[nabs-l] Getting the most out of working with a job placement specialist

[Jedi]

Jim,

I have used a placement specialist in the past. Unfortunately, most 
third party specialists and job developers work with the 
developmentally disabled and intellectually disabled. Many more of them 
don't have the appropriate education and attitudes necessary to really 
do any good for a blind person. The only thing my job specialist did 
was help me fill out job applications. I first thought to use my job 
specialist as a go-between to protect me from job discrimination by 
helping the employer understand that I'm capable. I think that, 
instead, the job specialist had an adverse and reverse effect: the 
employer not only thought I was physically disabled, but mentally 
disabled since it's usually persons with mental disabilities who use 
job specialists. When the specialist got me a job working as a 
dishwasher, I was assigned a job coach to work with me. This was 
procedure at the agency I worked with. Job coaches usually provide 
supported employment for the intellectually disabled. Obviously, this 
was an inappropriate service for me, and nothing I said made a 
difference to them. they had to follow procedure. On top of that, the 
employer saw the job coach as a seeing eye person until I made it clear 
that this simply wasn't the case.

In short, I would not use a job placement specialist. There isn't 
anything they can do for you that you can't do for yourself. It is also 
the rehab counselor's responsibility to help you find and retain 
employment using a number of strategies such as purchasing adaptive 
equipment or speaking positively as a reference. The rehab counselor is 
also supposed to point you toward resources that will make your career 
search more profitable. If you need help with part of the process such 
as filling out applications or driving from place to place, it's better 
to hire someone on your own using assistance from rehab if need be than 
to use a job placement specialist. That's just my opinion.
Original message:
> Hello,
> Last spring I worked with a placement specialist, and it was an 
> absolute waste of time. All my placement specialist did was shove job 
> announcements down my throat. I may be blind, but I know how to look 
> for job openings. It seems like that placement center may be geared 
> more towards helping people with mental/developmental disabilities 
> rather than physical impairments. I also got the impession that the 
> plascement person was taking advantage of m abilities. In other words, 
> because she knew that I know how to read, wrtie, communicate, and look 
> for jobs, I got the feeling that she may have viewed me as a "free 
> ride"-- a client for whom she did not have to do much.

> After that experience, I really had no desire to ever deal with those 
> people again, but I let my VR councilor talk me into giving them (and a 
> different placement specialist) a 2nd try.

> This time I want to go in there and establish very clear expectations 
> as to what I expect from the placement specialist. So I need to know, 
> what is it that a job placement specialist is supposed to do for a 
> blind person? We know how to look for, and apply for jobs, we know how 
> to communicate, and with some basic accomidations, we can do nearly any 
> job. So I once again ask, what is the role of a placement specialist 
> when the client is a blind person (especially a blind person with a 
> fair amount of useable vision)?

> What have been your experiences using or working with a job placement 
> specialist? Did the placement specialist do anything for you that you 
> couldnt do yourself? How did you make sure you didnot become a free ride?

> I'd appreciate any insight,
> Jim

> "Ignorance killed the cat; curiosity was framed."



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-- 
REspectfully,
Jedi

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