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

Mon Nov 2 01:26:33 UTC 2020

It would be a good idea to work with your services for the blind. You can do things such as, hire a driver as was mentioned before. But really a drivers license should not be a qualification. They don’t have a reason to change the entire qualification for a job like that. I don’t think they can do that. Because you’re not a driver. You don’t need a drivers license to be a counselor for youth. Or high school children, or whatever it is. You just need the skills of counselor/mental health

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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>>> 
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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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