[humanser] Work Woes

[Vicky Winslow]

Wow, JD. Though we have never corresponded, I have always regarded you as one of 
the list's best examples and your clinical knowledge has impressed me as well.
I went through something similar a few years ago. I couldn't afford a lawyer and 
my supervisors made sure that nothing they did was ever written down. So, when I 
got fired, they refused to give me a reason. I'm good at what I do, if they let 
me do it. But those hand-written charts combined with forms that had been copied 
so many times, they were unscanable (if that's a word) made my job very hard to 
do in the same timely manner  as other employees.
All this is to say that I am distressed to hear about this stuff happening to 
somebody at your level, and I'm so glad it worked out in your case.


Vicky Winslow, LMSW

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "JD Townsend" <43210 at Bellsouth.net>
To: <edward.hersh at verizon.net>; <humanser at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, July 30, 2012 5:04 PM
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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