[humanser] Working with Potentially Dangerous Populations and Assuaging Sighted People's Fears

[Merry Schoch]

Dear Sarah,

If you would like to reach more people in our network, I would suggest you send David Andrews your request. That is, when asking if other people have worked in the prison system. I have reached out on the entire net work that we have and received feedback other than what is on the human services list. Just a thought exclamation point wishing you a fantastic day! Love and hugs!

Sent from my iPad

> On Feb 9, 2018, at 9:54 PM, Lisa via HumanSer <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Props to you for being proactive! You turned some negative experiences into
> learning opportunities and in the process have gained the respect of
> previously bias supervisors. It's sometimes difficult to take the rejection
> when you know it was based on biasness.  Again, props! 
> 
> Lisa Irving
> -----Original Message-----
> From: HumanSer [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Sarah Meyer
> via HumanSer
> Sent: Friday, February 9, 2018 8:36 AM
> To: humanser at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Sarah Meyer <sarah.meyer55 at gmail.com>
> Subject: [humanser] Working with Potentially Dangerous Populations and
> Assuaging Sighted People's Fears
> 
> Hello everyone,
> I am in Practicum right now and applying for various group counseling
> opportunities. I have already been accepted as a co-facilitator for a
> Wellness Group which is part psychoeducation and part process/experiential
> for members living at an assisted living facility. I was recently rejected
> for a co-facilitator position for a Grief and Loss psychoeducational group
> for a men's correctional facility though. I was simply told that they had
> decided to go with other applicants. I suspected that I may have been turned
> down due to blindness, but also didn't want to jump to conclusions, so I
> emailed the group supervisors and asked if they could provide me with
> feedback about how I could improve my application for future opportunities,
> if they could tell me what they were looking for in applicants, etc.
> 
> Well, one of the group leaders told me they would be willing to meet, so we
> met this morning. He was friendly and honest, and he told me that he and the
> other supervisor had made some assumptions without talking to me and should
> have involved me in their discussions before turning me away. He said that
> some of there concerns had to do with safety because the inmates at the
> prison might become rowdy, and while there's technically supposed to be a
> guard posted, that usually doesn't happen. I told him that I appreciated his
> concern for my safety, but my safety is my responsibility just as much as it
> is any other therapist's responsibility. I also expressed that I would hope
> that they would have the same level of concern for all therapists as they
> would for me and no different.
> 
> Another concern they had was regarding accommodations provided by the
> prison, but they hadn't asked me what accommodations I would even need, so I
> explained that if there were any orientation materials, I would work with
> the prison to make sure the materials would be made accessible, and again,
> it would be partially my responsibility, and the prison wouldn't be able to
> give an accurate response without my making an informed request.
> 
> The supervisor said he is now open to my participating as a co-facilitator,
> but I will need to meet with the faculty supervisor for the final approval,
> since it would be his license under which I would be operating. So before I
> meet with that person, I was hoping to find out if any of you have worked
> with violent offendors in the past or at least know enough about the law so
> I can come informed to this next meeting with reasons for why I should be
> given just as much a chance as any other therapist.
> 
> What I said in this last meeting was that I'm an adult, and when I sign
> consent forms, I'm aware of the potential for risks I'm taking when I go in
> to a setting, just as much as any other therapist. This supervisor was very
> appreciative and admitted that he had been biased and trying to think for
> me, and he apologized and appreciated my willingness to meet with him. All
> in all, I'd say this has been a positive experience. Even if it doesn't work
> out for me to help with this group because of scheduling purposes, at least
> I will have educated some folks about not making faulty assumptions about
> blind clinicians.
> 
> All the best,
> 
> Sarah
> 
> --
> Sarah K. Meyer
> Graduate Student, Clinical Mental Health Counseling/Social Psychology Ball
> State University sarah.meyer55 at gmail.com
> (317)402-6632
> 
> The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
> characteristic that defines you or your future. You can live the life you
> want; blindness is not what holds you back. Together with love, hope, and
> determination, we transform dreams into reality.
> 
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