[humanser] Dealing with blindness when applying to internships

[JD TOWNSEND]

Hi:

I work in a large program and work with children, adolescents and adults. 
The initial meeting can be interesting.  I will usually stand in the lobby 
for a minute before calling the patient's name, letting them observe my 
white cane and, often, short interaction with the receptionist.  I lead them 
out of the lobby, holding the door for them and pause to introduce myself 
and to ask if they are comfortable around dogs as I have my dog guide in my 
office.  It is rare that anyone has a problem.  Then I lead them through the 
maze of hallways and doors to my little office and welcoming dog.  I do not 
raise the issue of my blindness until necessary.  The child or teen who nods 
or shakes her head doesn't get the expected response from me, I just keep 
"looking" at him until either he gets it or his parent says, "He can't see 
you."  With some I might ask if they understand why I am using a white cane.


The questions that children ask are great and the ones that adults don't ask 
are numerous.  So I invite questions more than make statements.  It is 
always therapeutic when people use their language skills .  We call it talk 
therapy for a reason.  Sometimes their questions about us allow for the 
formation of a therapeutic connection.


One possible answer for a supervisor about forming relationships with 
patients might be to ask, "Well, how am I doing with you"

Sometimes parents tell me that their teen is rolling their eyes at a comment 
and I usually answer, "I heard them."  It doesn't take genius to tell the 
emotional tenor of a person or a room.  In group therapy I find that the 
group will notice when someone is out of sorts, sometimes I point it out, 
sometimes they do.  Experience has been a great teacher for me in this; 
your internship will be a great place to start gaining that experience for 
you.


Best of luck.




JD Townsend, LCSW
Daytona Beach, Florida, Earth, Sol System
Helping the light dependent to see.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Milissa Garside" <milissa.g79 at gmail.com>
To: "'Human Services Mailing List'" <humanser at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, February 26, 2010 9:57 AM
Subject: [humanser] Dealing with blindness when applying to internships


>                Hi Everyone,
>
> I have been on this list for a while and have enjoyed the discussions.
>
> I am currently a graduate student at Lesley University getting my masters 
> in
> mental health counseling. I am slated to begin my first internship in the
> fall of 2010. However, my advisor recommended that I put my internship off
> for a year because I do not have any "work experience." I have been 
> advised
> to get some volunteer work which I have done. Although I do not have any
> "work experience" I do have a great deal of volunteer work within the 
> human
> service field. The decision to wait another year does not sit well with 
> me.
> As a result, I have spoken to several people at the university including 
> the
> disability coordinator as well as the field training person. The field
> training person saw my resume last night and agreed that I have enough
> experience to warrant applying for an internship. However, both she and my
> advisor have raised the question how is it that a blind person can 
> establish
> a therapeutic connection with a sighted client? . I don't feel that they 
> are
> asking these types of questions because they are trying to prevent me from
> interning. They just feel that these are questions that internship sights
> are going to want to know and I am going to need to be able to answer it
> confidently. When I was first presented with this question, I did not know
> how to answer it. I'm wondering if this is something that super visors
> really want to know? And if so, how does one answer the question of how we
> as blind people establish a therapeutic connection without sight? Any help
> is greatly appreciated.
>
> Thank you.
>
> Milissa
>
>
>
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