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<DIV><FONT size=4>Darian</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>I almost had the same problem with volunteering at a
rehabilation facility but it was a combination of my blindness and guide
dog. When I did not like what was and not presented for reasoning I made
sure I had a copy of service animals in hospital situations and the rights of
the ADA. I then requested a meeting with the VP of the hospital, Human
Resources and the volunteer director. And since there was a Social Worker
who was causing me difficulties and giving a wrong presentation of what I was
proposing to perform I also requested a meeting with that social worker and her
boss.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>I first sent an email to the parties involved and sent a copy
of the material I mentioned the ADA rights and guide dog guidelines. By
sending a copy of the material I was giving them ample opportunity to review and
be prepared for my questions and presentations. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>I did get my 2 meetings I requested, received an apology from
the Social Worker involved, the hospital and administration received an
education about the skills of a lind person and the ways they could benefit and
open their eyes to their blindness.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Since that time, my guide dog and I have been volunteered at
this facility for almost 2 years - still being the first and only guide dog and
blind person team. And I also opened the doors and eyes of the regional
facility - again my guide dog and I are the first and only guide dog
team.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>I have learned you must have great belief in yourself and what
your skills are. Do your research about the company - know what they
represent - about the history - the more you know about the business and know
positions and work involved. You must present your case very carefully and
professionally. Me I also let them know that I know what I am capable of
an my rights and no hesitation to call in the NFB or civil rights attorney about
my rights according to the ADA being violated.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Try looking for non-profit organizations who are more open to
disabilities. March for a cause and show that your disability does not
prevent you from doing what others do.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Hope this a little helps.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Kathy Rawa and Dorito</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>NJ Voters Rights Liaison representative for HAVA</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>President South Jersey Shore Chapter of the NFBNJ</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Recipient of the Atlantic County, NJ Donald J Sykes Award for
Volunteering</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>1st and only guide dog volunteer at Bacharach Institute of
Rehabilation and AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>In a message dated 6/12/2013 9:51:21 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
bookwormahb@earthlink.net writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" color=#000000 size=2
face=Arial>Darian,<BR>Good question. I finally have time to respond.<BR>I have
certainly been turned down from community service, although I don't <BR>know
if it was all blindness related.<BR>They never came out and said it was but I
got the feeling it was.<BR><BR>Two instances. In both cases, I looked for
other opportunities.<BR>First was with a nonprofit called Facets. I<BR>went
through the hastle they required. This was a background check,
<BR>application, interview and orientation.<BR>They actually did my interview
later after the orientation because they <BR>thought I already did one but the
new coordinator came aborard and they <BR>realized I had not.<BR>I wanted to
volunteer in the office doing communications work like producing <BR>press
kits and other outreach material or something administrative.<BR><BR>Well, I
kept following up with them in phone calls. They took their time <BR>returning
my messages. They kept saying they couldn't find things for me to <BR>do. So I
stopped trying. Last summer, I volunteered under a new coordinator. <BR>She
was open minded and I was going to do front desk work which means I'd
<BR>answer the door and let people in.<BR>Well, she suggested some
accomodations and was pretty open minded. However, <BR>someone was not. She
called me back and said it wasn't a good fit for me but <BR>I was welcome to
volunteer in the office doing other work. Well, I took that <BR>opportunity; I
helped update their contact list and I did some research <BR>projects and
wrote a few articles for their newsletter. I only stopped <BR>because I got an
internship.<BR>So the second round at facets I sort of got turned away, but I
think the <BR>coordinator really tried to work with me and it wasn't her who
prevented me <BR>from working up front. it was someone else I'm sure, probably
her boss.<BR><BR>The other time I got turned away was at red cross. Again, I
went through the <BR>big process they have: application, interview, background
check and a boring <BR>volunteer orientation.<BR>I volunteered at the office a
few times. I was stuffing envelopes.<BR>The plan was for me to do office work
and help the communications team among <BR>other things.<BR>But then the
supervisor kind of ignored me. I was not trained on their <BR>database or
shown how to do much of anything. He left it up to the other <BR>office
volunteer who tried but she was busy with her own work and I don't <BR>think
she knew how to explain much.<BR><BR>Then it ended. He told the other office
volunteer to call me and tell me not <BR>to come in because they had nothing
for me to do.<BR>This happened two or three times and then I realized that
this opportunity <BR>was over.<BR><BR>Now, I'm also looking for volunteer work
in an office to gain experience.<BR><BR>More on that
later.<BR>Ashley<BR>-----Original Message----- <BR>From: Darian Smith<BR>Sent:
Tuesday, April 02, 2013 5:13 PM<BR>To: Community Service Discussion
List<BR>Subject: [Community-service] Being turned away.<BR><BR>Hi
all,<BR> have you ever been turned down from doing some sort
of service<BR>project because of your blindness? if so what happened? what was
the<BR>reasoning and how did you deal with it?<BR><BR>-- <BR>Darian
Smith<BR><BR><BR>Text the word BLIND to 85944 to donate $10 to the NFB
Imagination Fund<BR>via your phone bill.<BR><BR>The time is now to eliminate
Subminimum Wages for People with
Disabilities<BR><BR>http://www.nfb.org/fairwages<BR><BR><BR>“We know not of
our future, but we know of our past. A past that is<BR>made up of our
ancestor’s Dreams, their stories and hopes.<BR>These sights once seen, sounds
heard and emotions felt are now our<BR>knowledge. The knowledge that guides us
to this very moment…”<BR>-Darian
Smith<BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>Community-service
mailing
list<BR>Community-service@nfbnet.org<BR>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/community-service_nfbnet.org<BR>To
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<BR><BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>Community-service
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