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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Like Karen, it is the same as race or religion.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Just a traite.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>I don't disclose any of them either on a job application.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Justin<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> Job-Discussions [mailto:job-discussions-bounces@nfbnet.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Nicole Poston via Job-Discussions<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, May 19, 2021 10:32 PM<br><b>To:</b> job-discussions@nfbnet.org<br><b>Cc:</b> nmpbrat@aol.com<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Job-Discussions] Disclosing about your visual impairment<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Jess,</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>I really think it is a personal choice and know of people doing it both ways. I have always chosen to disclose at the interview for the very reason you described in your message... that the employer would feel as though I was not honest with them. I felt that even though I'd have the job, it could put a damper on the new relationship between myself and the employer. I also felt that if an employer really didn't want me because of my visual impairment and couldn't see past it to see all that I could offer them, then I didn't want to work for them anyway. I want to work for people who can at least respect me for the person that I am and can see past the disability. When I disclosed, I always tried to put a spin on it that would hopefully put them at ease and encouraged them to ask questions so that I could deal with any misconceptions they might have. I also understand why many people are hesitant to disclose, as I am also keenly aware of the fact that there is still rampant discrimination in the area of employment and it can be very discouraging to be repeatedly rejected simply because of your disability without being given the opportunity to prove you can in fact do the job. So I do see both sides of the coin. Ultimately, each individual has to decide what they can live with. Just my 2 cents. </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Nicole<br><br></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>-----Original Message-----<br>From: Jess Shek via Job-Discussions <<a href="mailto:job-discussions@nfbnet.org">job-discussions@nfbnet.org</a>><br>To: <a href="mailto:job-discussions@nfbnet.org">job-discussions@nfbnet.org</a><br>Cc: Jess Shek <<a href="mailto:jessshek@gmail.com">jessshek@gmail.com</a>><br>Sent: Wed, May 19, 2021 11:12 am<br>Subject: [Job-Discussions] Disclosing about your visual impairment<o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Dear All,<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>I have come across questions about when to disclose their visual<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>impairment when applying for jobs.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>A lot of them (including myself) will not disclose their visual<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>impairment in the resume, and also in the initial chat with employers<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>until the face-to-face interview taking place, as there will be<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>chances that your application will be totally ignored.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>One of my low-visioned friend only told the employer about her visual<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>impairment after she got an offer from the employer. She told the<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>employer as accommodations are needed. But the employer felt that this<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>was an integrity issue, that they thought that my friend should have<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>informed them about the visual impairment prior to the offer is given.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>And my friend felt that since just slight accommodations is needed<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>(e.g. having a bigger monitor), she doesn't think she should let the<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>employer know, as from her past experience, employers will not<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>consider her application when she mentions to them her visual<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>impairment during the hiring process.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Could I seek your view on that, i.e. when is the best time to tell<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>employers about the applicant's visual impairment? And, if no<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>accommodation is needed (e.g. for a low-visioned person), do you think<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>he/she needs not tell the employer about his/her visual impairment?<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Many thanks in advance!<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Cheers,<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Jess<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>_______________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Job-Discussions mailing list<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><a href="mailto:Job-Discussions@nfbnet.org">Job-Discussions@nfbnet.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/job-discussions_nfbnet.org" target="_blank">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/job-discussions_nfbnet.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Job-Discussions:<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/job-discussions_nfbnet.org/nmpbrat%40aol.com" target="_blank">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/job-discussions_nfbnet.org/nmpbrat%40aol.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>