[BlindTlk] Are There Any Blind Cashiers Out There?

[Chaim B. Segal]

Hi List:

My name is Chaim Segal and I live in Kettering Ohio, part of the Greater Dayton, Ohio Metropolitan Area. I've been a list member for well over 10 years but rarely post. I'm generally better at E-mail correspondences with individuals rather than lists, and am several years behind in reading messages for all lists I'm on, including this one. This being said, I prefer that you reply directly to me if at all possible.

I'm currently in the process of obtaining new employment, having lost my job of six years and four months working as a Collections Agent with Synchrony Bank. As indicated on my signature line from my Braille Sense 6 which this message is being generated from, I have over 20 years of CS Experience. I'm finding it a little more difficult to find a new position in this arena than it was at the time I applied for Synchrony and am open to other possibilities or possibly even a career change. In case anybody is curious, I'm 57 years old at this time.

I'm currently working with a job developer with our local Goodwill/Easter Seals to find my next job. A new local of Bucees (pronounced "Buck ees" gas station is opening on April 6th. Ahead of the game Bucees sent word to our local office of BVR, known as OOD (Ohio Department for People With Disabilities) in hopes of finding recruits. All job developers at Goodwill were encouraged to have their clients submit applications, as it appeared they are looking to fill several positions. With my help and consent, my developer and I submitted an application, and a company manager called me back yesterday. Due to my Sabbath observance, I was unable to call him back until this morning. I didn't expect to actually mspeak to him but he called me back as I was leaving a message on his voice mail and invited me to do an in-promto interview.

Considering the circumstances, I feel the interview went well, albeit it only lasted around five to six minutes at best. As is my policy, I informed him that I am blind, and use a Seeing Eye Dog. He said that would be fine, albeit if I need extra time beyond the one and only 20 minute break we are given on our shift to take him out ETC., I'll need medical documentation explaining this. He informed me that protocol requires all employees to stand, except during our break. He mentioned a "break table" as opposed to a traditional break room, which I have always been accustom to at previous work sites.

When he gave me the opportunity to ask questions, I asked him if there are any phone-oriented positions available, as that is what my background in the work world has been thus far. In response, he said that at this time they are mainly in need of food service workers and cashiers. 

This being said, are there any nearly totally blind cashiers out there? If so, what type of adaptive equipment beyond a standard PC with JAWS might I need? Is this realistic?

I attended the Ohio State School For The Blind for my sophomore and junior years of high school, (the 85-86 and 86-87 school years respectively). At the time I was a student, the school had a canteen in its basement, which was, pretty much run by high school students presumably on track to either become vendors or work in other related capacities at other businesses. I specifically recall that they had a talking cash register in use at the OSSB canteen, but have never seen one in operation anywhere else. I was on a different IEP track, and for family and personal reasons needed to return to my local district for my senior year, thus had no need to learn how it operated. Are there any talking cash registers still in use? Are there faster ways of identifying paper currency other than the portable bill identifiers on the market? Knowing for a fact that there are blind-run businesses we shop at that process credit card orders, how would it work for me to run a customer's card in person and know that the information cleared the system?

If you choose to respond directly to this message on list, please be sure you either CC me directly, or make sure I am getting your response independent from the list. As I'm not currently working, I have a lot of vacant time, and would welcome you to call me on my cell prone as well. My cell number is: 937 231-6119. If you call me tomorrow and Tuesday afternoons, please leave a message with your callback number, as I have appointments during those times. This goes for this upcoming Friday as well, as I have a medical appointment that afternoon as well.  

For those of you who have experience or know someone who does or has worked such a job, I welcome your honesty. Thanks in advance for responding. Additionally, if any of you know of any nationwide companies who are hiring for remote CS call centers, let me know, as my wife, who has also worked in CS is also looking for work at this time.

Many Thadks!

Chaim               

Chaim B. Segal

Over 20 years CS Experience


For information concerning BOOKS ONE, TWO, and Three of my first published work, THE SAYZEH SONG: an autobiographical memoir which discusses how childhood and adolescent experiences with blindness, religion, societal differences and music would shape the course of my adult perspective, please visit: www.dldbooks.com/chaimsegal_

"Every man, woman, every boy and girl
Let your love light shine, make a better world
(Daryl Hall & John Oates