[nabs-l] Disclosing That I am Blind on job/internship application process?

Fri Jul 24 19:12:15 UTC 2015

Justin and all,

I think the person first language thing is also subjective, but I
simultaneously asked a question in the human services list and
answered this thread so it's something I'm exploring myself.

My thought is that I'm not my own client.  Of course with a client I
would say, "A child with X," or "A patient with condition Y," but for
me the only reason I even described myself as a disabled person is
because I don't want to say blind upfront.  If I had it my way I could
call myself a blind person in front of other professionals because
that's how I self-identify.

I also think that's one of the shortcomings of the human services
fields.  Too many human services professionals who don't have
disabilities get caught up in symantics and feel like to identify
someone by their disability is offensive.  If I, or any of us, got
angry or offended every time we were called the blind
guy/girl/chick/kid/person we'd never get anywhere.

I guess this is where the work of the Federation and my desired
employment collide, but as I'm not my own client or anyone else's I
don't see a problem with describing myself outside of person first
language.  If they have an issue with that as an employer, when I will
demonstrate across other sections of my resume which talk about the
populations I've worked with and in my interview when I talk
profesionally, then they are focusing on a very small part of me that
I see as important to my identity, and missing out on everything that
part of me can do for their business and clients.

On 7/24/15, Justin Harford via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> But they were definitely care if you were the president of the national
> Association of brown haired students.
>
>
>
>> On Jul 24, 2015, at 11:44 AM, Jamie Principato via nabs-l
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> Regarding blindness as a mere inconvenience or physical characteristic, I
>> wouldn't write that I have brown hair on a job application. It just
>> wouldn't be relevant. No one hiring me should care. So if my blindness is
>> likewise not relevant to the hiring process or the job, it doesn't seem
>> any more dishonest to not disclose that than it is to not disclose hair
>> color.
>>
>> -Jamie
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Jul 24, 2015, at 6:38 AM, Carly Mihalakis via nabs-l
>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> Morning, Justin,
>>>
>>> If blindness remains like a party line insists, nothing more than a what
>>> do they call it,   mere inconvenience, then why aren't we encouraged to
>>> be forthright about this personal characteristic? Feels a little
>>> dishonest to me. Aren't we supposed to embrace this personal
>>> characteristic? For my part, I love my blindness, want people whom mix
>>> with me also to regard this blindness in a positive light.
>>> Car
>>>> disability of any sort.  However, some situations do benefit you to
>>>> disclose
>>>> such.  Usually, I wouldn't disclose until you have the interview for
>>>> sure,
>>>> and I wouldn't do that unless my disability was obvious upon sight.  So,
>>>> if
>>>> you have a cane, dog, or something to indicate you have a disability,
>>>> in
>>>> other words, your disability is not hidden, telling the interviewer
>>>> before
>>>> you arrive lessens the shock value, and at least gives you a better
>>>> chance
>>>> of having an honest interview.  It also gives you the ability to better
>>>> access whether or not the place in question is a good fit for you; you
>>>> are
>>>> interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you. Of course, you
>>>> can
>>>> just go to the interview not having told them anything if you think that
>>>> is
>>>> best, you are not required to disclose at all.  If you are in need of
>>>> an
>>>> accommodation during the interview application or interview process,
>>>> then
>>>> you have to disclose in order to receive the appropriate accommodation.
>>>> I
>>>> hope this helps.
>>>>
>>>> Justin.
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Miso Kwak
>>>> via
>>>> nabs-l
>>>> Sent: Friday, July 24, 2015 3:11 AM
>>>> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>> Cc: Miso Kwak <kwakmiso at aol.com>
>>>> Subject: [nabs-l] Disclosing That I am Blind on job/internship
>>>> application
>>>> process?
>>>>
>>>> Hello everyone,
>>>> What are your thoughts about disclosing our blindness when applying to
>>>> internships and/or jobs?
>>>> I currently have a job (which is my first official job) so I have done
>>>> it
>>>> once, but I had an easy way.
>>>> My blindness was a major factor in being hired because I work for making
>>>> an
>>>> accessible campus map for my university. I got recruited because I was
>>>> a
>>>> blind student who was active on campus, so I did not have to think
>>>> about
>>>> when and how to disclose my blindness.
>>>> I am currently applying to different internships with hope of getting
>>>> one to
>>>> complete one of my minor requirements.
>>>> So I am a bit confused and concerned on how I should handle disclosing
>>>> that
>>>> I am blind.
>>>> Would you do it on case by case basis?
>>>> For instance, if you were applying to an organization that mainly
>>>> serves
>>>> blind client, would you disclose that you are blind, whereas, if you
>>>> were
>>>> applying for a corporate internship or a baby sitting job, you would
>>>> not?
>>>> I'd just like to hear your thoughts on this matter.
>>>> Thank you in advance.
>>>> Miso Kwak
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
>>>
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-- 
Kaiti Shelton
University of Dayton-Music Therapy
President, Ohio Association of Blind Students 2013-Present
Secretary, The National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts
Division 2015-2016

"You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back!"