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

[Kaiti Shelton]

Hi all (take 2).

First, I appologize for the nearly blank message preceeding this one;
sometimes when I hit enter in my web-based email client, it thinks I
want to send the email rather than continue writing.  Anyway, I sent
the message forwarded in that original email to a list of blind music
therapists to try to get a direct response, but I still haven't heard
back and fear the list may be completely dormant.  Unfortunately there
is nothing out there for students in the field my age, and everyone
I've talked to on there is significantly older and nearing/already in
retirement age.  I hope to see if I can locate some other blind music
therapy students to create a new group for idea-sharing and questions
like this, but as I start applying for internships in January I need
the answer to this question relatively soon.  I'd appreciate any input
on this tricky topic.

Thanks,

On 11/19/15, Kaiti Shelton <crazy4clarinet104 at gmail.com> wrote:
> ---------- 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!"
>


-- 
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!"