[humanser] Hi all, Fwd: To disclose or not disclose on internship apps

[Kaiti Shelton]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kaiti Shelton <crazy4clarinet104 at gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2015 01:21:24 -0500
Subject: To disclose or not disclose on internship apps
To: musictherapistswithvisualimpairments
<musictherapistswithvisualimpairments at yahoogroups.com>

Hello all,

I can start applying for national roster internship sites in January.
I've already combed through the entire list and picked out the 18 that
sounded the most appealing to me.  I even categorized them into tiers.
I know I can have four applications out at a time, so they're in
batches of four according to the level of preference I have for the
sites.

My big question concerns whether or not I should disclose my blindness
on internship applications.  I know the standard practice is to not
disclose information before the interview, but I'm wondering how solid
that advice is given the field we are in and the nature of interviews
now.  A lot of my older classmates participated in skype
interviews/auditions rather than ones on-site, which could give me a
disadvantage.  Sure, I could explain over skype how I do things and
show the internship director some of my adaptive equipment if that
issue arises, but it would not be as effective as doing it in person.
They won't have an opportunity to observe me using a cane competently,
or see me taking notes and referencing them from my notetaker.  I'm
sure my professors might have some input here, but I am also sure that
they would encourage me to seek out other sources for this information
as I am their first blind student.  I don't want to be discounted
before I have a shot at an interview, but could being upfront avoid
possible pitfalls in the interview process if the internship director
knows a little of what to expect?  Also, if the internship directly
relates to my experiences should I disclose it then to show I have a
possible edge in making empathetic connections with clients over a
student music therapist who does not have prior experience with
blindness, assistive technology, etc?  Thanks,

-- 
Kaiti Shelton
University of Dayton-Music Therapy
President, Ohio Association of Blind Students 2013-Present
Secretary, The National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts
Division 2015-2016



-- 
Kaiti Shelton
University of Dayton-Music Therapy
President, Ohio Association of Blind Students 2013-Present
Secretary, The National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts
Division 2015-2016

"You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back!"