[humanser] INTERVIEWING

[JD Townsend]

Hello Sandy:

In an interview I never go into details of accomadations that I may or may 
not require.  I may inform that that I have software that makes their PCs 
available to me in braille or speech, but I never go into details about 
blind services assistance or other concerns.  The accomadations are mine to 
make and to take responsibility for and, if I give one message about 
blindness, it is that I will require little or nothing from them, a message 
of my independence.

I


As for electronic records, mine are available to me one way or another. 
Those folks who write scripts for Window-Eyes or JAWS can make any system 
work.


-----Original Message----- 


JD
From: Sandy
Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2013 1:29 AM
To: 'Human Services Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [humanser] INTERVIEWING

JD,

This message from you is being kept in a folder 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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>

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