[Blindtlk] FW: Some Job Questions...

Tue Nov 26 00:46:11 UTC 2013

-----Original Message-----
From: Kevan Worley [mailto:kevanworley at blindmerchants.org] 
Sent: Monday, November 25, 2013 3:40 PM
To: gwunder at earthlink.net
Subject: RE: [Blindtlk] Some Job Questions...

The questions posed are interesting and more complicated than we would like.
I would like to be able to say, "No problem. You can do it. Get it done."
The fact is that I do not know if technologies which will currently
interface with most retail point of purchase systems. We are in the midst of
constructing one which will work with Apple technologies, but then we will
have to get the franchisors and mom-and-pop franchisees, such as Auntie
Ann's, to adapt their systems. Blind vendors who have cafes on government
properties throughout the Nation, licensed under the Randolph-Sheppard Act,
are, for the most part, still using old antiquated talking cash registers
without credit card terminals or other controls. You may know that I operate
a Roosters Men's Grooming Center Franchise. Roosters is a franchise within
the Regis system. Regis is a $3 billion conglomerate. We use a point of
purchase system from a company called Super Salon. It is a terminal with
features tailored to give us the data we need and allow us to
instantaneously report that data to the home office. We could also access
that data remotely on IPad or other device from where ever we are. I cannot
use that terminal. I guess I should be embarrassed about the fact that I
have not tried to make it accessible. I have really not had the need to make
it accessible, but I should probably do it on general principle. 

So, cashiering may be a challenge if you are trying to get part time work
experience in a mall. However, it seems to me that you ought to be able to
perform most of the other functions. It certainly doesn't take sight to load
or unload a pretzel oven. It doesn't take sight to clean, organize, and
stock. It doesn't take sight to wash dishes or sweep floors. It does take
some organizational skills. It will take some extra energy and belief that
you can do the job. You will need to convince the employer that you can. In
many, many cases that will be the difficult part. Without the opportunity to
learn about and understand the systems, the pretzel oven, the set-up of the
store, and procedures it is difficult to swear in an interview that you can
do it. If the employer is not willing to give you an opportunity to scope
out the joint or tailor a few things so that you can apply alternative
techniques then your task is a challenging one. 

I would offer these ideas for what they are worth:
1) Do you currently cook and clean. 
2) Find a blind vendor in your area who seems to be upbeat and engaged. Ask
him if you can visit for a couple of days. Tell him you need to get your
hands on stuff. Use the hotdog roller, popcorn popper, soft serve  machine.
Shadow his employees. Get a sense of the type of work it is. So that you
will have a notion of what a sighted owned and operated establishment might
be like. 
3) Ask some fast food managers if you can tour their back of the house. Ask
them if you can get your hands on stuff. Maybe you will find one that will
actually go ahead and let you work there. Be willing to accept what you
might think of as menial work. Sometimes Pizza Hut has hired blind folks to
assemble pizza boxes. Everyone has to start somewhere, and it is real
credible work. 

I would be happy to visit further with you to exchange ideas. 

-----Original Message-----
From: Gary Wunder [mailto:gwunder at earthlink.net]
Sent: Monday, November 25, 2013 9:36 AM
To: kevanworley at blindmerchants.org
Subject: FW: [Blindtlk] Some Job Questions...

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kerri
Kosten
Sent: Thursday, November 21, 2013 5:12 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list; Blind Talk Mailing
List; NFB Talk Mailing List; Ed McDonald
Subject: [Blindtlk] Some Job Questions...

Hi Everyone:

I am considering applying for some jobs and had a few questions.
Antians Pretzels (a pretzel place in the mall) is looking for "crew
members." I have been told this means someone to make the pretzels and serve
them to the customers, and someone to likely run the register and take the
pretzel orders.
There is a restaurant called Panara Bread (a popular sandwich chain) opening
soon in my area and they are hiring for all positions.
I am considering applying at these places.
Is there any way a blind person can run a cash register?
Is there actually anything I could do at these places as a blind person or
will they immediately look at my blindness and turn me away?
I won't go into full details on a listserve, but I am trying to turn my life
around and one of the ways I thought I could do this was to find a simple
job that would give me confidence, something to do, and to show me that I
can in fact work.
I'll admit, this is my first time applying for a job. If I apply, and they
ask me to come in for an interview, and they say something like "So, what
can you do?" if I'm not sure myself what I can do how do I respond?
In the past I've just made the excuse that because of my blindness there is
nothing I could do when looking for jobs and just given up but if I want to
turn things around I have to do something and applying for jobs is one of
the things I can think of to do.
Thanks,
Kerri

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