[Job-Discussions] Making that Career Choice

Thu Sep 29 23:13:56 UTC 2022

We should be doing what some other countries do where if you are disabled, you get a set amount every month regardless of your employment status.
Haylie

-----Original Message-----
From: Job-Discussions <job-discussions-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Julie McGinnity via Job-Discussions
Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2022 7:07 PM
To: Job Discussions internet Mailing List <job-discussions at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Julie McGinnity <kaybaycar at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Job-Discussions] Making that Career Choice

It's  not SSI itself that's the problem; it's the lack of incentives to go to work that's the problem. Both sides have a point.

No, no one really wants to stay on SSI, but with SSI we've got a cliff. Sure, you can make a little bit and still get benefits, but the program won't allow you to support yourself on a minimum-wage job and keep your benefits. It's going to be either or, and although more customer service jobs are opening up for blind people, there is still a lack of entry level jobs for us. And some of the customer service jobs at that level are seasonal or part-time. There aren't enough incentives for our community to go to work in entry level positions because by and large the positions aren't as plentiful, steady work may not be something we can count on, and vocational rehabilitation does not help us get these entry level jobs as we are applying for other things.

I spent 15 months looking for a job. As I searched for jobs, I worked teaching a couple voice students, subbing for our choir director when she went out of town, and assisting a technology company for a short time when they needed extra hands. I was desperate to get off SSI for a variety of reasons. But had I been sighted, so many jobs would have been options, everything from Starbucks to clothing stores at the mall. I could have worked as a waitress or at Target. But these jobs aren't available to blind people. These stand-in jobs that people outside our community take when they need to just aren't open to us.
This, in my opinion, is, aside from negative attitudes about blindness, the greatest barrier to unemployment and under-employment of the blind.

You know what is available? SSI, and it's not just available. It's a trap, and it's what everyone from rehab counselors to family to our own community expects us to do while we wait for that job that will pay 50 thousand dollars a year or more.

But it's not necessarily a trap because it's free money. I mean, there will always be people in every community who don't want to work, but that's not what I'm talking about. It's a trap because it disincentivizes work and it's got reliance built into its foundation.
So instead of working while we look for a better job, we work very little, work under the table, or just chill while we're applying for that perfect job with that  place that will hire a blind person.

The system is broken, but I'm not just talking about the SSI system.
I'm talking about the lack of entry level jobs for blind people.

