[Community-service] great meeting

Fri Jul 15 12:45:07 UTC 2011

Ashley and others, 
I am sending you the following as it will give you some sense of why I
started volunteering. 

After graduating from college, most people start searching for jobs. The
college environment prepares them to find employment in an entry level
profession of their choice. However, this is not true for the blind. The
employers are looking for experience of one or more years and the blind
may not  have the means to get experience. We the blind to prove their
capabilities have to get over qualified to get a job. 

My name is Yasmin Reyazuddin and I live in Montgomery county. MD. I
graduated with two Bachelors degrees from University of Maryland college
park, in 1998. The two degrees were in Sociology and English. As a blind
individual, I had to struggle to get equal treatment like other students
from faculty members at the university. when a faculty Member told me
that he could not deal with my disability, or another faculty member
asked someone in the class to put me in a corner, I had to resist them.
Many times, I was told not to take a class and to get a waver for the
requirement. College life Is not easy and it should not be for me.  My
response was very positive and assertive. We want to compete on terms of
equality and should be treated equally. I took the initiative to join
and participate in campus programs related to disabilities. I even acted
in a short video related to diversity and disability. I Joined the
National Federation of the Blind and am still active with the
organization. 

When I applied for jobs, I never disclosed my blindness. This caused
some problems when I went for the interview. The employer were not ready
to interview a person with disability, even when they claimed to
"promote full and equal participation and contribution of America's 54
million men women and children with disabilities." This organization
never hired me or even sent a letter of rejection. I searched and
applied for many jobs for two years. People suggested that I should do
volunteer work to build up my resume. 

I went to the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution. At
first there were some doubts about my ability to give information to the
visitors, but I proved my abilities. I volunteered as an information
specialist at both places. At the Library of Congress, for one year and
at the Smithsonian for 10 years. 

These jobs were at the information desks to meet and greet visitors. I
answered their questions, directed them to sections of the buildings or
out around the city and other such things. The visitors came to know
that there was a blind person who could work just like others. At the
Smithsonian, I had applied for an internship in the Accessibility office
and was rejected. Working for the Visitor Information center has been
more rewarding as we change the attitudes of the general public. 

Volunteer positions are very helpful as they provide the experience
which is missing in the educational background of a blind person. I
appreciate the role the National Federation of the Blind played in
helping me to realize my dreams. Today I have a job, because people
noticed my hard work and the will to be equal with others. 

Any type of community service is better than staying at home. 

Yasmin Reyazuddin 
Aging & Disability Services 
Montgomery County Government 
Department of Health & Human Services 
401 Hungerford Drive (3rd floor) 
Rockville MD 20850 
240-777-0311 (MC311) 
240-777-1556 (personal) 
240-777-1495 (fax) 
office hours 8:30 am 5:00 pm 
Languages English, Hindi, Urdu, Braille 

This message may contain protected health information or other
information that is confidential or privileged. If you are not the
intended recipient, please contact the sender by return mail and destroy
any copies of this material. 

Thank you.

-----Original Message-----
From: community-service-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:community-service-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
bookwormahb at earthlink.net
Sent: Thursday, July 14, 2011 7:40 PM
To: Community Service Discussion List
Subject: Re: [Community-service] great meeting

Yasmin,
Yes it would be good to have the minutes, but maybe they are only given
to group members.

A familiar  story. Many college grads couldn't find a job. I graduated
in 2009 from Marymount university with a BA in liberal studies, mainly a
mix of social science classes. When did you graduate?

Yes its good you volunteered and thereby impressed employers. What did
you do for Smithsonian  and library of congress? You are fortunate to
volunteer for not one but two large government institutions.
Actually I work temporarily for LOC in NLS but that ends in september.

I've faced barriers to volunteering because it seems like the staff
aren't willing to find work I can do or train me to do it; might take a
little longer with  a screen reader since I got to tab through stuff
rather than skimming.  I have to explore line by line to familiarize
myself with a new website or database.
I'm sure they train other volunteers; everyone starts at the beginning.

I wanted to volunteer at well known places such as Red cross and
Smithsonian. Red cross gave me the run around, unfortunately. I have
good writing skills and a pleasant voice.  Red Cross could have used my
communications skills in their development and communications team.

I did all the volunteer background steps: the criminal background check,
filling out paperwork, attending a volunteer orientation, interviews
etc.
But once jaws was installed at a computer there, the head of development
just kind of ingnored me when I came to work even though in the meeting
he said the right stuff. Another volunteer showed me the database sort
of but I needed training and assignments to do and all I did was help
stuff envelopes wich needed no vision and prior training.

