[Nfbmo] Barriers to Blind Employment
DanFlasar at aol.com
DanFlasar at aol.com
Wed Oct 3 05:21:45 UTC 2012
Matt - very, very well said - you've given us an eloquent distillation of
the hard things you've learned - and given me a lot of things to think
about.
Thanks!
Dan
In a message dated 10/2/2012 11:26:01 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
matt.sievert at gmail.com writes:
Group,
My name is Matthew Sievert, and I am 41 years old and legally blind. I
currently live in suburban Detroit working for a company writing computer
applications for the auto industry.
I want to address some of the points that Gary Wunder has mentioned in his
email regarding "barrier's to blind employment".
I have no experience with the first two issues which are as follows.
1. Lack of good training in assistive technology--there is more to using
Jaws or WindowEyes than arrow and tab keys.
2. Some programs, internet or otherwise, will not talk, regardless ones
level of competence with screen-reading software. This eliminates jobs that
capable blind people could do.
Here is where I would like to begin my comments.
3. Some of us place restrictions on potential employment that we might not
place on it were we not already receiving minimal incomes: I will not ride
the bus an hour each way; I cannot move to a different city because this is
where my friends live; I do not want to live in a city, even though I know
there are no jobs in my community and no transportation for me to get to
another.
My comments to number 3 are as follows.
You don't want it enough. You need to have a goal. Perhaps a short-term
goal. Do you want to live on your own and do what you want, when you want?
If so, then effort and great sacrifices will need to take place. You will
ride the bus for an hour. You will work for a very low wage. You will eat a
lot of ramen noodles and count quarters, hoping you have enough for
laundry. Eventually you will achieve your short-term goal. You will get
work experience and find a better job. you will get a raise. You will get a
better job. The new job will be closer to home. You will get more money,
and you will no longer dig around the change dish looking for one last
quarter to dry your clothes. As far moving. If it means a better
opportunity then do it. Do it while your parent's are young. Eventually you
will want to be closer to your relatives as they get older. So go exploring
now. You can always come back home later.
Next comment from Gary Wunder.
4. I am afraid. School I understand, but what would it be like to work in
an
office and have to learn the location of things, learn the names of new
people, and figure out how to make accommodations when something changes.
My comments.
This is called "life". Everyone else deals with this issue, you are not
special.
Change and exploration is awesome. School is a foundation. They give you
some tools and send you on your way. It is up to you to follow your desires
and do what you want. Change and uncertainty is part of the journey, and
not an obstacle.
Next comment from Gary Wunder
5. I am stuck where I am. It has been ten years since I had to get up in
the
morning and meet a schedule. At one level I think I can do it, but at
another I'm scaredd.
My comments
This is totally up to you. Look around you. Do you like what you see right
now? if so then fine. If not, then start making notes and decide the small
things you can change. From there you can build. What excites you? What
makes you curious? Is there something you want to know? Even if it has
nothing to do with your formal education or training. Go exploring. If you
are single, then you answer to only yourself. Your parent's will love you
regardless. But it is only your responsibility. You can start small and
explore areas of interest. You don't need to do this all at once. A
part-time job. A weekend conference. A meeting with someone who has common
interests. It all starts with you deciding to do something different. Only
if YOU REALLY want to.
Here is Gary's final comment.
6. The earnings cliff means that, no matter how much I want to work,
economically it just doesn't make sense.
My comments
Number six is the best one. Since I am single and I took care of this at a
young age. I will not have the same perspective as someone who might have
more medical issues or is at an older age, with that said.
The day my part-time employer gave me a raise to the point where I could
sustain myself month-to-month was the point where I was on my own. I called
social security and told them I had met my limit and no longer needed their
help. I went into the social security office and signed some papers and I
stopped receiving monthly SSI checks. the audits continued for two years as
expected, and that didn't cause any issues.
I was eating ramen noodle, taco bell, and using window fans instead of my
air conditioner, but I was supporting myself.
I took a part-time job up at Bass Pro Shops Corporate Headquarters. I spent
quite a bit of my paycheck on cab fare. I complained about the cost of the
cab and so forth and a good friend said, "at least you have a job. this is
only temporary, you will eventually get a raise and it won't be so bad."
Six months later. I got a raise and also the bus route down Kearney was
extended. So things got better.
The longest job I have ever had was a minimum wage usher job at Missouri
State University. I worked as an usher there for over sixteen years. That
is the BEST job I have ever had. I learned so much from that position. I
learned how to interact with strangers. How to build confidence on what you
know. How to deal with change. I also learned how to be honest with
yourself. I learned to ask questions, and I learned to listen to people.
