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

Sun Jan 3 04:13:37 UTC 2016

Hi all,

Wow, I was kind of surprised to see an old thread pop up again, but
I've enjoyed reading the responses again.

The interviews have not happened yet.  One of the rules is that you're
only eligible to start applying a year in advance of eligibility for
internships, so as I'll be graduating in Dec of this year I've only
been eligible to apply for 2 days now.  However, I have been
productive in doing further research on my chosen sites, eliminating
some that won't be as good of a fit for me, and preparing for a
meeting with my professor when I get back to school in which we will
discuss sites.  I also will need to gather letters of recommendation
before I work on applying, so I don't think I'll get any submitted
until February.

I had an interesting talk about this subject with Pam Allen, who was
our rep at the Ohio state convention.  While Skype interviews are
relatively untraveled territory, she gave me some really good tips and
helped me reframe how I look at the interview process.  A lot of this
involves just subtle things (E.G, it is okay to have a cane propped up
against the wall behind me in the background, or ask, "Can I take
notes," and then proceed to use my notetaker.  I would do the same in
an in-person interview, and would just not make a big deal about it.
Yet, having these subtle cues might open up dialog with the internship
director.

As Christina said for her situation, I do need to have a conversation
about it with whoever I end up picking.  I will need some
accommodations in order to complete my work, and the director will
need to be willing to brainstorm with me about ways to make their
existing systems accessible for me.  I'll need to get them in touch
with disability services or find some other way to get my print
materials in an accessible format.  I'll need to find a way of
charting patient progress.  I'll also need some time scheduled before
I begin my internship to do some O&M work possibly, as some of the
hospitals I'm looking at are quite large.  The conversation about
accommodations definitely needs to happen as a courtesy to the
director, and so they can start making necessary preparations with
disability services and my professors in advance.

On 1/2/16, Ashley Bramlett via humanser <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hi,
> The interviews probably took place by now. But, in case you did not do it,
> practice skype interviews beforehand with a friend in the future. They can
> give you feedback on how you look and if you are looking into the camera. I
>
> think if you sit upright and look up toward the camera, you will be fine.
> I do  have a little vision in the center, but looking at people through
> skype has not been much a problem as long as I have good posture.
> I'd say its good idea to look straight at the camera with your head
> slightly forward.
> If that does not work, your webcam might need adjusting. I have not
> interviewed via skype,  but if I did I'd practice ahead of time and ensure
> my webcam was adjusted well.
>
> Ashley
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: justin williams via humanser
> Sent: Friday, November 20, 2015 11:22 PM
> To: 'Human Services Division Mailing List'
> Cc: justin williams
> Subject: Re: [humanser] Hi all,Fwd: To disclose or not disclose on
> internship apps
>
> Erica is right; I've applied for jobs and had interviews for practice.  You
> can also practice mock interviews with a friend to test the looking into
> people's eyes aspect, or see if it even matters.  You might be able to find
> angles where it's not obvious that you aren't looking in someone's eyes.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ericka via
> humanser
> Sent: Friday, November 20, 2015 5:29 PM
> To: Human Services Division Mailing List <humanser at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Ericka <dotwriter1 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [humanser] Hi all, Fwd: To disclose or not disclose on
> internship apps
>
> Are there any closer to home that may not be the best choice but could be
> "practice run". Just thinking it would give you a trial run and it wouldn't
> matter so much to you if you really wanted the position or not. I
> understand
> your concerns with Skype interviews. I have enough vision do not be so
> concerned about I contact, but this is territory I have never traveled on
> before. It would make me nervous and I would like to practice.
>
> Ericka Short
> "Friends are like flowers in the garden of life"
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Nov 20, 2015, at 8:40 AM, justin williams via humanser
> <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> I am on the not disclosing side, only because you really shouldn't if
>> there isn't a need to, but I caveat that by saying if you really feel
>> that it will help the situation, then you should.  If you sense that
>> it would help you, or if there is something during the interview
>> process which may hamper you if they do not know, they do so.  I don't
>> think you should just randomly tell everyone.
>> Justin
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kaiti
>> Shelton via humanser
>> Sent: Friday, November 20, 2015 7:47 AM
>> To: Human Services Division Mailing List <humanser at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Kaiti Shelton <crazy4clarinet104 at gmail.com>
>> Subject: Re: [humanser] Hi all, Fwd: To disclose or not disclose on
>> internship apps
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>> Skype is an audio/video calling platform so video is included, but my
>> concern is that I would lose out on the ability to directly
>> demonstrate my skills in this area.  I will have to at least mention
>> the blindness durring the interview because the person will probably
>> wonder why I'm not making eye contact, and we should discuss it at
>> that point as well, but I just feel like it will be so much more
>> limiting.  Anyone could see me being competent on the interview and
>> just write it off; unfortunately, I don't have the money to fly or
> greyhound to all these places to interview in-person.
>> Thankfully a lot are in the Chicago area, so it is possible I could
>> make a tour through Chicago or something and hit several places as I
>> go before returning to Ohio, but that would have to happen under ver
>> specific circumstances as you can only have four applications active
>> at a time according to the rules set up by our national organization.
>>
>>> On 11/20/15, Lisa Irving via humanser <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> Kaitie,
>>>
>>> I'm not familiar with skype interviews. I wonder, is there a way to
>>> include a U-Tube video of you doing what you do best; live the life
>>> you want because blindness is not what defines you, that is, show off
>>> your talents and your abilities at the same time on a selfie
>>> commercial via U-Tube. This suggestion is coming from someone who
>>> considers herself technology inhibited. Lol.
>>>
>>> Lisa Irving
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>>> Kaiti Shelton via humanser
>>> Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2015 8:53 PM
>>> To: humanser at nfbnet.org
>>> Cc: Kaiti Shelton
>>> Subject: Re: [humanser] Hi all, Fwd: To disclose or not disclose on
>>> internship apps
>>>
>>> Hi all (take 2).
>>>
>>> First, I apologize for the nearly blank message preceding 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!"
>>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> 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!"
>>
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-- 
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!"