[BlindTlk] [BlTlk] career ideas...

[Ericka]

Hey Madison. Judy has lots of good advice here. I remember you’re still in Canada. Do they have some kind of rehab thing in your provinces? One thing I did was to ask my counselor assigned to me if they could help me find a work experience that was temporary. Kind of like volunteering, but not quite. Here in the states you would get paid for those three months to try and explore your interest or passion in a safer way than spending money at a school then not wanting to do anything in that field. Plus a little pocket money doesn’t hurt! They help you with transportation and everything. Like I said, I don’t know what Canada provinces offer their folks with disabilities to get working. I’m speaking from the perspective of someone who used to have more usable vision than I do now. I wasn’t really big into blindness skills in college 30 some years ago. However, now I really wish that I had learned braille Kane skills and had contact with a mentor back then. There’s so much out there for people. Don’t give up!
Ericka Nelson
KD9VBX

> On Mar 22, 2025, at 5:35 AM, Judy Jones via BlindTlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi again, Madison,
> 
> The first thing that comes to mind is for you to take an online interest test geared to career development, to give you the first indicators to look at.
> 
> When last we've been in contact, I remember you were still living at home with no work experience, and little blind skills tffaining, has this changed?
> 
> If not, more than likely, once you find a career that peaks your interest, the next steps are to look at what it will take to get any schooling or other career training you need, or possible blind skills training.
> 
> Be encouraged, everyone who has worked has always had to start with no job experience, no matter the age, we've all been in that boat. However, the older you get without moving forward, the harder it will be. It's not unusual to find someone in their late teens maybe even early twenties with no job experience, but after that, potential employers may have questions, but still not impossible to be a late bloomer careerwise.
> 
> If you have been working or volunteering, no matter how little, build on that experience if you like what you are doing.
> 
> If you are the same Madison from Canada, do research on what is available for blind folks there. If you still have Mary Ellen Gabias' contact info, she may be a good one to advise and refer you along the way. I applaud you beginning your career journey and cheer you along the way
> 
> Best wishes for success, and glad you have someone in your corner for assistance.
> 
> 
> 
> Judy
> sent from the Selvas braille Android tablet
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: madisonolivialanemartin483--- via BlTlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> Date: Friday, March 21, 2025 09:48 PM
> To: blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> CC: madisonolivialanemartin483 at gmail.com
> Subject: [BlTlk] career ideas...
> 
> Hi all,
> I'm not sure this is a very good idea as I know that visually impaired/blind
> people can do most of the same jobs as fully sighted people but I told her I'd
> ask so I'm going to keep my word. Anyway, I've been seeing a counselor for
> awhile now and the last couple of times we've talked about career research even
> though she's not a career counselor (though I feel like the things we've done
> were a better fit for me then the stuff that a actual career counselor got me to
> do) but anyway we've kind of hit a wall when it comes to figuring out specific
> careers to research. I mentioned to her how I'm on chat lists for bl/visually
> impaired people and she suggested that I ask you guys; what
> jobs/careers/volunteer posisions have you had throughout the years? Look forward
> to reading your responses and maybe I'll learn about something that I might
> actually like to research! Thanks for whatever any of you can provide me,
> Madison
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