[humanser] Hi all, Fwd: To disclose or not disclose on internship apps

Fri Nov 20 18:38:49 UTC 2015

Kaitie,

What would it take for you to have your laptop in front of you; to take
notes. If this is viable then the interviewer will likely hear JAWS/Window
Eyes jabbering. Would you consider inviting the interviewer to check out
some of the NFB U-Tube videos? I am reluctant to say it is sometimes a bit
of a challenge to guide folks to think outside the box. I know that you can
make this work. You are talented, spunky and compassionate. 

Lisa Irving 

-----Original Message-----
From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kaiti
Shelton via humanser
Sent: Friday, November 20, 2015 4:47 AM
To: Human Services Division Mailing List
Cc: Kaiti Shelton
Subject: Re: [humanser] Hi all, Fwd: To disclose or not disclose on
internship apps

Hello,

Skype is an audio/video calling platform so video is included, but my
concern is that I would lose out on the ability to directly demonstrate my
skills in this area.  I will have to at least mention the blindness durring
the interview because the person will probably wonder why I'm not making eye
contact, and we should discuss it at that point as well, but I just feel
like it will be so much more limiting.  Anyone could see me being competent
on the interview and just write it off; unfortunately, I don't have the
money to fly or greyhound to all these places to interview in-person.
Thankfully a lot are in the Chicago area, so it is possible I could make a
tour through Chicago or something and hit several places as I go before
returning to Ohio, but that would have to happen under ver specific
circumstances as you can only have four applications active at a time
according to the rules set up by our national organization.

On 11/20/15, Lisa Irving via humanser <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Kaitie,
>
> I'm not familiar with skype interviews. I wonder, is there a way to 
> include a U-Tube video of you doing what you do best; live the life 
> you want because blindness is not what defines you, that is, show off 
> your talents and your abilities at the same time on a selfie 
> commercial via U-Tube. This suggestion is coming from someone who 
> considers herself technology inhibited. Lol.
>
> Lisa Irving
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kaiti 
> Shelton via humanser
> Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2015 8:53 PM
> To: humanser at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Kaiti Shelton
> Subject: Re: [humanser] Hi all, Fwd: To disclose or not disclose on 
> internship apps
>
> Hi all (take 2).
>
> First, I apologize for the nearly blank message preceding this one; 
> sometimes when I hit enter in my web-based email client, it thinks I 
> want to send the email rather than continue writing.  Anyway, I sent 
> the message forwarded in that original email to a list of blind music 
> therapists to try to get a direct response, but I still haven't heard 
> back and fear the list may be completely dormant.  Unfortunately there 
> is nothing out there for students in the field my age, and everyone 
> I've talked to on there is significantly older and nearing/already in 
> retirement age.  I hope to see if I can locate some other blind music 
> therapy students to create a new group for idea-sharing and questions 
> like this, but as I start applying for internships in January I need 
> the answer to this question relatively soon.
> I'd appreciate any input on this tricky topic.
>
> Thanks,
>
> On 11/19/15, Kaiti Shelton <crazy4clarinet104 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> From: Kaiti Shelton <crazy4clarinet104 at gmail.com>
>> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2015 01:21:24 -0500
>> Subject: To disclose or not disclose on internship apps
>> To: musictherapistswithvisualimpairments
>> <musictherapistswithvisualimpairments at yahoogroups.com>
>>
>> Hello all,
>>
>> I can start applying for national roster internship sites in January.
>> I've already combed through the entire list and picked out the 18 
>> that sounded the most appealing to me.  I even categorized them into
tiers.
>> I know I can have four applications out at a time, so they're in 
>> batches of four according to the level of preference I have for the 
>> sites.
>>
>> My big question concerns whether or not I should disclose my 
>> blindness on internship applications.  I know the standard practice 
>> is to not disclose information before the interview, but I'm 
>> wondering how solid that advice is given the field we are in and the 
>> nature of interviews now.  A lot of my older classmates participated 
>> in skype interviews/auditions rather than ones on-site, which could 
>> give me a disadvantage.  Sure, I could explain over skype how I do 
>> things and show the internship director some of my adaptive equipment 
>> if that issue arises, but it would not be as effective as doing it in
person.
>> They won't have an opportunity to observe me using a cane 
>> competently, or see me taking notes and referencing them from my 
>> notetaker.  I'm sure my professors might have some input here, but I 
>> am also sure that they would encourage me to seek out other sources 
>> for this information as I am their first blind student.  I don't want 
>> to be discounted before I have a shot at an interview, but could 
>> being upfront avoid possible pitfalls in the interview process if the 
>> internship director knows a little of what to expect?  Also, if the 
>> internship directly relates to my experiences should I disclose it 
>> then to show I have a possible edge in making empathetic connections 
>> with clients over a student music therapist who does not have prior 
>> experience with blindness, assistive technology, etc?  Thanks,
>>
>> --
>> 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
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> 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!"
>>
>
>
> --
> 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!"
>
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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!"

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