[humanser] Drivers license requirement for employment

[Alyssa Munsell]

Thank you for this, JD. It's actually one of the most concise and insightful
advice I've heard regarding interviews. I especially like what you said
about not getting into all the details of the technology and making the
interview about your skills. The only thing I'm wondering about is adding in
something about voc rehab covering the cost of any needed accommodations. I
guess I'd be concerned that the employer is worried about cost of
accommodations and isn't able to ask about it, so maybe it's a good idea to
quickly mention that somewhere, too. What do you think? Also, 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 

-----Original Message-----
From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of JD Townsend
Sent: Tuesday, October 15, 2013 10:29 PM
To: Human Services Mailing List
Subject: Re: [humanser] Drivers license requirement for employment



Sadly some folks are prejudice on the outset.  I took a 2 hour trip for an
interview once and the interviewer told me at the door that the job was too
intense for me, without even letting me speak;  seems my white cane said all
she wanted to know.

I learned after many interviews that I had to compete not as a blind
applicant, but as the best applicant.  Some people tell an interviewer on
the outset that they are blind or visually impaired, but I have never seen
the wisdom in this.  I find that the initial hand-shake and the walk down
long corridors to the interview room, finding my seat and addressing the
real issues of the job have served me well.  When I have taken this
attitude, ignoring my blindness as an issue, the interviews have gone much
better.  I tell the interviewer that I dislike paperwork, but that I sleep
much better when it is up to date;  should they ask me how I do it I say
that I have PC add-ons that have served me well in the past and that it
should not be a problem with whatever system they are using.  Should they
ask about transportation I tell them that I got here on my own and on time
and that I should have no problem.  It isn't my job to explain about
adaptive equipment or transportation, just that I can do the job, then I
re-focus on my strengths as a clinical social worker and how I might fit my
skills into serving the agency.

If we allow disability or adaptations to become a focus of an interview
instead of our skills and work ethic we have no chance for employment.

Just my opinion, sorry for the lecture.

JD



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