page Basics
  •   Formatting and Aligning Text
  •   Creating email, internal, external and bookmark hyperlinks
  •   Adding images to a web page and special attributes using images
  •   Introduction to Style Sheets
  •   Applying Style Sheets and setting page layout
  •   Creating tables and lists
  •   Creating an interactive web form
  •   Applying special formatting enhancements to a web page
  •   Publishing web pages & small web sites via FTP

 

IBDE106: Introductory Web Graphics Course (Using Adobe PhotoShop Elements 3.0)
  •   Introduction to Adobe Photoshop Elements workspace
  •   Acquiring Images for various sources
  •   Making Auto Adjustments to an image (auto fix, filters, color tones)
  •   Preparing photos for the web
  •   Adjusting color and alignment of photos
  •   Using Paint and Fill Tools

 

IBDE108: Advanced Web Graphics Course (Using Adobe PhotoShop Elements 3.0)
  •   Using Retouching Tools
  •   Using Selection Tools
  •   Appling Filters and Effects
  •   Managing Layers
  •   Transforming Layers
  •   Creating Text and Shape images (custom logos)

 

IBDE110: Front Page Web Site Development (Using Front Page 2003)
  •   Introduction to the Front Page 2003 Workspace and exploring the work elements
  •   Planning a Front Page Site
  •   Creating an empty site and importing files & folders
  •   Setting page options
  •   Creating pages and set up page formatting options
  •   Using Wizards, templates and themes
  •   Adding and formatting text on a web page
  •   Formatting paragraphs and create lists
  •   Applying borders and shading around text
  •   Creating links (internal, external, email and bookmark links)
  •   Creating, inserting and modifying images on a web page
  •   Adding shapes, WordArt and other Special Graphics
  •   Adding multimedia to a web page (sound, video and flash)
  •   Creating tables
  •   Using tables for layout
  •   Creating a navigation structure
  •   Using styles and cascading style sheets
  •   Applying DHTML effects, page transitions and Interactive buttons
  •   Creating interactive forms
  •   Adding “Bells and Whistles” with Web Components
  •   Publishing a FrontPage web site
  •   Maintaining a published web site

                         

IBDE112: Online Web Site Setup & E-Commerce Implementation
  •   Exploring E-Commerce Implementation Options
  •   Setting Up a PayPal Payment Gateway for an E-Commerce Enabled Web Site
  •   Incorporating a PayPal Shopping Cart in a Web Site
  •   Selecting and Purchasing a Marketable Domain Name
  •   Evaluating and Locating a Suitable Web Hosting Service
  •   Web Site File Management  & Site Structure
  •   Publishing and Updating a Web Site Live on the Internet

 

IBDE114: Web Site Marketing & Maintenance Strategies
  •   Keyword Considerations based on your business goals and target market
  •   Effective Keyword Writing 
  •   Writing Marketing and Title Descriptions
  •   Writing Web Page Content to Attract Search Engines
  •   Meta – Tagging your Web Pages
  •   Submitting a Site to Search Engines & Directories
  •   Email Marketing Strategies – Creating Online Brochures

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