[nfbwatlk] Re Job hunting

[Mary ellen]

After rereading my earlier post, I realized that I may have sounded cavalier
about the serious problems we face.  My intention was to focus on ways we
can deal with employers in a manner that puts us ahead of most of the rest
of the job seeking public.  I'm not minimizing the problems, both
technological and attitudinal.  They're severe.  In fact, I believe they're
getting more complex and difficult because of the changing nature of the job
market.

It is difficult to know whether failure to become employed is due to
attitudes about blindness, complex technological issues, or just plain
old-fashioned employer discression having nothing to do with blindness.

How do we advance ourselves when we don't even know for sure where to focus?
I believe the strategy of thinking of how we can be of service to an
employer and communicating that intent and competence is our single best
option.  It won't work as often as it should, but it sets our minds and
hearts free to focus on something other than fear of rejection.  No
guarantees; far from it.  It is generally good, however, to put our focus on
what we can do rather than on what we're afraid people might think of us.

If you get that job on Wednesday, Debbie, it will clearly be because they
recognized your worth.  If you don't get that job, the reasons may have
nothing to do with you at all.  They may be as ancient as the fear of the
dark.  Please, don't let the potential of their fears distract you from
believing in your tremendous capacity.

Mary Ellen



-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of debby
phillips via nfbwatlk
Sent: Friday, November 07, 2014 6:22 PM
To: Elizabeth Rene; NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Re Job hunting

Hi Elizabeth, what a thoughtful email you have posted.  You see, I have been
wondering what it means to "live the life you want".  
What does it mean to have "meaningful" employment? And what would it look
like to be accepted or rejected on the basis of my qualifications, not my
blindness.  The deeper question for me is: 
Why is it that we were taught that we will probably be rejected because of
our blindness? So then when that does happen we can't honestly assess
whether we just weren't the right fit for a position or we are rejected
because we're blind.

Mary Ellen mentioned that there was a time when we got jobs even when there
were no computers, and things were not accessible.  I understand that, and
had readers and got things brailled, and brailled things myself.  But the
nature of jobs has changed.  For instance, when I first started at IRS, only
people who worked in the Accounts area had computers.  The rest of us who
dealt mainly with tax law and procedural questions, used books.  The sighted
folks had books that they looked things up in.  The version they had for us
which was on Versabraille disc, was barely readable.  
So we memorized.  We took copious notes about things.  I had shelves and
shelves of braille bookseaall the tax publications.  
I was a fast braille reader, so I could keep up with my sighted counterparts
pretty well, once I got things organized in an orderly manner.  Then along
came computers and the Internet, and the Intranet.

They gave us a day-long training in JAWS, I kid you not.  (No wonder ow
still hate it and have a phobia about it).  Anyway, I saw my sighted
coworkers begin to be able to use the mouse to just click on stuff.  I still
had to use the keyboard.  I still did 80 calls a day, though.  And about
half the time, I still used my braille materials, in hard copy.  But now
things are very different.  Technology is changing ever more rapidly, jobs
are becoming more sophisticated, and as technology changes, the folks making
the screen readers and all struggle to keep up.  What ow was told about call
center jobs here in Spokane, for instance, is that the scripts keep changing
and the companies that have the call centers can't or won't help to make
JAWS and their software work together.  I have no idea whether, after my
interview on Wednesday, I will be hired or not.  And if I am hired will
their system and JAWS work together? That's what I don't know.  I believe I
can do what they need done for this job, I have the skill and ability to
answer the questions, etc.  What I don't know is whether JAWS or Window Eyes
or whatever, will work.  So not only do I have to project an attitude of
confidence, professionalism, and show my skill, I also have to worry about
whether the technology that they use will be a stumblingblock to my getting
hired.  Maybe it's not so totally blindness-related but in a way it is.
Sighted folks don't worry about whether they will be able to access the
computer to do the job.

Well, I'd best get going.  Sorry for the ramble here.    PEACE,    
Debby

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