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

Tue Apr 30 03:32:04 UTC 2013

Suzanne,

I have been following this thread, and I noted your post in particular.  I 
do use a cane (and almost certainly have less vision than you).  The advice 
to volunteer in your field of study is excellent: I personally did with the 
student chapter of a professional society in my field (the American Society 
of Civil Engineers).  I attended those career fairs, and I remember feeling 
skeptical reactions at various tables.  After the second fair that I 
attended I was contacted by one of the government agencies I had left my 
resume with--it turns out I had left it with the agency at the fair the year 
before!  They ultimately interviewed me for a student intern position and 
hired me.  Rehab understood that this was only a student intern position and 
that it was a part of achieving my vocational goal; I don't have experience 
with S.S.D.I.  That internship, after I graduated, resulted in the agency 
hiring me into an entry-level professional position.

I'd agree and encourage you to seek exactly these experiences.  And keep in 
mind that for all the skepticism you may get at a career fair, it takes only 
one who will set their skepticism aside to give you an opportunity for that 
first professional break.  I do wish you the same fortune--and 
blessing--that I had.

Nathanael Wales

-----Original Message----- 
From: Suzanne Germano
Sent: Monday, April 29, 2013 4:16 PM
To: NFB Science and Engineering Division List
Subject: Re: [Nfb-science] How and When to Let Prospective Employers Know 
About Vision Loss

I also wonder about this. I am partially sighted and my biggest question
comes with careers fairs at my university. Because I don't use a cane or
dog my visual impairment is not obvious. I do however have severe light
sensitivity so I wear red contacts and squint. So I feel at a career fair I
am almost better off telling them about my vision then make them wonder
what's up. Is she on drugs? which many people have thought due to the
squinting. But I also know that at career fairs they may just weed me out
once they know because you don't' get the chance to really explain how it
is not a factor on the job.

Also on the job hunt front, How does voc rehab view summer internships? Do
they consider you employable and stop your eligibility? Also SSDI how do
they view it? Does the months just start counting toward the 9 months of
substantial gainful employment?

I was told in a class that you cannot just graduate with a degree. That you
really need internships, research, volunteering etc and I feel especially
with our vision we have to almost be far superior as a candiate to get the
job.

On Mon, Apr 29, 2013 at 11:06 AM, Brian Buhrow <buhrow at nfbcal.org> wrote:

>         Hello.  I agree with most of what Mike Freeman said except that I
> would suggest disclosing when you arrive at the interview rather than
> before the interview itself.  While it may be the case that if an employer
> is going to discriminate they're going to do it whether or not you get to
> the interview, I've found that I'm able to make them feel much more
> comfortable in person rather than letting them stew and worry about  what
> might be between the time of disclosure and the interview itself. I've 
> done
> it both  ways and I've found that letting them meet me and discovering my
> blindness when they shake my hand really does work much better.
>         Alo, keep in mind, that it may be that if you're going into a line
> of
> work that is a result of your education, chances are good that your
> prospective colleagues will know who you are and know of your blindness
> before you even get the application turned in.  If this is true and you 
> are
> liked and respected by them, your blindness will still be an issue, but it
> will be one everyone is willing to work around and accomodate as best they
> can.  Again, your confidence and comfort level with your blindness will 
> set
> the tone for everyone to follow.  If you don't let it get in your way, 
> they
> won't either.
>
> Hope that helps.
> -Brian
>
> On Apr 27,  3:52pm, "Mike Freeman" wrote:
> } Subject: Re: [Nfb-science] How and When to Let Prospective Employers 
> Know
> } 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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> >-- End of excerpt from "Mike Freeman"
>
>
>
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