[humanser] Work Woes

[Quinto Sanchez]

JD, good job. You won one for the Blind-team.

--------------------------------------------------
From: "JD Townsend" <43210 at Bellsouth.net>
Sent: Monday, July 30, 2012 4:04 PM
To: <edward.hersh at verizon.net>; <humanser at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [humanser] Work Woes

>
>
> Hello,
>
> Lots happening at work over the past several months.  Thought I would 
> bring the list an update.
>
>
> I am a Clinical Social Worker and, for the past 10+ years I have been 
> employed in a hospital-based child and adolescent mental health  service.
>
> My employment started out fairly smoothly, but over the past few years 
> things have become more difficult.  I have a variety of blindness tools 
> that have helped me to be one of the most productive workers and enough 
> post-masters training to bring a clinical background to the position.
>
> The problems started when management did not support my efforts to obtain 
> a reader.  Then our once type-written documentation started to be 
> hand-written, including our “to-do” lists.  Then, with a new manager and 
> supervisor, I started to get written disciplinary notes, also 
> hand-written. Three of these leads to disciplinary action such as 
> suspensions and firing.
>
> After the second disciplinary action I went to Human Resources.  Meetings 
> were arranged and my concerns were heard.
>
> I did get a reader assigned.  She did not start as the hospital rules 
> demanded that she pass all sorts of hurdles and she declined to obtain a 
> misdemeanor report from over 20 years ago in another state.  I asked, but 
> did not get another.  My supervisor told me, “I don’t care how you do it, 
> just do it, “referring to chart reviews.
>
> The last straw was a disciplinary write-up for 15 minutes of unauthorized 
> overtime.  My other write-ups were for minor paperwork problems.
>
> Back to HR with no real satisfaction.
>
>
>
> So, an attorney was hired.  He specializes in worker problems of 
> discrimination and knows disability law.  NFB’s legal folks were informed 
> as well.
>
> My attorney wrote a letter to the big wigs at the hospital.  Now all of a 
> sudden my manager and supervisor are my helpful friends.  Apparently 
> despite my white cane and blindness electronics they did not understand 
> that I am blind.
>
> I have a reader and secretarial support.  Management is getting ADA 
> training and I now have a regular reader, a retired teacher.
>
>
> The lawyer cost a lot, but the letter was clear and got results.  I am now 
> a happily employed  man again.
>
>
> JD Townsend, LCSW
> Helping the Light Dependent to See.
> Daytona Beach, Florida, Earth, Sol System
>
>
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