[nabs-l] Questions Regarding Campus Career Services

[Ellana Crew]

Hi Elizabeth,

I have not used my campus's career services, but I agree with much of what is being said here. I think it would be very important to speak with somebody else in the department/the head of the department. I wouldn't go straight to hire college personal like deans or anything yet until you try to resolve the problem within the department, but I think it would be a great first step.

What I also think would be really important to do is point out that while you are disabled, your disability does not automatically disqualify you from certain jobs or mean that you have to look for a specific range of jobs, because we know that as blind people we can do just about anything out there. I would make it a point of noting that they should not feel they have to take any special considerations into mind and try to think specifically about what a blind person can do, and should focus just on your skills and qualifications as any other student. Make sure to let them know that you as the disabled person are the best expert on what you can and cannot do and will let them know if something they recommend would not be doable for any reason. I would essentially ask them to just treat you as any other non-disabled student, and if there is something that you definitely can't do because of blindness such as something obvious like a driving job, that you will be the one to let them know and that they do not need to try and pick and choose based on what they believe a blind person is capable of. Essentially, let them know that the person does not need to have some sort of special expertise in finding jobs for the disabled, and that they just need to know how to help any student find a job and that you will be the one to set the boundaries of what you can and cannot do and they don't need to worry about doing that for you. It's important to let them know that you are the best expert on you.

Again, I'm sorry I can't offer any more particular advice for career services specifically, but hopefully this can be helpful for future conversations with other faculty in the department!

Ellana Crew, Vice President
Maryland Association of Blind Students
Website: nfbmd.org/students
Facebook: facebook.com/mdabs.federation
Twitter: @MDABS_NFB

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.

> On Jun 19, 2017, at 6:59 PM, Justin Williams via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> It is definitely a conversation with the supervisor.  She shouldn't be
> attempting to pawn you off onto someone else.  As a university student, it
> is your right to use those services.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NABS-L [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Sarah via
> NABS-L
> Sent: Monday, June 19, 2017 6:54 PM
> To: 'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: sarah at sarahblakelarose.com
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Questions Regarding Campus Career Services
> 
> Hi, Elizabeth.
> 
> I would advise speaking to this person's supervisor so that she can receive
> appropriate training. She was likely not attempting to discriminate against
> you but was definitely unprepared for her encounter with you. I suggest
> going back and informing her that you are not seeking, nor do you expect to
> use, services for people with disabilities. Stand your ground and inform her
> that you are a student of the university who is seeking job placement
> services appropriate for a person with your interests and degree and that
> you expect to be provided the same service that any other student would
> receive. If she refuses to serve you again, file a written complaint with
> her supervisor, copied to the office of students with disabilities and the
> university president. If you don't get satisfactory service after this,
> pursue additional avenues for getting your needs met. I have not used
> disability-related services for job placement since obtaining my graduate
> degrees--they are not equipped to provide appropriate job leads in
> specialized fields in the manner that university placement services are.
> 
> 
> 
> Sarah Blake LaRose
> http://www.sarahblakelarose.com
> Accessible instruction in Biblical languages
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NABS-L [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Elizabeth
> Mohnke via NABS-L
> Sent: Monday, June 19, 2017 6:16 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Elizabeth Mohnke <lizmohnke at hotmail.com>
> Subject: [nabs-l] Questions Regarding Campus Career Services
> 
> 
> Hello all,
> 
> I had an appointment with the career advisor on campus today. My appointment
> did not go very well. So I am curious if anyone else on the email list has
> made use of the career services on campus as well as what your experience
> making use of the career services on campus might be.
> 
> Basically, I was told that she did not have the expertise to help students
> with disabilities. So rather than assist me and exploring possible career
> choices that would match my interests and abilities, she spent most of the
> time trying to figure out where else I might be able to go to receive
> assistance in exploring career choices as a student with a disability.
> However, I was simply seeking The same career advising that is offered to
> any other student on campus. I ended up walking out of my appointment early
> because I was so frustrated that the career advisor was simply focusing on
> my disabilities rather than provide me  with the career advising that is
> provided to any other student on campus. 
> 
> Even though the career advisor denies this,  I definitely felt as though  I
> was being discriminated  against based on my disabilities. Has anyone else
> experienced a similar situation  when working with career services on
> campus?  If so,  how did you deal with this situation?  I would greatly
> appreciate any and all suggestions as to how I might be able to deal with
> the situation. 
> 
> Thanks,
> Elizabeth 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
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