[BlindTlk] The Unemployment Rate of the Blind

[Walker (US), Michael E]

Hi,

As someone who has been totally blind since birth, the way I tackled the employment issue after college was simply by applying for jobs online, and not indicating that I was blind. Do not discount the college classes you take as work experience. In the education section of my resume, I described a few of my programming classes, and the types of programs I wrote in each. I also described the experience I gained in my capstone course.

The reason for not disclosing your blindness is to avoid putting emphasis on the blindness. I was fortunate enough that when I was interviewed, it was a phone interview, but for some of you applying for jobs now and in the future, be sure you have a laptop handy with JAWS on it that you can bring to the interview, if it is in-person only.

I am also a cane traveler. I can see where blind people with guide dogs would have more complications, since they would have to tell the interviewer about bringing the dog to the interview, assuming it is in person. Having to disclose that you have a guide dog would give your blindness away before you get hired. I did not disclose my blindness until after I accepted the job offer, and I was asked if I needed any accommodations to do my job, which at that point I mentioned JAWS.

I am sorry to see the denial on the communications specialist role. I am not sure how an employer could determine that this role is not possible with JAWS. Always work as closely as you can with your rehabilitation counselor if JAWS needs to be purchased, assuming your employer does not have an accommodation division. If JAWS is too costly, I agree with what other posters said about using NVDA.

Good luck!
Mike