Swimming in the Mainstream

I just wanted to
say that depending on whether you have a visible or hidden disability really
affects whether this is appropriate.
Because of all of the talk shows, real-tv craziness etc, there is usually a
subtle undertone these days that others need, want, should or can know about
your disability. We all need to have a bit of privacy, and I do not believe
our lives need to be open books in order to gain acceptance in the work
place.

If people are truly interested rather than being voyeurs then I
refer them to places where they can read more on their own. This theme in
current society of "telling all" is very disturbing to me. I shall never
forget when one of the managers working with me stood up in a meeting and
asked everyone if they had any questions about her disability. First of all
it assumes all in the room are focused on the subject, B) that if they have
questions they are going toask them in front of everyone and most important,
it assumes people have the language and vocabulary to talk about disability
which frequently they don't.

It's one of the first things I do, as if you just see me , you have no idea I'm legally blind. I don't use a white cane nor do I have a guide dog. It kind of gives it away tho when my nose is literally on the page of a manual or close to the monitor.

I have no trouble discussing my disability with my co-workers. I explain how much I can see, and if I ask for help , I really must need it. That I don't drive and never will.

I find if you make people feel at ease around you , and that they are able to ask questions and even the sometime idiot remark and not get jumped , (I have a quick wit) , it just makes it easier all around.

There will always be the jerks, but they're just that jerks, and their lives aren't over yet. And if the boss is one of those jerks, you know you're not a good fit and quietly start job hunting again, it doesn't take long to figure that out.

The people I work with do not have any interest in working with blind or visually handicapped. They often make remarks as they pass by me about 'not caring about his vision impairment'. Well let us work through this. The only person who might notice a comments like this is a visually impaired person, no one else in a workgroup would give this a thought.

This type of remark is a specific 'say' or 'drift' spoken when an opportunity arises.

I don't think any memo or meeting or introduction would help. They do not have enough concern and will call out in the form of 'freedom of speech' a remark that does not fill the workarea with 'accept' or 'welcome' or 'friend'.

I have been working with these people for over 10 years and do not think any change is possible. I have lost count about remarks about being killed. They resent having me around and drift this type of attitude. They know I can not prove this to anyone, so they have no need to stop.

I hope someone else will offer you better advise.

I work in a technical support call center where I am currently the only employee with an apparent disability. I am virtually totally blind. I use a white cane so my blindness is quite obvious. I am treated as a "normal" person. Though I have been experiencing serious job related technology accessibility issues, only management and other selected colleagues are aware of them and all sincerely support my accessibility advocacy efforts.

When I was working at a nonprofit organization as a receptionist, I was accepted by others in the office. As a matter of fact, the person who told me about the organization had gone to school with me and knew me pretty well. In addition, this organization was disability-related. I was heavily involved with the social activities offered by the organization, and I was surrounded by people with disabilities. I would at times accompany the staff on visits to recruit new members, and I felt very comfortable discussing my disability with others. I also feel accepted in and around my new apartment. I have been doing a lot of education about blindness, and my preferred way of being taken around and performing other tasks. I am living with people who have a vested interest in me and in this organization, and these people clearly have a positive outlook. I also have a life skills tutor who is very dedicated and who understands and wants to work with me. I am of the opinion that if one way of doing something doesn't work, other methods need to be tried until the one which works best is found.
Jake