[Community-service] red cross volunteering and barriersexperienced

Tue Jun 23 16:55:38 UTC 2015

Hi all,

What an interesting discussion.  I was wondering about carrying your
screen reader with you on a thumb drive.  I know you can do this with
NVDA and apparently JAWS as well.

I know that for a job that unless the primary task of the job is
something visual, they cannot deny you the job, or at least, they're
not supposed to do so for this reason if you are the most qualified
individual.  Volunteering doesn't work like that, just as often the
real world doesn't.

But we definitely shouldn't put ourselves in a box because of our
blindness.  "Well, I'm blind, so I can take phone calls, greet, or
only volunteer with blindness agencies."  "I can't do insert aspect of
job here because I'm blind."

I realize some jobs will be harder for us and that others may be
impossible right now, but I would never say "I can't" in an interview
situation.  Now it's more difficult in volunteer situations, since
some of the services we might acquire through human beings will not be
worth the price.  For example, I would pay a reader to come into a
workplace and read folder labels so that I can Braille them.  I know
that the $10 or 15 per hour that I pay this person will ultimately be
worth it in the end because I will make much more at my job over time.
The same goes for hiring drivers.

Does that mean that those services are unavailable to us as
volunteers?  Maybe, if we do not have the means to pay them, and many
agencies will not let you restructure their way of doing things
because you need someone to read printed materials.  In other words,
the team solution that works so well for us in school does not work in
the real world in many situations.

Where does that leave us?  Educating, educating, and growing weary of
doing so.

I think we combat this through knowing ourselves and what we want to
do.  I will not go out tomorrow and sign up with Habitat for Humanity,
since I have never touched a hammer and nails in my life.  (It would
cramp my stile...)  But I knew exactly how I would volunteer for the
high school music festival that came to my university this spring.  I
got materials in Braille, knew how the event was run, and inserted
myself into my place with confidence.

Maybe the answer lies in forethought, research, and bringing solutions
to the table before job duties become problems.  Some of you have
figured out receptionist work.  Some of you have figured out building
and mechanical work.  You go where you want and learn what you need to
make you successful.  Isn't that the point of the whole live the life
you want craze?  :)