You are fortunate to volunteer with Smithsonian. I also wanted to
volunteer there. Again, I did the process: the application, interview,
the check, and even got a badge. They told me I'd work in the
Accessibility office at the National american history museum and I'd
work on editing/transcribing documents into braille; that would be my
main task. Well when I interviewed with the accessibility department
they were noncommital and could not tell me a start date, could not even
load the demo of jaws because they didn't have admin rights,
could not tell me what assignments I'd have, etc.  They failed to follow
up with me or return emails, so it didn't work out; I called the program
coordinator requesting another volunteer placement, but she had none
because it was summer and they had interns.

Later I wanted to volunteer again and when I contacted her, she said
they didn't have a position.  So that makes me wonder what you did for
them? I wanted to use my writing, research, and personal skills for
them; I wanted to assist them in the office doing tasks like answering
phones, copying, maybe delivering mail and other projects. I felt SI was
a good place as it is well known and I figured the government would find
a placement for someone like me to diversify their volunteer pool. Not
the case.

That said, I'm looking to volunteering 
with the park service; so we'll see. First I'm finishing my job.
As for coming to the meeting, ah that is quite a treck; I'm in the DC
area, not exactly in DC and that is a very long metro ride down there.
Thanks though.

Ashley

From: Reyazuddin, Yasmin
<mailto:Yasmin.Reyazuddin at montgomerycountymd.gov>  
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2011 8:23 AM
To: Community Service Discussion List
<mailto:community-service at nfbnet.org>  
Subject: Re: [Community-service] great meeting

Hi Ashley and others, 
It will be a great idea if we have the minutes of the organizing meeting
posted on the list. 
Ashley You live in D.C. you can come to our chapter meeting this
Saturday at the Silver Spring Library. The meeting will be from 1:30 pm
to 4:00 pm. I have some ideas for a service project for our chapter and
we may discuss them. 
When I finished school, I could not find a job. I volunteered at some
well known places such as Library of Congress and Smithsonian. That is
how I got the job in Montgomery county. My employers were impressed that
I could volunteer my time and to get to places. 
Now I want to do more than just volunteer. I want to give back as we are
having a tough economic time. 
Also there are legally blind or blind veterans who are in need of
services. 

Yasmin Reyazuddin 
Aging & Disability Services 
Montgomery County Government 
Department of Health & Human Services 
401 Hungerford Drive (3rd floor) 
Rockville MD 20850 
240-777-0311 (MC311) 
240-777-1556 (personal) 
240-777-1495 (fax) 
office hours 8:30 am 5:00 pm 
Languages English, Hindi, Urdu, Braille 

This message may contain protected health information or other
information that is confidential or privileged. If you are not the
intended recipient, please contact the sender by return mail and destroy
any copies of this material. 

Thank you.

-----Original Message-----
From: community-service-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:community-service-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
bookwormahb at earthlink.net
Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2011 7:03 PM
To: Community Service Discussion List
Subject: Re: [Community-service] great meeting

Yasmin,
I am glad you had a good time. I may not make it to conventions due to
expense and other obligations at home not to mention the fear of the new
invasive TSA security measures when flying. Anyway, I too, hope this
list is more active.
What do you do for community service?
I'm going to make the next call, when you all have one.
I've always enjoyed volunteering and after my temporary four month job
ends, I'll do more. I'm a young adult who needs a job but I don't have
much experience. I see volunteering as a way to show my skills, try new
ones, network, and possibly get a job since volunteering can turn into a
job.

I've volunteered for political candidates, at my talking book library,
served food at a shelter with my church and did a few projects with
campus ministry such as stuffing backpacks after Huricane Catrina.
Actually I'm in the DC area not far from Rockville where you work.
Your name sounds very familiar; were'n't you in a press release for NFB?
I could actually get to rockville via metro. If your agency has openings
for someone doing clerical or communications work, let me know. We can
chat off list further, perhaps.
I have a general BA from Marymount university in
communications/psychology.

Ashley

From: Reyazuddin, Yasmin
<mailto:Yasmin.Reyazuddin at montgomerycountymd.gov>  
Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2011 10:01 AM
To: community-service at nfbnet.org 
Subject: [Community-service] great meeting

Hi Everyone, 
What a great meeting we had last weekend at the convention. 
Yesterday, I signed up for the list and thought about some service
projects. I hope that there will be some activity on this list. 

Yasmin Reyazuddin 
Aging & Disability Services 
Montgomery County Government 
Department of Health & Human Services 
401 Hungerford Drive (3rd floor) 
Rockville MD 20850 
240-777-0311 (MC311) 
240-777-1556 (personal) 
240-777-1495 (fax) 
office hours 8:30 am 5:00 pm 
Languages English, Hindi, Urdu, Braille 

This message may contain protected health information or other
information that is confidential or privileged. If you are not the
intended recipient, please contact the sender by return mail and destroy
any copies of this material. 

Thank you.

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