[humanser] Acknowledge or ignore?

[Jeffrey Schwartz]

I am a clinical psychologist and have worked at a large V A
 For about 35 years.  We have a large predoctoral internship,  hence I have
some experience with this situation from both sides.  First of all, mental
health professionals are almost universally liberal, affirmative action
types.  Their programs are overseen by associations like the APA which want
them to demonstrate cultural diversity in their training and selection of
trainees.  You couldn't have it better unless you are a person of color.
Sorry to sound jaded, but that's the deal.

It is pretty routine for applicants to send us a "personal" letter after
their interview complimenting us on the facility, training program and their
desire to participate in it.  You have an opportunity by such a letter to
comment on your blindness without making a big deal of it.  Say the other
stuff and throw in a couple of sentences at the end.  I would complement
them   on being so kind as to help you in an unfamiliar situation which by
virtue of its size an complexity would be a navigational challenge for
anyone at first.  Then I would complement the person who helped you on
either knowing, if he did, or becoming talented as a sighted guide so
effortlessly.  If he knew the technique, I'd praise him for that stating
that most people don't know how to help.  It has to be a kind of
afterthought.  You don't need to convince them that you could have gotten
around.  You are a professional, not a blind beggar with a tin cup and
pencils.  If you couldn't make the grade as a result of your lack of vision,
you wouldn't have been at the interview.----Original Message-----
From: humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Judith Bron
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 10:55 PM
To: Human Services Mailing List
Subject: Re: [humanser] Acknowledge or ignore?

Mary, You can call him and say something like, "It was wonderful meeting 
you.  I appreciated your help in negotiating the facility, but from my past 
working experience I know that I can navagate a facility with no problem.  I

just wanted to thank you for making it easier my first time."
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mary Chappell" <mtc5 at cox.net>
To: "'Human Services Mailing List'" <humanser at nfbnet.org>; 
<bblind-counselors at topica.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 7:47 PM
Subject: [humanser] Acknowledge or ignore?


> Hoping you all can help me with a dilemma that may appear silly but, it's
> heavy on my mind.
> Recently, I went to an interview for a year-long, extern training 
> experience
> at a state psychiatric hospital. I currently work on a psychiatric unit at

> a
> research hospital. 7 Other candidates were also there. So, day begins with

> a
> panel interview with 2 of the 10 supervisory clinicians with whom I'll be
> working. Following that, there is an group tour where all candidates come
> together to tour the facility, a large, multi unit facility with 6 
> separate
> wings and a series of locked units and external courtyards.
>
> When the group tour was beginning, the tour guide, another supervisor who
> heads up the assessment tasks and is the Director of Training, asked me if
> I'd like to take his arm and tour the facility. In the moment part of me
> wanted to decline, lest the perception be that I am unable to negotiate 
> the
> facility on my own, but, for efficiency I accepted, thanking him for"front
> row seats". The tour went well, I laughing and joking with the supervisor,
> discussing aspects of the therapeutic milieu, patient challenges, and
> training opportunities. All felt like it went well. Down to the moments 
> when
> I was leaving the interview and the same supervisor was in the exit way 
> with
> another candidate who was asking a question. As I was going through the
> supervisor stopped me and asked me to be in touch. Long story short, I 
> felt
> content with the experience, that is, until I reflected on it. I am
> wondering if I should address the sighted-guide issue and my capacity for
> independence and autonomy. Part of me feels like I should, in some way
> emphasize my comfort in negotiating the facility on my own and another 
> part
> of me feels I would be magnifying something that need not be an issue.
>
> I work on a unit and have had no problems in the past... Any thoughts? Do 
> I
> say something or do I leave it alone? They will be interviewing on three
> other dates and will decide on 3 trainees for the next academic year.
> Decisions will be made on April 13. Let me know your thoughts.
> Mary
>
>
>
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