[humanser] Three months ago I started a new job all employees are required to complete online on board training within 30 days; I have not

[Ashley Bramlett]

Lisa,
I needed to shorten the subject, hope that was okay.

Wow, what a delima. Sorry to write so much today but I had time tonight and 
had a lot of employment questions and concerns on my mind as I'm about to be 
interviewed myself and have wondered how I'd integrate needing accomodations 
while also selling myself to the employer coupled with the fact I don't know 
if I will need scripting for the software and things like that.

Your situation struck a chord with me Lisa! I know how it is to be on a 
deadline and not have things accessible and also have a place where people 
are spread thin with no one to assist when you need them. I've be an intern 
and volunteer and these situations have arisen.

When I did the security awareness training for being a tutor, another tutor 
had to sit with me and read the screen to me. My supervisor arranged it so 
they had no students to see so they would be free to help me.
Like you, my supervisor also helped me with some training such as the online 
tests where she filled in my answers.
And just like your situation, the supervisor's schedule and mine often 
conflicted. Oh, and the supervisor being too busy to assist you sounds very, 
very familiar! I'm not blaming the supervisor, btw, I'm just stating the 
facts. She did what she could to help but also had many duties.


Lisa, I hope things work out. Is there any way you can bring a reader into 
work with you to complete training? Maybe a friend or look for a college
student who has flexibility In the day.

Here are ideas for other problems you brought up.

1. The  photocopier: some are touch screens and inaccessible. Others have 
buttons. Can you label the buttons in braille or tactile marks? Since I 
believe you have some vision, maybe a magnifier would work.

2. The hard copy resources in the mailbox:
again, I think a reader is the best solution and you can record the 
information on a digital recorder.
Alternatively, an OCR speech program that scans and reads text may also 
work. I personally like Openbook made by freedom scientific. If you are 
permitted to use an iphone, the KNFB reader Ap might also work. Another 
scanning solution is on the book reader made by Hims, its called the Blaze 
EZ.

3. The hard copy forms: sounds like a reader whether it be your supervisor 
or someone else will be needed.

That's too bad the supervisor said to only come to her. I've been at liberty 
to ask coworkers for help if I need it, but I've not been employed full 
time.

Lisa, I think all your accomodation issues are a very good example why its 
so hard for blind people to find and maintain employment. Once we have jobs, 
it may be difficult to keep them for the very reasons you articulated.

I'm afraid I cannot offer much advice. But just know you are not the only 
one struggling to find or keep employment.

Ashley


-----Original Message----- 
From: Lisa Irving via Humanser
Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2016 11:38 PM
To: humanser at nfbnet.org
Cc: Lisa Irving
Subject: [humanser] Three months ago I started a new job all employees 
arerequired to complete online on board training within 30 days;I have not. 
My employer has Agnello just they are aware that a numberof platforms they 
use including some for on boarding trainingare not ADA compliant. Six weeks 
ago my employer provided mewith the transcripts and answers to the 
corresponding quizzesfor on boarding training purposes Per my supervisors 
requestI read the transcripts and let her know that I had completedthose 
tasks at that point I and my supervisor notified humanresources that I had 
read the transcripts. My supervisor andI thought this meant I had completed 
training requirementshowever substandard Workplace accommodations: quite the 
quandary



Two weeks ago my supervisor called me into her office. Essentially she has 
been tasked with reading the tests to me and listening to some of the audio 
information she's also been tasked with filling in my responses. As you can 
imagine this is very time intensive for both of us are schedules typically 
conflict. This leads me to the very uncomfortable part of this message.

Initially my supervisor started feeling in my responses with her responses. 
At that point I had expressed concern and I was met with something to the 
effect of well we just have to get this done last Friday I was scheduled to 
be off of work however she and I agreed that I would come in to complete the 
on boarding training requirements. For the most part we pretty much set in 
gabbed occasionally she would read and answer and typically she would 
complete the response. Again I expressed some concern. Yesterday morning my 
supervisor changed my schedule that is I was scheduled to go into the 
community and facilitate a meeting. I was instructed to remain in the office 
in order to complete the on boarding training requirements. My supervisor 
and I have been tasked with completing these requirements by July 8. I 
reported to my supervisors office and Lauren learned that she had some other 
things to take care of that point I was instructed to go and work on my 
articles so .  I am afraid to ask her if she completed my tests. I don't 
number of occasions I expressed fear of doing something wrong and egg 
knowledge that I am on the hook for knowing the material. Granted some of 
the information does not apply to us however I value my job and I value 
being ethical. I am really in a dilemma. My supervisor assured me there is 
nothing to worry about. Well we all know what rolls downhill and we know 
typically who it it's usually not management.

I am encountering some aspects of my job that whether I like it or not do 
necessitate some sighted assistance. This is very true when it comes to 
using the photocopier; oh dread! Furthermore my coworkers will come a 
crossed resources and share them with me. These resources are in hardcopy 
and are put in my mailbox as well as the mailboxes of my coworkers. Often 
these resources are picked up at fares and meetings and other places of 
interest. Additionally, well there are some portions of paperwork that I can 
complete. I have subsequently learned that a couple of forms have very faded 
print that his boxes that we are supposed to check off needless to say since 
the forms are not being converted into a usable format I need sighted 
assistance very recently my supervisor instructed me to only come to her as 
we are spread very thin and other employees are tasked with completing their 
own assignments. As you can imagine this is problematic because my 
supervisor and I are not always in the office or available at the same time.

Today, pretty much everything hit the fan for most of us. We were without 
our computers. The good news is one employee had some downtime to do some 
reading and help me with some photocopying this is great but I have to tell 
you it is very stressful never knowing who to go to and when someone is 
available to help what do you do?

While all of this and other things mostly good are going on I have contacted 
the job accommodations network and frankly I have found them pretty useless. 
Once I was passed off to the California office called Department of fair 
employment and housing Darian the last time I was passed off to disability 
rights of California however the name is deceptive. They do not advocate or 
work to advocate when it comes to work issues. This organization seems to 
mostly help advocate for clients were having challenges with department of 
rehabilitation I have learned that the only way the Department of fair 
employment and housing and will assist me is for me to file a grievance I 
don't think this is particularly favorable because I am a new employee; I am 
on probation and, well, let's face it I don't want to rock the boat. I also 
don't want to get canned. That according to my supervisor isn't even close 
to being issue.

I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. I really would like to learn how others 
handle these circumstances. I do enjoy my job I will admit I feel less and 
less supported in some areas of my work.

From,
Lisa Irving

Sent from my iPhone

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