[humanser] INTERVIEWING

[Carly Mihalakis]

Good morning, all,

	

Haven't you as blind folks noticed a way people 
on mass transit and other places are inclined to 
seek out a confidant and most often, they wanna 
talk to you?  I call "work."  It is certainly 
true that our being therapists is dependent on 
more important things than how little, or how 
much we see.  You mention how some people prefer 
to talk with a clinician who can't see them, and 
I heard just that comment from a fairly new 
supervisor at the mental health agency I am 
temporarily not working at while we clear up how 
accommodations will be employed due to the new 
electronic health records.  If I work at another 
agency, most likely the electronic records will 
be problematic.  At an interview, do I briefly 
speak of how the paperwork gets done despite the 
records, handwritten files, etc.? Do I simply 
state that I am able to do the paperwork, and get 
in to accommodations when I am hired? Sandy 
Burgess, LCSW 
-------------------------------------------------- 
From: "JD Townsend" <43210 at Bellsouth.net> Sent: 
Wednesday, October 16, 2013 10:29 PM To: "'Human 
Services Mailing List'" <humanser at nfbnet.org> 
Subject: [humanser] INTERVIEWING > > > how would 
you handle it if you're trying to talk about your 
skills as a > social worker and the employer 
keeps referring back to the blindness? > 
Alyssa, > > I might try to be casual, but 
ask: > > > “You seem fascinated by 
blindness.  I can assure you that I can and 
will > be timely with the paperwork, excellent 
with my clients and an involved > team member, my 
disability has nothing to do with that, but I’d 
be happy > > to tell you how I shop, dress and 
cross-country ski if that’ll get me the > 
job? > > > “If your blindness questions  center 
around wondering if I can keep up, if > you 
wonder how I’ll accomplish my daily tasks, 
trust me, I’ll show you my > productivity, my 
writing talent, and my clinical successes.” > > 
“It’s funny, but a blind psychotherapist I 
know asks how the light > dependent do all of 
that with ink on paper.  He’s the most 
productive > worker at his job and has a great 
reputation as a clinician.” > > > “You have 
lots of questions for me, now let me ask you 
about the agency > and how you see me in this 
position.” > > “I have found that many 
clients feel more comfortable with a therapist 
who > is blind and they address their core issues 
more readily, feeling less > judged.” > > “I 
have found that many of the clients you have 
described feel disabled by > their mental 
illnesses and feel more comfortable discussing 
their issues > with a therapist who is also 
disabled.” > > “You may be concerned that you 
would not be able to do this job if you > lost 
your sight.  Let me assure you, should that 
happen, with good > rehabilitation and a positive 
attitude you would.  I have had that > 
rehabilitation and I have that attitude 
now.” > > > 
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