April 25, 2008
Working to Return to Work
Today we welcome Michelle Clark, guest facilitator. JRH
Vision loss as a working professional comes differently. As in my situation, it came after putting in 25 years of work. Although I had sufficient time and title to retire, I simply believe, "I am too young not to be working."
After floundering several years with diagnosis and rehabilitation, I believe I am now on a track in which the destination point is marked "Return to Employment".
Here is the path I found that is working for me:
- Determine if you really want to return to work. Full, part time or other variations may fulfill your needs.
- Obtain a small portable tape recorder and use it until better skills emerge.
- Join and become active in area and national blindness disability organizations.
- Volunteer your services in some manner when possible.
- Contact city and state rehabilitation departments to assist with needs assessments, training, and adaptive equipment.
- Seek to learn at least uncontracted Braille reading and writing. This will help with taking short notes, managing labeling of items and food.
- Reach out to community activities who service blind and visually impaired persons. Local libraries can be good resources.
- Some manner of rehabilitation is a must if one wants to return to an office situation or do work such as on a computer and take notes. Mobility is also encouraged as to maintain independence in work life.
- In all, as skills are being acquired, it is good to maintain a schedule similar to that of the type of job one is looking toward.
- Maintaining daily practice regiments will help speed the journey and sharpen skills as time progresses.
- NETWORK. NETWORK. NETWORK.
After acquiring your visual impairment, what steps worked best for you in your efforts in preparing to return to work?
Posted by Michelle Clark at 05:44 PM | Comments (2)