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

Mon Nov 2 01:24:46 UTC 2020

That would be discrimination if the community mental health agency is requiring you to have a drivers license. That should have nothing to do with it, there are plenty of persons who are blind who are working in community mental health agencies are similar agencies without drivers license. And the job you have does not require a drivers license as an essential part of it.

Sent from my iPhone

> On Nov 1, 2020, at 4:06 PM, Jess Trask via HumanSer <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi Sarah
> Are you working with the services for the blind in the state your in?
> 
> Have you considered hiring a driver?
> 
> The parents of the child/'children should responsible for transportation or
> the school district.. In most school districts I've lived in the had the
> regular bus that would take kids home right after school or what they refer
> to as an activity bus or later bus for the kids who would stay after
> school. Mostly for students who couldn't drive  in middle school and
> freshman maybe sophomore year of high.
> 
>> On Sun, Nov 1, 2020, 3:10 PM Sarah Meyer via HumanSer <humanser at nfbnet.org>
>> wrote:
>> 
>> 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.
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> il.com
>>> 
>>> 
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>> 
>> 
>> --
>> 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
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>> HumanSer:
>> 
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/humanser_nfbnet.org/jessandellie101611%40gmail.com
>> 
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