[Community-service] Finding Volunteer Positions As an Individual Who Is Blind or Visually Impaired - CareerConnect Blog - American Foundation for the Blind

Thu Apr 7 12:37:52 UTC 2016

Hi all,
Self-advocacy is the key for any volunteer or paid job.
Many years past, after finishing college I was looking for a volunteer or a paid job. I found 3 different volunteer opportunities.
Here in the D.C. area there are government and not for profits more than any other place.
The two volunteer positions were working with the public giving them information face-to-face. Library of Congress volunteer information specialist and at the Smithsonian in the same position.
Both the institutions refused to give me a volunteer job because of my blindness. The self-advocacy helped in many ways.
As you can imagine, their concern was how would a blind person read maps to give directions for different museums or give direction inside the huge building. We in the federation know that with a little learning and exploring we can master the skill, but what do the sighted world know. We just have to show them our abilities.
I got both the positions.  I worked at the Library of Congress for 1 year and at the Smithsonian for 10 years. I met with thousands of people from around the globe.  Federation outreach was always with me. People who had never seen a blind person working got new knowledge. People who have worked with the blind were also amazed.
We are changing what it means to be blind one activity at a time.

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.

From: Community-service [mailto:community-service-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Darian Smith via Community-service
Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2016 10:46 PM
To: Community Service Discussion List <community-service at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Darian Smith <dsmithnfb at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Community-service] Finding Volunteer Positions As an Individual Who Is Blind or Visually Impaired - CareerConnect Blog - American Foundation for the Blind

Can you be more descriptive?  an example of how one might use this skill could be helpful rather than stating that the  skill will be useful. Have you needed to use your advocacy skills in a particular situation?
On Apr 6, 2016, at 7:35 PM, Ericka via Community-service <community-service at nfbnet.org<mailto:community-service at nfbnet.org>> wrote:

When you are going through these steps you will have to have good advocate skills throughout. If you don't know what you need or can't communicate the adaptive ways you will do a volunteer job then they're not going to take you seriously or may give you something less than what you are really qualified to do.

Ericka Short
"What is right is not always popular; what is popular is not always right."

 from my iPhone

On Apr 6, 2016, at 9:26 PM, Darian Smith via Community-service <community-service at nfbnet.org<mailto:community-service at nfbnet.org>> wrote:
Good point.
 How do you use advocacy in a situation such as this?
On Apr 6, 2016, at 12:02 PM, Reyazuddin, Yasmin via Community-service <community-service at nfbnet.org<mailto:community-service at nfbnet.org>> wrote:

Thanks for this wonderful list. Many people also need to have one important skill. It is known as ADVOCACY.
Many organizations and agencies have very good intentions but lack common sense.
We the blind have to speak for ourselves.

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.

From: Community-service [mailto:community-service-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Darian Smith via Community-service
Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2016 2:01 PM
To: Community Service Discussion List <community-service at nfbnet.org<mailto:community-service at nfbnet.org>>
Cc: Darian Smith <dsmithnfb at gmail.com<mailto:dsmithnfb at gmail.com>>
Subject: Re: [Community-service] Finding Volunteer Positions As an Individual Who Is Blind or Visually Impaired - CareerConnect Blog - American Foundation for the Blind

http://www.afb.org/blog/careerconnect-blog/finding-volunteer-positions-as-an-individual-who-is-blind-or-visually-impaired/12
Finding Volunteer Positions As an Individual Who Is Blind or Visually Impaired
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Did you read the 8 Work-Related Benefits of Volunteering for Job Seekers Who are Blind or Visually Impaired<http://www.afb.org/blog/careerconnect-blog/8-work-related-benefits-of-volunteering-for-job-seekers-who-are-blind-or-visually-impaired/12>? Did you find yourself saying, "Shannon" (I'm glad you said Shannon, because we're on a first-name basis), "I like the idea of volunteering, but what kind of volunteer position should I get? How do I get a volunteer position?"
I'm glad you asked. This blog post is for you.
Read through these helpful tips on finding a volunteer position; it's à la carte (just like a pick-and-choose hot lunch in middle school, only better), so take the advice you need to hear and leave the rest for others.
When considering a volunteer position that would be a good fit for you...

  *   Inventory your interests. Write them down and dig deep. When you think you've written all your interests, write more. Self-awareness is a great starting place for finding volunteer or paid work that meshes with you.
  *   Inventory your values. Consider all the causes you would want to benefit with your time and talents. Literacy? Children with terminal illness? Youth athletics? Art in schools? Racial equality? Educating the public on blindness and visual impairments? Quality time with foster children? Reading to the elderly? Feeding the hungry? Environmental protection? Animal care? Keep thinking. There are numerous worthy causes.
  *   Inventory your skills. What can you contribute to the cause(s) or people? Examples: reading to others, playing with children, walking or feeding animals, preparing or serving food, talking with others, writing, gardening, administrative work, answering telephones, cleaning, presenting, crocheting, repairing malfunctioning technology (for the record, I do not have this skill), medical expertise, legal advice, photography, etc.
  *   If you are using volunteer work to prepare you for paid work, list the skills you would like to learn and/or practice through volunteering. What types of volunteer activities will best train and equip you for your professional goals?
  *   Think through your limitations. Maybe it's your restricted availability, inefficient use of assistive technology, or inaccessible public transportation. Problem solve: What volunteer positions can you participate in regardless of your limitations? Is there a position that can help you to improve or provide the motivation to improve a limitation?

Now that you know what types of activities would be a good fit, here are volunteer-position-seeking tips...whew, that's a mouthful!

  *   Talk with those in your social network. Does your neighbor or church friend work at a location in which you would like to volunteer? Ask about the agency, ask about gaps that need to be filled, and ask who you can contact about filling a gap.
  *   Search the Internet for local volunteer opportunities that match your interests, values, skills, and professional goals. Peruse volunteer-matching websites such as the American Red Cross and volunteer wanted ads.
  *   Make cold calls. If you know right where you want to volunteer, call the agency. Let them know how you can be of service. Ask if you can meet up to discuss a volunteer position or ask if you can be e-mailed a volunteer application. Send the completed application back with a cover letter.
You got the "job"? Send a thank-you letter to anyone who helped to connect you with the position.
If you have tips for finding a volunteer position, leave it in the comments section!
If you are a teacher working with students who are blind or visually impaired, utilize the Volunteering to assist your students in finding a volunteer position.

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