[nabs-l] Stop Blaming the Economy

[Joe]

Tyler,

An employer would not need to pay hundreds of dollars for accommodations if
we took it upon ourselves to come into the job with our own resources. In
fact, that's a good way to minimize the perceived burden of hiring a blind
person. It's not altogether impossible to keep up our software licenses.
Anyone who goes into business for themselves has to front the expenses
associated with creating an accessible working environment.

I don't buy the argument that because many college graduates are living with
parents blind people should feel justified in being unemployed. A lot of our
generation is also doing ridiculous things like taking parents along to job
interviews. Does that mean we as blind people should start doing the same?
I'd like to see how well that bodes for the argument that blind people are
seen in a negative light for having a disability.

You say that while I'm keeping my skills sharp so are they. Okay, I got the
job. They didn't. You can't have it both ways. Either blind people can
compete, or they can't. It seems like the economy becomes this convenient
card to play when no other arguments hold water.

I'm not entirely sure what it is I'm in denial about. I've never said the
economy couldn't use improvement. I've never said finding a job is always a
piece of cake. All I've said is that it would be great if we could stop
hanging our hat on the economy as a reason to explain the persistent
unemployment among blind people, because the jobs are out there. Whether we
are ready or qualified to compete for them is another story altogether.

Joe

-----Original Message-----
From: Littlefield, Tyler [mailto:tyler at tysdomain.com] 
Sent: Thursday, November 14, 2013 9:53 PM
To: jsoro620 at gmail.com; National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Stop Blaming the Economy

Joe:
Minh's point was just this:

There are a ton of people right now (it's not really uncommon to see college
graduates living with their parents) without jobs. all of them are qualified
and all of them would love a job. While you're keeping your skills sharp, so
are they. Now, when it comes down to the hiring process, who do you think
employers are going to hire? Are they going to hire the blind guy who they
are uncertain about, who they may need to spend money on accomidating, or
are they going to hire the next perfectly abel person in line? They can pay
lower wages and people will still take the jobs, and guess what? If they
don't, the next person will. The economy is bad right now, which means it's
bad for everyone--you, me, uncle sam and most small businesses. Why shell
out extra hundreds of dollars that may be required on accomidations when you
can have someone that does the same job and costs you less? You sound like
you're in a bit of denial here, but it's the facts of life. No, Minh never
said we are less able. She was just pointing out some of the logical reasons
behind your point. you can deny all you want, but it doesn't change the
facts of life. As to your jab about her mantality, she's probably one of the
most active blind people I've met, so I don't think that's the case here. It
may be different for you to point that finger if she sat at home and did
nothing.
On 11/14/2013 9:32 PM, Joe wrote:
> Tyler,
>
> I'm not sure what reality check you're hoping I'll receive. If it's 
> unemployment you're wishing on me, anything is possible, but even with 
> a position in the federal government I have kept a part-time business 
> running, because although government jobs are said to be secure, 
> nothing is guaranteed. The shutdown didn't bother me because I still 
> had income to fall back on. If I lose my job tomorrow, I will have six 
> months of savings to actively seek the next best position. Why? 
> Because I have kept my skills up to date, because I have kept a fair 
> professional network intact, and because I understand the ability to 
> create positions for myself through the consulting capacity that a lot 
> of Americans pursued after the economic decline several years ago. I 
> say that in hopes people will be angered enough to try new strategies 
> to find their next job. Remember it's usually the first one that's the 
> toughest to obtain. If an idiot like me can steadily increase his income,
you can do it better.
>
> It's easy to say there are more people looking for jobs than there are 
> jobs to fill. Unfortunately that oversimplifies the argument into one 
> of quantity without fully looking at quality. The people who get 
> chosen are the ones who make the cut, and that's true no matter the 
> condition of the economy. The concern should not be the sheer number 
> of people competing for the jobs you wish you had. It's what you've 
> been doing to separate yourself from those numbers.
>
> Ashley,
>
> Right on about volunteering. I completed a year of AmeriCorps. During 
> that year I pushed myself into areas outside of my responsibilities 
> and learned a valuable skill that played a key role in landing my 
> first real job. Anything you can do to fill your resume is viewed
positively.
>
> Minh,
>
> I don't agree with Tyler's points, but I can see where he's coming from.
> Yet, it's exactly your mentality I can't process. This notion that we 
> as blind people will always be at a disadvantage when compared to 
> people who need no accommodations drives me crazy, because it assumes 
> no matter what we do, we will always be viewed as second class 
> citizens when compared to our sighted peers. An employer is not 
> thinking about the state of the economy when she is looking to hire 
> someone to fill a role. All she cares about is finding the right 
> person to do the job she needs completed. We're going to need 
> accommodations no matter the economy, so either we are competitive, or 
> we are not. I don't buy the logic that somehow the dim economy makes
things significantly worse for us.
>
> Joe
>
>
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--
Take care,
Ty
http://tds-solutions.net
He that will not reason is a bigot; he that cannot reason is a fool; he that
dares not reason is a slave.