[nabs-l] Job Hunting

Tue Aug 7 13:46:59 UTC 2012

I have had employers say my blindness makes me a liability and I have had 
another employer tell me with no shame that I am blind so I would not be 
able to do the work and she didn't know what else she could tell me.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ignasi Cambra" <ignasicambra at gmail.com>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 07, 2012 3:54 AM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Job Hunting


> Gloria,
> Has any employer told you that they don't want to hire you because
> you're blind? I'm asking this because finding a job is always hard,
> and maybe there was another person that fitted their needs better than
> you. It really sounds like you're doing everything the right way, so
> I'm pretty sure things will eventually work out for you.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Aug 6, 2012, at 5:45 PM, Gloria G <gloria.graves at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>> I am not offended or anything by the questions that are asked. I am just 
>> upset that I am not given a chance. It is almost as if the employer has 
>> decided what I can and can not do the minute I walk in the door with my 
>> cane.
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Dodge" <daviddod at buffalo.edu>
>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, August 06, 2012 7:36 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Job Hunting
>>
>>
>>> Gloria,
>>> It definitely sounds like you are going about things the right way.
>>>
>>> I would try not to get discouraged or be concerned by the questions the
>>> interviewer is asking. It is definitely not a bad thing for a blind 
>>> person
>>> to help a sighted person better understand how the employment would 
>>> work.
>>> Think of it as an opportunity for you to advocate and teach the 
>>> potential
>>> employer something.
>>>
>>> The best that can be done is what you are doing - honestly answering
>>> questions and explaining things.
>>>
>>> David
>>> ----------------------------------
>>> David Dodge
>>> Diversity in Disability Planning Committee Chairperson
>>> English Major
>>> University at Buffalo
>>> 306 Clemens Hall
>>> Buffalo, NY 14260
>>> daviddod at buffalo.edu
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mon, Aug 6, 2012 at 8:28 PM, Gloria G <gloria.graves at gmail.com> 
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi Hope,
>>>> Did you go to get your masters in rehab counseling? I have also thought 
>>>> of
>>>> getting a masters in rehab counseling.
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Hope Paulos" 
>>>> <hope.paulos at gmail.com>
>>>> To: "'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'" <
>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Monday, August 06, 2012 7:16 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Job Hunting
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> No. I'm currently hunting for a job as well. I just answered them as 
>>>> you
>>>>> do,
>>>>> explaining how I would do certain things and giving examples. I 
>>>>> applied
>>>>> for
>>>>> a vocational rehabilitation counselor I. position and I would be 
>>>>> working
>>>>> with individuals with disabilities as well as mental  health 
>>>>> diagnoses.
>>>>> Nothing offends me so they can ask any question they want regarding my
>>>>> blindness. It's just a matter of overcoming the stereotypes put on us 
>>>>> by
>>>>> people who don't know what we really can do.
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org 
>>>>> [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.**org<nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org>]
>>>>> On Behalf
>>>>> Of Gloria G
>>>>> Sent: Monday, August 06, 2012 8:13 PM
>>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Job Hunting
>>>>>
>>>>> Hi Hope,
>>>>> Do you currently work? If so how did you get around those questions?
>>>>> Thanks
>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Hope Paulos" 
>>>>> <hope.paulos at gmail.com>
>>>>> To: "'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'"
>>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Sent: Monday, August 06, 2012 6:52 PM
>>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Job Hunting
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Hi Gloria. I think you're taking the right approach. I always disclose 
>>>>> my
>>>>>> blindness (it's hard for them not to see  that I'm blind because of 
>>>>>> my
>>>>>> guide
>>>>>> dog). I'd just continue to advocate for yourself as far as working 
>>>>>> with
>>>>>> at
>>>>>> risk youth.
>>>>>> Hope
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>> From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org 
>>>>>> [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.**org<nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org>]
>>>>>> On
>>>>>> Behalf
>>>>>> Of Gloria G
>>>>>> Sent: Monday, August 06, 2012 7:24 PM
>>>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>>>>> Subject: [nabs-l] Job Hunting
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>> I was wondering how do you handle interviews when the talk of 
>>>>>> blindness
>>>>>> comes up? I have had some interviews and in some cases the 
>>>>>> interviewer
>>>>>> does
>>>>>> not bring up my blindness, but I know it is something that is very
>>>>>> noticable
>>>>>> as soon as I walk in the door. I try to remain calm and answer the
>>>>>> questions
>>>>>> that pertain to the position I am applying for and I discuss how I 
>>>>>> would
>>>>>> handle these tasks despite my blindness. There are those interviewers 
>>>>>> who
>>>>>> just come right out and ask how I am going to complete the task 
>>>>>> required
>>>>>> of
>>>>>> me as a blind person. I answer and give examples of how I would 
>>>>>> complete
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> tasks. I guess I should have started out by saying I am a psychology 
>>>>>> and
>>>>>> sociology double major and want to work with at risk youth as a
>>>>>> counselor.
>>>>>> Because I do not yet have my degree I am trying to gain as much
>>>>>> experience
>>>>>> as possible because this is what future employers will be looking 
>>>>>> for,
>>>>>> but
>>>>>> the problem I run into is there are many organizations that work with 
>>>>>> at
>>>>>> risk youth in the town I live in, but there is always the question of 
>>>>>> how
>>>>>> I
>>>>>> am going to work with the youth as a blind person. I have also 
>>>>>> thought of
>>>>>> doing any work that envolved providing services to youth, women, 
>>>>>> families
>>>>>> such as, homeless shelters and things of that nature. I am just 
>>>>>> feeling
>>>>>> defeated at this point, because every door I have opened has closed 
>>>>>> shut
>>>>>> in
>>>>>> my face, and it only seems to be due to me being blind. I just want
>>>>>> someone
>>>>>> to give me a chance because I know I can do the work.
>>>>>> Thanks
>>>>>> ______________________________**_________________
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>>>>> hope.paulos%40gmail.com<http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/hope.paulos%40gmail.com>
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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>>>>> gloria.graves%40gmail.co<http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/gloria.graves%40gmail.co>
>>>>> m
>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>>
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>>
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>
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