Press Release October 19, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
eSight Members Show How to Tackle False Employer Perceptions
(New York City, NY - October 19, 2006) It can be done. But it'll take extra time, work and insight.
That's how the members of eSight Careers Network have sized up the task of gaining meaningful employment in today's mainstream job market for qualified individuals who happen to have a disability.
The extra time, work and insight is required, they say, to overcome fear, ignorance and prejudice among prospective employers.
A group of eSight members with a variety of disabilities and varying degrees of mainstream work experience discussed this issue on the eSight Networking Forum, an interactive feature of eSight for addressing disability employment issues. eSight is the global, cross-disability online community developed by The Associated Blind, Inc.
Jim Hasse, senior content developer for eSight, points out the forum's discussion revealed that, once individuals with a disability get beyond blaming themselves for the fear and the lack of understanding disability sometimes brings to the workplace, they are then free to address those same twin factors during their job searches.
"They are free to sidestep those employers who display entrenched prejudice," he says, "and concentrate, instead, on showing more receptive employers why they are the best candidates for open jobs."
Here's how Paola, one of the eSight bloggers involved in the discussion, cites her personal experience to describe the employer perception issue she faces:
"My experience with employers who are intimidated by those who are visually impaired hit home after a job interview. The shop owner was pleased with me. She claimed I sounded knowledgeable about the job being offered. I had enthusiasm, people skills, and a good business sense. This was all on the phone.
"When I showed up with the white cane, her demeanor changed instantly. The cane was all she saw from that point on. Although she had been friendly, warm, and witty (on the phone), now she had become withdrawn, nervous, and rushed.
"I left the shop with great disappointment. At first, I was blaming myself for the failure -- and then I blamed my visual impairment. After serious consideration, I (realized it was) the inability of the interviewer to see past my disability..."
Read "Disability in the Eyes of the Beholder" - a full transcript of the eSight Networking Forum discussion.
A feature article for October Disability Employment Awareness Month, "Perception: The Real Barrier in Disability Employment," by Hasse recaps this discussion about how best to tackle the issue of false perceptions is available on eSight.
The Associated Blind, Inc., a 68-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: (+1) 212 683-4950
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