Press Release July 11, 2005


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

eSight Members Give Employers Tips
About How to Avoid Condescension


(New York City, NY - July 11, 2005) Condescension is a disease and can be prevented.

That's the message members of eSight Careers Network are sending to employers in a new article, "'Swimming in the Mainstream' Insight: Avoiding Condescension.", currently highlighted in the site's Employer Resources section

The June discussion on eSight's "Swimming in the Mainstream" (SiM) blog centered on condescending behavior toward people with disabilities in organizations.

The SiM bloggers began by citing their personal experiences with condescension, but, through their online synergy, they generated material for the employer feature article about tips for avoiding that condescension (sometimes disguised as undue praise) on a corporate level.

"...Condescending behaviors that we (people with disabilities) all find irritating might be a symptom of an underlying organizational disease," observes Peter, a (SiM) blog participant.

More specifically, Roger, another SiM blogger, says condescension in mainstream workplaces often is accompanied by the words, "I think it's just amazing you can..."

The SiM discussion, observes Jim Hasse, senior content developer for eSight, eventually led to four benchmarks of productive organizational behavior - behavior that can prevent condescension from happening.

In the new Employer Resources article on eSight, Hasse identifies the four benchmarks as:

  1. Recognizing true commitment.
  2. Finding the right words for acknowledging the experiences of employees with disabilities.
  3. Treating employees with disabilities as individuals.
  4. Recruiting employees with disabilities who have interpersonal skills.

eSight's "Swimming in the Mainstream" blog is designed to help:

  1. eSight members share their personal experiences as individuals with a disability in the workplace.
  2. Job seekers showcase their accomplishments to prospective employers.
  3. Employers expand their awareness of disability employment issues.

The blog is made possible by a grant the American Express Foundation has awarded to The Associated Blind, Inc.

The Associated Blind, Inc., a 66-year-old non-profit organization, has been providing members of eSight Careers Network opportunities to collaborate on disability employment issues through accessible online discussions and resource building since October 2000.


CONTACT INFORMATION:

Source: The Associated Blind, Inc.
Contact: Nancy O'Connell
Tel: (212) 683-4950
E-mail: MemberServices@eSightCareers.net

Online community:
www.eSight.org

Blogs:
Job Seekers Network
Swimming in the Mainstream
Community News


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