Swimming in the Mainstream

I have had only one real job, so I will touch upon that when answering this week's question. I worked as a receptionist, and the organization was disability-related to begin with. I was the only visually-challenged person working in the office. I had previously gone to school with someone who was on staff there, and he knew me well enough to tell the other staff and volunteers what I needed. There was never a point where I felt unaccepted on that job, or in the organization's activities.

My experience has been that people "forget" you are blind once they know you. Not that they try to forget because it is a bad thing, but it just genuinely isn't one of the top things they think of when they think of you. They think "wow, she knows about computers, I can ask her my techie question." They think "She's a good supervisor, I can bounce this question off her and get sound feedback." etc. I have a white cane, and I read things 1 inch from my nose, so it is not like I am trying to pass for sighted. I am glad not to get comments like "you do a really good job for a blind person". I want to do a really good job for ANY person, so I make it a point to do so.

For the most part, shortly after I started my current job in June of 2003, most people simply forgot about my blindness altogether, accepting me as just another member of the team. My overall career experience to date has taught me that, if you don't make a big deal about your blindness and just perform the duties of your job with confidence and competence, your coworkers will tend to accept you easily.

Sadly, my technology accessibility issues on my current job have started to overshadow this acceptance, especially with some in middle management. I don't think they regret hiring me, but they are starting to see me as more limited, which I am due to some serious accessibility problems with the tools used to serve most of our customers. Blindness has become a bigger deal, I have been forced to focus on it from time to time and I have noticed my overall acceptance decreasing as a result. It is also worth noting that the lack of technology accessibility has made me a bit more nervous lately. I'm sure this has an impact on others who might feel I am a bit less approachable. I'm not sure how to combat this trend. I'll appreciate additional comments on this subject.

I gained acceptance as a 'teacher' before officially getting my teacher's certificate when I volunteered in the special ed department under a special ed supervisor and two principals. I came in five days a week, worked half a day, with no pay as I wasn't certified for almost three years. With the exception of two staff members, who didn't think disabled persons had any right to teach in a regular classroom I gained two different staffs and the special ed dept of two boards respect so much so that they all signed a letter to the ministry of ed stating I should be given my teaching certificate.

I proved to them that I was good with the kids. Kids were inventing learning disabilities to be able to go out with Miss S. I took over for teachers when they were out of the classroom including principal's relief in other words I fully demonstrated I was competent and confident in what I did. I'm still friends with many of the staff today as well as the principals.

I fully particpated in staff activities just like I was one of them and one principal, after signing the letter for certification said to me I 'm losing the best volunteer I've ever had but now you'll get fully compensated for what you do.

I do not think there is one incident or instance in the work environment that can prove to us and others that we have been accepted by our coworkers on the job. There will always be some who will not accept us. There will always be some who will work harder at accepting us than some others do. It also depends on which level of the workplace one is referring to. We might be fairly well accepted by our peers but not by upper level staff.

One incident on one former job that did show me that upper staff in my particular area were wanting to help bring about acceptance was when they asked me to write a memo which would be sent to all workers, explaining blindness and how it is for me with ways to help others feel less frightened about me and my disabilities. The fact that they allowed me to write this memo was really remarkable at the time.

However, when a new CEO came into the company, and new upper staff were hired, much of this went away because the new CEO saw extra expenditure of adaptive equipment as excessive, even when we explained that the agency for the blind could pay for the equipment and possible upgrades.

So I think that the idea of one incident showing we've been accepted at the workplace might be somewhat simplistic, idealistic and, though a good stepping-stone, just not the whole picture.

I have held many jobs, from a Telephonist, Admin Assistant and finally an Admin manager. Though I am visually impaired, I have received several promotions, the first job being a telephoneist and finally ended up as an Admin Manager. Receiving such promotions, just like the sighted is a clear sign that I was accepted

Though I cannot see enough to know what is on a computer screen, many of my colleagues will call me over to sit with them and read to me a computer screen mainly to solve their problems.
Through out time, they have learnt to depend on my experties and would always call me even if it out of office time just to check with me on how to solve sticky situations.