On 6/23/15, Reyazuddin, Yasmin via Community-service
<community-service at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hi Bridgid,
> The Smithsonian did purchase Jaws for me. I was the first and then they had
> two more. I know that Redcross has many chapters around the country and they
> may not be aware of all the possibilities. One has to try and get answers.
> JAWS can travel with you on a thumb drive. We need to investigate if they
> will let us plug in the software and work. This means, the software need not
> be there all the time.
> At the Smithsonian, I just had to activate Jaws, and use the headset.
>
> 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 [mailto:community-service-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via Community-service
> Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2015 12:07 PM
> To: 'Community Service Discussion List'
> Cc: Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
> Subject: Re: [Community-service] red cross volunteering and
> barriersexperienced
>
> Oh wow, did not know this. Thanks for informing us. Now, they can't deny
> accepting our volunteer service, but what about providing or at least
> allowing reasonable accomodations such as accessible software or devices?
>
> This might make for a good workshop during next year's convention for this
> group.
>
> Bridgit
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Community-service [mailto:community-service-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Reyazuddin, Yasmin via Community-service
> Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2015 7:40 AM
> To: Community Service Discussion List
> Cc: Reyazuddin, Yasmin
> Subject: Re: [Community-service] red cross volunteering and
> barriersexperienced
>
> Hi Everyone,
> For your information, Under the section 504 an agency or organization can
> not refuse participation of a person with a disability if they get federal
> funding.
> Is is a myth that volunteers will not account in this situation. Red cross
> has lots of volunteers but the are funded by the federal government.
> I volunteered with the Smithsonian for 10 years only because they had to
> accommodate me under this provision.
>
>
> 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 [mailto:community-service-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via Community-service
> Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2015 2:23 AM
> To: 'Community Service Discussion List'
> Cc: Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
> Subject: Re: [Community-service] red cross volunteering and
> barriersexperienced
>
> Ashley,
>
> You bring up a good point about volunteering vs. being employed. There are
> currently no laws or legal guidelines established for granting reasonable
> accommodations for volunteers. This is something any volunteer would need to
> consider.
>
> Question just out of curiosity: Do you know for a fact that accessible
> software is incompatible with the Red Cross's software? And is their donor
> database inaccessible? Also, are all flash-based videos inaccessible? I
> really don't know, which is why I ask.
>
> Bridgit
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Community-service [mailto:community-service-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Ashley Bramlett via Community-service
> Sent: Monday, June 22, 2015 10:33 PM
> To: Community Service Discussion List
> Cc: Ashley Bramlett
> Subject: Re: [Community-service] red cross volunteering and
> barriersexperienced
>
> Jeff,
>
> thanks. I hope the knowledge checks are still short.
> Since I'll need a reader, the shorter will be best for us.
> Do you remember if it gives you your score right after you do the quizzes?
> Was the videos descriptive or did you need someone to describe them to you
> as you watched? Given its training you on Red cross mission and values and
> history, I would think the narration would explain enough to you.
>
>
> Since videos are flashed based, I'm not sure how you got through videos.
> Only solution I can see is using a reader who can use a mouse.
> I'm stuck till I have someone to do this with which will be a day or two.
>
> To address another comment, I do believe we should be determined. I would
> not simply walk  away from an opportunity I wanted to do. I do problem solve
> and feel I can adapt to do many things.
> Just because I expressed that some clerical support jobs are not doable with
> paperwork does not mean I lack skills or adaptations. Filing, for instance,
> may require reading handwriting or labels in an odd position. Therefore,
> scanning would not be workable.
>
> I most definitely see what a job entails before judging its feasibility.
>
> However, realistically, barriers do confront us when it comes to nonvisual
> access of paperwork and software to handle the data.
> Keep in mind that as a volunteer I am bringing accomodations such as a demo
> of jaws if needed. I don't have OCR software furnished for me, and don't
> even say they will install it if I bring a copy. Volunteer situations are
> much different than working because employers are bound to accommodate you
> by the ADA and other laws if they have 15 employees or more.
> I've installed jaws at several volunteer sites, and it was hard to convince
> them to do so. They were concerned jaws would crash their system or slow it
> down or something.
> I cannot install two software programs when one was hard enough to install.
> So,  installing OCR software is not a viable option.
> And, if it was, again, you have the software issue. In my situation, the red
> cross donor database is not fully accessible.
> This software is critical to use to input all information for record
> keeping.
>
> So, its due to those reasons I knew the front desk position was not the best
> fit for me.
>
> I do hope that I can volunteer though.
> Helping the blood donors out and feel welcome is a good way to use my
> customer service skills.
>
> If anyone has done this or knows of someone who did, I'd love to hear of
> that experience.
>
> Ashley