Julie

On 9/29/22, Ericka via Job-Discussions <job-discussions at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> I agree with both of you. I agree with Dick and I agree with you that 
> things need to decrease slowly and not be tied to medical care. 
> However we should also be teaching our kids not just kids who are 
> blind or have a disability of some sort how to spend money wisely from 
> the beginning. Then maybe they won’t blow it all his dick says some I 
> know do
>
> Ericka Nelson
> NFB Wi member, Crafts, Nature, books, writing, and helping others 
> makes me happy.  Go make others happy!
>
>> On Sep 29, 2022, at 5:07 PM, Jennifer Wenzel via Job-Discussions 
>> <job-discussions at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> I would respectfully disagree with you. I personally come into 
>> contact with many individuals on both SSI and SSDI who wish to keep 
>> these benefits or need to for various reasons. They sometimes work 
>> fewer hours to comply with earnings limitations, or choose not to 
>> work at all. This is of course their choice, but it speaks to a huge 
>> flaw in the benefits system. These benefits should be decreased more 
>> gradually, and they should not be tied to medical benefits so that 
>> people can be free to work and get promoted and get raises without fear of losing critical medications.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Jennifer Wenzel
>> HR Generalist, Beyond Vision
>>
>>  NCUEB Certified
>> P: (414)-778-5800 Ext. 5874
>>
>> |
>> F: (262) 439-5865
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> jwnzel at beyondvision.com
>>
>> |
>> https://www.beyondvision.com/
>>
>>
>> 5316 West State Street Milwaukee, WI 53208
>>
>>
>> Our Vision: Enrich the lives of Americans who are blind… through the 
>> dignity of work valued by customers and the community.
>>
>> Give the gift of employment. DONATE
>>
>>
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>>
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>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Job-Discussions <job-discussions-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf 
>> Of Haylie Gallacher via Job-Discussions
>> Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2022 4:58 PM
>> To: 'Job Discussions internet Mailing List' 
>> <job-discussions at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Haylie Gallacher <jordanandseptember at gmail.com>
>> Subject: Re: [Job-Discussions] Making that Career Choice
>>
>> CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do 
>> not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender 
>> and know the content is safe.
>>
>>
>> Statements like the following are simply not true.  when SSI hits, 
>> they are going to think they are millionaires, and there goes the 
>> incentive to work.  I know no one who is on SSI who wishes to remain 
>> on it, and if one wants to it is their choice and no one others.  I 
>> hate to say it but the NFB's views on things and screwing somethings 
>> up for us is exactly why I am now no longer a NFB member not to 
>> mention other issues that are discrimitory at one of the centers if 
>> you have multiple disabilities such as I do.0020 -----Original 
>> Message-----
>> From: Job-Discussions <job-discussions-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf 
>> Of Karen Rose via Job-Discussions
>> Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2022 12:59 AM
>> To: Job Discussions internet Mailing List 
>> <job-discussions at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Karen Rose <rosekm at earthlink.net>
>> Subject: Re: [Job-Discussions] Making that Career Choice
>>
>> I could not agree more! The social security administration has us 
>> listed, along with people who have Sarabel palsy, as presumptively 
>> disabled, that is presumed unable to work! What a message to give our 
>> young blind people
>>
>> Karen Rose MFT/LPCC www.career-therapy.net
>>
>>> On Sep 28, 2022, at 9:56 PM, Dick Davis via Job-Discussions 
>>> <job-discussions at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> I think SSI, coming at age 18, can be a real curse for young blind 
>>> people. For years I have told parents to try to get their blind kids 
>>> into jobs early, so they get the satisfaction of earning a paycheck 
>>> for a job well done. If not, when SSI hits, they are going to think 
>>> they are millionaires, and there goes the incentive to work.
>>> Dick Davis
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>>>> On Sep 28, 2022, at 11:38 AM, Kris Colcock via Job-Discussions 
>>>>> <job-discussions at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I so agree with you! When we can get our kids into summer work 
>>>> experiences, camp counselors, fast food service, mail rooms, etc. 
>>>> the experience is extremely valuable. The social aspects, problem 
>>>> solving experience, some real life experience of managerial 
>>>> expectations prepare you for what is really ouut there.
>>>>
>>>> I've read so many different articles and posts on how to understand 
>>>> that every job is a stepping stone. What you learn from that 
>>>> temporary position, that position you took because you had to make 
>>>> ends meet or that internship that sounded fantastic but turned out 
>>>> to be a nightmare is more valuable then reading about it in a book 
>>>> or class lecture. No becomes a CEO of a large company without experience.
>>>>
>>>> Staying open to opportunity and thinking outside of the box can 
>>>> lead to unexpected results.  I mean, who would have guessed that 
>>>> Steve Jobbs would have used the experience of calligraphy when 
>>>> creating the Macintosh?
>>>>
>>>>> On 9/28/22, Jennifer Wenzel via Job-Discussions 
>>>>> <job-discussions at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>> This is a great discussion. I think it is important to think about 
>>>>> both "jobs:" and "careers". While I do not feel it is a good idea 
>>>>> to try to push people into expected careers, I do think it is very 
>>>>> Important for blind people to gain work experience. This may mean 
>>>>> working at something that is not your passion and may not be your 
>>>>> ultimate career, but will give you valuable work experience which 
>>>>> can be shown on a resume.
>>>>> Sighted people gain work experience like this through early 
>>>>> entry-level jobs. For example, my sighted sons have worked in a 
>>>>> fast food restaurant and at a grocery store. Some blind people 
>>>>> gain this type of entry-level experience early, and that is great. 
>>>>> This type of experience cannot be
>>
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>

--
Julie A. McGinnity
MM Vocal Performance, 2015; American University Washington College of Law, JD Candidate 2023

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