[Nfb-science] How and When to Let Prospective Employers Know About Vision Loss

[Mike Freeman]

Christine:

Whether to disclose one's blindness depends upon what jobs you are seeking
and, of course, on your preference. In the case of jobs with the Federal
government, it is to your advantage to disclose blindness on the application
as you are then eligible for being hired on Schedule A which is a much less
onerous process -- both for you and for those hiring you.

In most other cases, I advise disclosing your blindness -- and I would call
it that and if pressed, say you had some remaining vision if this is so --
after you've been scheduled for an interview. I know some people advocate
hitting the employer cold but I believe this to be counterproductive. After
all, you may have to discuss what systems and software are being used and
whether these can be made accessible and/or what reasonable accommodations
you might need. Be prepared to answer questions about your blindness both
before the interview and while it is being conducted but try to steer the
conversation so that your blindness isn't the sole subject of the interview
because this short-changes your opportunity to convince the interviewer that
you are the right person for the job etc.

Get the interview invitation in writing (email is okay) and, after
disclosure of your blindness, if there are suddenly no positions available
for you, get this in written form also. This lays the groundwork for legal
action should this become necessary.

Some employers are sufficiently savvy to be reluctant to put things in
writing if they are prejudiced kbut it looks pretty squirrely if they won't
do this.

Good luck!

Mike Freeman


-----Original Message-----
From: Nfb-science [mailto:nfb-science-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Christine Szostak
Sent: Saturday, April 27, 2013 3:21 PM
To: social-sciences-list at nfbnet.org; NFB Science and Engineering Division
List
Subject: [Nfb-science] How and When to Let Prospective Employers Know About
Vision Loss

Hi All,
  I am on the job market right now, and am wondering if others hear could
share when they noted their vision loss (e.g. during the application, after
the application but before the interview, during the interview, after
accepting the job...) with prospective employers. Also, how did you approach
the subject? In other words, how did you let the  prospective employer know
of your vision loss (e.g., terminology used, how it was brought up...).
Many thanks,
Christine
Christine M. Szostak
Doctoral Candidate and Research Consultant
Language Perception Laboratory
Department of Psychology, Cognitive Area
The Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio
szostak.1 at osu.edu
www.soundresearchconsulting.wordpress.com
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