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jeff Crouch- k8tvv via Community-service
> Sent: Monday, June 22, 2015 8:51 AM
> To: Community Service Discussion List
> Cc: Jeff Crouch- k8tvv
> Subject: Re: [Community-service] red cross volunteering and
> barriersexperienced
>
> Hi,
> I don't quite remember about the videos and how I was able to do it as it
> has been some time ago.
> The knologe check I believe has 5 questions per section.
>
> Warmest Regards
>
> On 6/21/15, Danielle Ledet via Community-service
> <community-service at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Girl I don't understand the problem youre having with reception type
>> work. People blind people do this every day. In fact, I live in LA in
>> the southwest so if anyone knows of any hiring potentialities in this
>> area, let me know.
>>
>>
>> On 6/21/15, Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via Community-service
>> <community-service at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> I’m just throwing this out for the sake of discussion, but lots of
>>> jobs require paperwork, and lots of blind people work positions like
>>> this. So how are these blind people making the accommodation? Again,
>>> just for the sake of an open discussion and exchange of ideas, does
>>> making blanket statements that it can’t be done work as a solution,
>>> or is it worth it to first consider the problem and investigate and
>>> find potential alternate means to accomplish paperwork? Perhaps in
>>> the end, there is not an efficient enough way to do paperwork, but
>>> shouldn’t we first attempt a solution?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Bridgit
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> From: Community-service [mailto:community-service-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>>> On Behalf Of Ashley Bramlett via Community-service
>>> Sent: Sunday, June 21, 2015 6:23 PM
>>> To: Community Service Discussion List
>>> Cc: Ashley Bramlett
>>> Subject: [Community-service] red cross volunteering and barriers
>>> experienced
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Just curious if any of you were successful in becoming a Red cross
>>> volunteer.
>>>
>>> If so, what did you do and please share your experience including the
>>> adaptations you made.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I’ve been searching for a volunteer opportunity for a while and many
>>> places tell me they have enough volunteers which is probably true;
>>> with so many senior citizens, competetion to volunteer is tough.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I was going to volunteer  in the red cross office, but they need data
>>> entry at the front desk which I cannot do; we were fine till they
>>> explained that.
>>> I can definitely answer phones and questions via phone and in person.
>>> But I cannot see paperwork.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> So I am trying to apply online to be a blood donor ambvasador; the
>>> coordinator suggested this after not approving me for the front desk
>>> position. We both agreed that this was a good way for me to use customer
>>> service skills, make people feel welcome while donating blood and
>>> contribute
>>> and would not involve the paperwork which the receptionist job did.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Here is the barriers.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I am very disappointed I run into this as I cannot do this alone, and
>>> will
>>> need a sighted volunteer to help me complete the registration process to
>>> be
>>> a red cross volunteer.
>>>
>>> The online process is not very accessible.
>>>
>>> I cannot even do this without help.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 1. When you complete the first application step, red marks show where
>>> you
>>> have to redo items. I cannot tell those with jaws.
>>>
>>> 2. Next you are sent a link to complete the orientation steps. There are
>>> six
>>> more steps.
>>>
>>> 3. I clicked on the link they sent via email to complete these
>>> additional
>>> steps. This was not a problem.
>>>
>>> 4. The biggest barrier is now.
>>>
>>> The orientation is 45 minutes consisting of several videos.
>>>
>>> I attempted to do this and watch them. Not all videos are inaccessible,
>>> so
>>> I
>>> tried.
>>>
>>> But it is not accessible.
>>>
>>> After video 1 welcoming you, it says, click begin to start the first
>>> video.
>>>
>>> I cannot get beyond that!
>>>
>>> The videos are flash and nothing seems to be labeled.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I’m stuck. My plan is to complete the other steps including your
>>> location
>>> preference and background check form now if possible.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Then I have to grab a sighted person to assist me for the 45 minutes of
>>> orientation.
>>>
>>> BTW, I know its 45 minutes because the application says that. They say
>>> to
>>> allow that time frame to go through the orientation and it includes the
>>> assessment checks; and I assume that is some quiz or something.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> So, here we go. Yet another barrier.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Sigh, sigh.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Ashley
>>>
>>>
>>
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>
>
> --
> American Red Cross (East Central Bay Chapter)
> 1401 S. Grand Traverse ST.
> Flint MI, 48503
> Disaster Service Technology Volunteer
> President of the Genesee County chapter of the NFB of Michigan
> Board member of the Michigan Association of Blind Students
> Cell: 810-931-7763
> 73
> k8tvv
> Jeff Crouch
>
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-- 
Julie McGinnity
National Federation of the Blind of Missouri second vice president,
National Federation of the Blind performing arts division secretary,
Missouri Association of Guide dog Users President
graduate, Guiding Eyes for the Blind 2008, 2014
"For we walk by faith, not by sight"
2 Cor. 7