Simply stand there and listen to someone.
This is not a story of success, because I am not there yet. I have had many
challenges, a lot of them self-inflicted. There have been many pity
parties, and some very awkward situations.
I can tell you that this is hard. Every day is very hard. It is a challenge
to live, work and socialize in what is essentially a sighted world.
Like I have said in the past to anyone who will listen. You have to
1. Want whatever you desire. I mean really want it.
2. You have to work three to four times as hard as a sighted person to
obtain the same goals
3. You have to have a plan of attack. It is a big ol chess game. Be ready
for whatever comes next. Even if it is unexpected.
4. Money, Money goes a long ways to equalize. It buys you freedom. It gets
you tech. It takes you places where sighted people can go with a lot less
effort.
I can go on and on and on, but the the hardest part of succeeding as a
visually impaired adult, is overcoming the daily obstacles. The actual job
for me is not my greatest challenge. Getting to work safely, getting to the
hardware store to buy improvement items, Having a social life, building a
future family, and obtaining my dreams. Those are the really difficult
things.
One final note.
A local Social Security case worker called me up a few years ago and told
me they think they underpaid me for a portion of the time I was on SSI.
They wanted me to come down to their office and talk with them about
reopening my case. I told them "no". They said, "not even if it means you
might get more money?". My response was, "I have worked so hard to get to
where I am now. There is no reason for me to go back to that part of my
life." She seemed very taken aback and I wished her a good day.
Thank you for your time and I wish everyone the best of luck. It is a
really really really hard journey, but the successes are really awesome.
Matthew Sievert
On Tue, Oct 2, 2012 at 5:37 PM, Gary Wunder <gwunder at earthlink.net> wrote:
> Hi Matt. I think this is what Jim wants--none of us are writing the truth
> but trying to find it.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Nfbmo [mailto:nfbmo-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Matt Sievert
> Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2012 3:56 PM
> To: NFB of Missouri Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Nfbmo] Barriers to Blind Employment
>
> I have very strong feelings on 4,5,6.
>
> I will send my feelings and how I deal with them in another email.
>
> I will also make sure I indicate at the top of the email. So those who
> don't
> want to, won't have to read very far before deciding to delete the
message.
>
> I don't mean to "push" my ideas on others. I just want to provide
> observations on those areas.
>
> Matt
> -----Original Message-----
> From: "Gary Wunder" <gwunder at earthlink.net>
> Sender: "Nfbmo" <nfbmo-bounces at nfbnet.org>
> Date: Tue, 2 Oct 2012 15:30:56
> To: 'NFB of Missouri Mailing List'<nfbmo at nfbnet.org>
> Reply-To: NFB of Missouri Mailing List <nfbmo at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [Nfbmo] Barriers to Blind Employment
>
> Here are the things I've observed and heard. We need to get solid
> information from those who are unemployed and not rely much on
second-hand
> accounts such as the one I am about to give.
>
> 1. Lack of good training in assistive technology--there is more to using
> Jaws or WindowEyes than arrow and tab keys.
>
> 2. Some programs, internet or otherwise, will not talk, regardless ones
> level of competence with screen-reading software. This eliminates jobs
that
> capable blind people could do.
>
> 3. Some of us place restrictions on potential employment that we might
not
> place on it were we not already receiving minimal incomes: I will not
ride
> the bus an hour each way; I cannot move to a different city because this
is
> where my friends live; I do not want to live in a city, even though I
know
> there are no jobs in my community and no transportation for me to get to
> another.
>
> 4. I am afraid. School I understand, but what would it be like to work in
> an
> office and have to learn the location of things, learn the names of new
> people, and figure out how to make accommodations when something changes.
>
> 5. I am stuck where I am. It has been ten years since I had to get up in
> the
> morning and meet a schedule. At one level I think I can do it, but at
> another I'm scaredd.
>
> 6. The earnings cliff means that, no matter how much I want to work,
> economically it just doesn't make sense.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbmo-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbmo-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf
> Of James Moynihan
> Sent: Monday, October 01, 2012 10:36 AM
> To: NFB of Missouri Mailing List
> Subject: [Nfbmo] Barriers to Blind Employment
>
> Fellow Federationists
>
> The rate of unemployment for the blind is between %70 and %80. The
> Employment Research Committee (ERC) is working on identifying the
barriers
> to employment of the blind and possible solutions. Pleas state the
> barriers
> that you believe contribute to blind unemployment and possible solutions.
> Your assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated.
>
> Cordially,
>
> Jim Moynihan
>
> ERC Chair
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