[BlindTlk] The Unemployment Rate of the Blind

[Judy Jones]

I beg to differ with you on the guide dog statements, although I understand
where you are coming from.  I, too, never indicated I was blind until it
came up.  I was blessed to be able to get work, but my using a guide dog was
never a negative factor.  I am a cane user now also, and am recently
retired.

Judy


-----Original Message-----
From: BlindTlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Walker
(US), Michael E via BlindTlk
Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2019 10:58 AM
To: blindtlk at nfbnet.org
Cc: Walker (US), Michael E
Subject: Re: [BlindTlk] The Unemployment Rate of the Blind

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
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