[HumanSer] Questions about Driver's License as a Minimum Requirement for Employment

[Sarah Meyer]

Thanks, Justin. Apparently since I would be an employee of the
community mental health agency and not the school, it is one of their
minimum requirements to be able to transport, though.

Sarah

On 11/1/20, Justin Williams via HumanSer <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> No, that is not an essential job duty.
> Just because she would rather drive them herself does not make it
> essential.
>
> You can check the O*NET OnLine site to make sure.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Justin
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Also, the
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: HumanSer [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Sarah
> Meyer
> via HumanSer
> Sent: Sunday, November 1, 2020 12:49 PM
> To: humanser at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Sarah Meyer <sarah.meyer55 at gmail.com>
> Subject: [HumanSer] Questions about Driver's License as a Minimum
> Requirement for Employment
>
> Greetings all,
> I hope you are all well and staying healthy. I am writing because I am
> beginning my job search since I am graduating with my Master's in Clinical
> Mental Health Counseling this December and have come across my first
> barrier
> through my first interview.
>
> I interviewed for a position as a school-based therapist through a
> community
> mental health agency the other day. The interview went well but I received
> an email a few hours later from the person in HR with whom I have been in
> contact stating that while the supervisor said the interview was positive
> and productive, I disclosed that I am blind, and she wanted to clarify if I
> would still be able to drive and transport clients and if I had a driver's
> license and auto insurance.
> She said these were minimum requirements for the job. I should note that I
> never filled out an application for this position; the career coach from
> the
> Ball State University Career Center with whom I have been working connected
> me with this person from HR at a community mental health agency so I
> reached
> out with my CV and was soon contacted thereafter with an offer of an
> interview. I responded to the email inquiring about my ability to transport
> clients and verified that I am blind and do not drive but asked if
> transporting clients was an essential function of the job. My understanding
> is that most of the year, I would be meeting with students and families in
> an office at the high school or virtually, except in the summer and other
> breaks when they transition to a community-based approach. Therapists will
> pick up students and bring them to the school, meet with them in the
> community, or go to their homes. Additionally, if students meet with the
> therapist after the schoolday ends, therapists will drive them home. The
> supervisor said that when she was in this position, they sometimes made
> arrangements with parents for transportation, but this was not always
> reliable and she preferred to drive students herself as this allowed her to
> maintain the most control over her schedule.
>
> I am wondering if anyone on this list has done school-based therapy or
> community-based therapy that typically involves transporting clients as a
> part of the job, and if so, how you navigated this situation. I am curious
> if folks still apply for jobs where a driver's license is required. I am
> also curious if people have suggestions on how to proceed with this
> potential employer. I thought about the possible option of hiring a driver,
> but would this be acceptable to an employer if they are concerned about
> confidentiality and other liability concerns?
>
> I look forward to hearing back from you at your earliest convenience.
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Sarah
>
> --
> Sarah K. Meyer
> Graduate Student, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Ball State University
> Pronouns: she/her/hers. See
> www.mypronouns.org
> 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.
>
> _______________________________________________
> HumanSer mailing list
> HumanSer at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/humanser_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> HumanSer:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/humanser_nfbnet.org/justin.williams2%40gma
> il.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> HumanSer mailing list
> HumanSer at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/humanser_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> HumanSer:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/humanser_nfbnet.org/sarah.meyer55%40gmail.com
>


-- 
Sarah K. Meyer
Graduate Student, Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Ball State University
Pronouns: she/her/hers. See
www.mypronouns.org
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.