[humanser] Blind counselors and body language

Sat Sep 2 16:01:40 UTC 2017

Hi,
I really like that you brought up this point, because I don't think it's something that many sighted people consider in this conversation. I have dealt with nonverbal body language as a blind individual when applying for a volunteer client advocate position. In this role, the client advocate meets with a client one-on-one as a peer (non-professional) counselor to work through the presented challenges as trained by this facility. When told that I could not do this, because I would not be able to read nonverbal body language due to my blindness, I explained to the volunteer coordinator that just as every client who enters their facility comes with their own set of strengths, weaknesses, and challenges, they are not discriminated against based on their circumstances. Moreover, I have been blind for my whole life, and therefore I have learned to read auditory cues instead of visual cues during any conversation. I have been told in both professional and personal capacities that I am ann effective communicator and effective listener. Lastly, I pointed out that there are many successful counselors, therapists, social workers, etc. who happened to be blind or visually impaired and thus do not depend on visual cues as a sighted person does. I am happy to report that I am in my second phase of training for this volunteer position, and the volunteer coordinator has repeatedly expressed gratitude for my patience in working to break down barriers and misconceptions about blindness.
 I say all of this to encourage anyone struggling with this conversation to know that there is hope, and you can be successful in your profession without reading visual cues.
Thanks for exploring this topic, and have a wonderful week!

Best wishes, Miranda

Sent from my iPhone

> On Sep 2, 2017, at 11:24 AM, Quinto Sanchez via HumanSer <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Like others have indicated I have found no problem discerning what the
> client is doing and whenever wondering I simply ask. However, I had this
> conversation with a sighted supervisor and I said well counseling is being
> taught and has been studied from a sighted persons perspective but I think
> the sighted person could miss out on auditory subtleties' things such as
> subtle sighs, pauses, and intonation. If you ask a client about something
> they are uncomfortable about they might have a smile on their face to try to
> disguise the hurt they are feeling but , in their response to the question
> you noticed that their pitch and velocity changed. The sighted person
> wouldn't notice that because they see the big smile on the clients face.  .
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: HumanSer [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Schulz,
> Maureen, SSA via HumanSer
> Sent: Friday, September 1, 2017 2:00 PM
> To: 'Human Services Division Mailing List'
> Cc: Schulz, Maureen, SSA
> Subject: Re: [humanser] Blind counselors and body language
> 
> Hi, I'm Maureen from Berkeley, social worker. The body language discussion
> is hard to resolve, because of course to us we discern what we need to and
> more without it, but any sighted person advancing this argument would say:
> well, how can you know you're not missing anything important that I/we could
> pick up much quicker... Hearing that is the frustration.
> 
> Maureen Schulz
> Alameda County Senior Information
> 510 577-3530
> Aging is All About Living
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: HumanSer [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ally Matt
> via HumanSer
> Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2017 6:09 PM
> To: Human Services Division Mailing List
> Cc: Ally Matt
> Subject: Re: [humanser] Blind counselors and body language
> 
> I have been able to discern the important information throughh voice cues
> and other audible indicators. I have actually had some clients find my
> visual impairment a benefit. I had asked a client expressed gratitude that I
> would not be able to judge her body because I couldn't see. I have had a
> couple of clients expressed concern about being able to work with me because
> I am blind, but that has often been resolved once we meet for the first
> time. I actually think that sometimes I have an advantage in that I can't
> see things that might distract. I have to focus on what the client is saying
> and at the tone of their voice.
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Aug 31, 2017, at 4:02 PM, Ayoub Zurikat via HumanSer
> <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Hello family, I hope you are all well.
>> I am currently doing my masters degree in clinical mental health
> counseling. Thing is, I have had this concern ever since I started the
> program, and I need advice or feedback.
>> So a crucial part of therapy is the therapist's ability to read and
> interpret client's nonverbal body language. However, being blind I cannot do
> that. Here are my questions.
>> 1- has this been an issue for employment? In other words are counseling
> centers/employers hesitant to work with blind counselors because of this
> issue?
>> 2- for those of you who are practicing therapists, how do you deal with
> such an issue? Are their skills that can be learned? 
>> 3- am I going to have to limit myself to do therapy with blind/disabled
> clients because of this?
>> 4- do any of you know of internship sites in the Chicago area that are
> friendly towards blind interns?
>> 
>> I've been very concerned, and quite stressed because of this. Your
> feedback and help are so greatly appreciated.
>> Thank you 
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