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<DIV>Hi Kathy,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>That's great that you submitted all of those documents. Would you mind
sending me the documents you submitted? I would like a copy of those, especially
the document concerning service animals in hospital situations. But I would like
copies of everything else you may have concerning tat. I think it is good to
have on hand in case something like that should come up. Thanks.</DIV>
<DIV>Chasity</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=KARmedtrans@aol.com
href="mailto:KARmedtrans@aol.com">KARmedtrans@aol.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=community-service@nfbnet.org
href="mailto:community-service@nfbnet.org">community-service@nfbnet.org</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, June 12, 2013 9:40
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Community-service] Being
turned away.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><FONT id=role_document color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial>
<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="BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px"><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
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<BR><BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>Community-service
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Community-service:<BR>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/karmedtrans%40aol.com</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></FONT>
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<P></P>_______________________________________________<BR>Community-service
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