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

Tue Apr 30 05:18:47 UTC 2013

Thank you. I will be doing a short unpaid internship this summer. I believe
once I have some current experience it will also show that my vision is not
a factor. I have been out of the workforce for about 10 years. I was a stay
at home mom plus I pursued competitive bodybuilding at the national level.

On Mon, Apr 29, 2013 at 8:32 PM, Nathanael T. Wales <ntwales at omsoft.com>wrote:

> 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@**nfbnet.org<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 <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<http://www.soundresearchconsulting.wordpress.com>
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>> >-- End of excerpt from "Mike Freeman"
>>
>>
>>
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