Networking Forum

Under the category of Establishing a Work Ethic
I would put "take initiative in solving problems." Don't expect or wait for anybody to solve accessibility or other problems--find solutions yourself and act on them. Stay in charge--you're the one who values you most and has your interests as a priority.

I have two skills that I believe that blind individuals need in the real world. First, learn to trust your gut. Many times it is difficult for some of us to read situations and intentions of other individuals. Learning to trust your gut will often keep one out of trouble when making decisions about these difficult situations. Second, I believe it is very important to answer the interviewer's questions, even though they probably should not ask those questions. Most of the time their questions are not meant to be taken personally. Many interviewers just do not know. If you feel otherwise, then do not go back or take the job. Blind individuals have to be extra willing to teach the public even though it may not be our responsibility. We must be willing to teach those around us about blindness, being careful to be kind and not punitive.

I also think being able to accurately analyse your own strenghts and weaknesses is extremely important as a skill not just for college students but for all job seekers, which ties into being able to accurately analyse and articulate situations you may encounter. Sometimes it requires that you step away from your own self consciousness about yourself and what your problems and attitudes are, to walk in someone else's shoes. Look at you as if you were hiring you, would you pass muster with what you have to offer? If not why not? Then work on that until you can.

If you can do that for yourself you'll then be able to effectively analyse problems and situations and team members accurately too. That will make you a good team player in your business but also someone's whose judgement your supervisor and team can rely on. Be trustworthy as well as trusting of others and yourself. Liz S

I agree with Melissa. Influencing others (teaching others) has an extra meaning when you're living and working with a disability.

It's a role we may not always savor, but I believe I have a responsibility for helping others put my disability (or disability in general) into a context that helps others shed some of stereotypes and misconceptions that are all too common today.

That educational role not only pays off in terms of the "common good" but it also is a key skill which can determine whether we gain entry into the work world -- and how well we do once we get there.

I believe this "extra" educational skill, by the way, is a critical success factor for almost any minority individual in any society.

Jim

As a blind or visually impaired job seeker, your awareness of and ability to articulate your relevant skill sets can be the edge you need to overcome a prospective employer's hesitancy about hiring you.

As a person with a disability many of these same things apply.

A common problem is with the self-talk that we tell ourselves based on our experiences or perhaps feedback we have or have not gotten. Your thoughts determine your attitude and a great attitude combined with excellent skill sets will set you apart in a world where mediocrity is the order of the day.

If work is a hard road, we are ready, willing and able to walk that road. We look for allies who will make the journey easier and smoother. We work towards the day when every person is viewed for their abilities and we all have them.

It is a process and will not be accomplished in a single moment but each day we work towards the goal of employment and we work fully employed we demonstrate our unique abilities. This is something to be proud about.

These are all excellent points. Another skill that I think is very important here is thinking outside the box, and not putting everyone in the same category. All throughout my job search it seems that the overlying opinion of my VR counselors and their superiors has been that I am not deserving of any services since in their eyes I am "different" from the average visually-impaired job seeker. This is a very dangerous assumption to make, simply because no two people have the exact same level of skills. For example, one person might be very good with computers and assistive technology but be unable to feel Braille dots, while the next person might be a very good Braille reader but lacking in their computer skills for whatever reason, be it lack of exposure to technology or just not possessing the cognitive skills required to use a computer. Then there are those of us who are very skilled in computers and Braille. This is exactly why the theory that those visually-impaired people who don't know Braille are illiterate, is incorrect. Screen readers, screen magnification software, and other assistive technology make it possible for non-Braille readers to be able to participate just as equally as those of us who are able to and do read Braille. Future advances in this technology will make it possible to do math and many other things without the use of Braille. Don't get me wrong, I am a firm believer in the use and teaching of Braille whenever and wherever possible. I just cannot understand why anyone would feel so strongly about it as to go to such extreme lengths and call those who don't read Braille illiterate. So to sum it all up, I think people too often make incorrect assumptions. In many instances those assumptions have led to harmful legislation being passed.

Anonymous excellent point. I am ' legally' blind, I have some sight , so was discouraged from learning braille, even though in my university teaching courses I wanted to learn it. That was almost 30 years ago now and technology has changed.

I like your point about not being niche'ed by VR workers, sometimes it's more work for them to find employment for those who don't quite fit the criteria. I was one of those I didn't fit the vr map of what a visually impaired person was supposed to be able to do,so I'd rely partially on voc rehab for information about programs and resources and paying for some of them but most of the time I had to find my own way.

I remember the last time I had to do testing, I was forty and I said to the examiners, here's what you're going to find what I excell at , here's what I'm crappy at and after 2000.000 of taxpayer money , they agreed with me.

Being able to step outside yourself and accurately analyze one self is not always deluding one's self about one's strengths and weaknesses. Learning to properly do this and learning to properly do the self talk is a skill one needs to work on. It takes time, often decades to do it right and be that totally honest with yourself.

Avail yourself of all and as many resources counsellors and programs available to you but in the end knowledge is power and you are the ' expert' about who you are , how you communicate that , and what your relationships are all about. Knowledge gives you the power of choice and to choose wisely. Liz S

I agree with Bill's requirement that folks "look good". For blind people, I suggest investing in a couple (not one but two) pair of black dress slacks and several blouses or shirts which can be paired with them. That way, you will always have something cleaned and well pressed to wear to the place where you work. Showing up on time is vital, particularly for a disabled person. Your physical disability and mine means that you and I stand out in a crowd. We stand out when we come in late to a meeting or in the morning or when we leave early. Little things like this count a lot. Be careful to let others talk. Sometimes, being less aware of body language from low or no vision may tend to make you or me interrupt others when they need time to talk or when you are not really part of their conversation. When unsure whether or not to interrupt, it may be more useful to be quiet than to be perceived as rude.

First off, let me say that it was I who posted the comment about thinking outside the box. I was using Webbie to post that comment, and for some unknown reason it decided to make me anonymous. Anyway, I'm glad Elizabeth and Bill brought up the point about "looking good." Although I am still unemployed, my new neighbors and skills tutors have been working with me on dressing appropriately and having good grooming skills. I haven't needed too much help on the grooming aspect, only the dressing part. Most of my clothes go together with just about anything but when a question arises in my mind about whether or not my socks match, for instance, I will ask my roommate. He is legally blind though, and whenever he can't help me I try and ask whomever else is around. If nobody else is around and I have to get dressed up for this or that occasion, I just try and make a good guess. So far this has not resulted in any problems, i.e., slacks with a mismatched shirt. At my receptionist job we could basically wear whatever we wanted to. This may sound like taking the easy way out, but Natural Ties was a pretty laid back work environment. But I do agree it's very important to "dress for success," not only figuratively.

It seems to me that we are talking, in many of our comments about the ability to compensate or overcompensate for blindness or other disability by whatever means we are able. I also believe that it is essential to do as much on the job to "accommodate" others as we expect for ourselves. Speaking in front of a group, using visual presentations, do we know of someone who needs large print, who cannot hear well, etc.? We become examples of the way we would like to be treated even though that may mean a little extra work on our part. It makes us a more effective part of a team and it says, "I am sensitive to the needs of my coworkers in a dignified manner.