I very often dine with them, party with them and even tour with them and this is a clear sign that I have been accepted as one of the team.

One of the ways I know I am accepted is that some of my colleagues refer to me as "The Oracle" because I have excelled in initial and ongoing job training classes and I frequently provide technical assistance to others on the various accounts we serve.

We are definitely vulnerable to the level of acceptance or lack of same on the part of upper management. Due to internal changes, a couple of my biggest supporters have been laid off. This is one more factor that is making me nervous about my prospects for continued employment here with all the accessibility problems I am currently suffering.

Lauren,
Did you lose your job or suffer any negative consequences due to the new CEO's ignorance and lack of acceptance?

Over the years i have held many jjobs, from a clerk typest receptionist in 69 to a Business Enterprise Trainer for the State of Nevada in the early 80's. I've been an in-home-care provider, child care attendant, worked in the field of counseling, and had a brief go round with a musisc career.
What I've learned through all of this is that there are some people who will accept you for who you are. There are some people who never will. There are some people wwho just don't really care except regarding how it all effects them. I have been pretty well excepted on most jobs that I've held. I am blind, but that doesn't define who i am. It is only a part of who I am. If I'm willing to always do the best job I can, treat people the way I'd like to be treated, and expect to be treated in the same manner, most of the time, that's the way it goes.
I'll be starting a new career in a few months as a call center representative. I am going in sure of my skill and knowing who I am. I feel confident that i will be accepted in the same light. Why should this job be any different than the ones in the past, though it will be more reliant on technology.

Hi, Darrell:

At a gut level, I recognize where you’re at, Darrell, because I’ve been there, too. Uncertainty -- about who you know is your supporter and who is not in middle management -- can be unnerving.

Believing people with power question your on-the-job contributions or whether you’re the right "fit" for the job can break anyone’s self-confidence. Unchecked, that apprehension can make whatever we try to do seem strained. As a result, we become vulnerable in ways not associated directly with our disability.

Just three thoughts:

First, these are the times when we need to personally recount and enjoy our own success stories about work – little instances like being referred to as "The Oracle" by co-workers. Hold onto those when the going gets tough – and recall them when you are feeling vulnerable.

Most managers look for consistent, quality work in an employee. It sounds like you do an excellent job on both fronts.

Second, develop a personal plan for reinforcing or regaining the image or "brand" you’d like to have among people at various levels of your organization. Be practical. What can you do to show those "influential" others that you recognize a particular vulnerability and are working to address it directly or find a workaround for it. A little action plan you are pursuing yourself can bolster your self-confidence, and that will be evident to others.

Third, if there’s someone you trust within the company who can become your mentor, ask that person for advise. Or that person may become a sounding board against which you can bounce ideas and receive some honest feedback.

Take a look at the series of articles on eSight by Curt Woolford. Especially see "How to Thrive in a Larger Corporate Environment: Creating Alliances" at http://www.esight.org/View.cfm?x=1755.

Curt talks about how to thrive in larger organizations, but his tips apply to all kinds of companies, large and small.

Jim

Another example of how I am accepted by others in the workplace is that I am fully included in the fun activities we conduct from time to time. Today is an excellent example. We're having a sort of tailgate party to celebrate the upcoming Superbowl game. One of the activities was a Ping Pong tournament. I was able to participate thanks to some interesting modifications to the game. When I played, I had help from a coworker to guide my hand to the ball. I also served the ball several times, mostly all on my own. I actually won, 22 to 18! Fun was had by all! Since I had never before played Ping Poing, I enjoyed this new experience.

Expertise, willingness and enthusiasm about using it, teamwork, and openness about your disability(ies) are important factors in being accepted in the workplace as a person with a disability. When I was first told that people forget that I am a person with a disability, I had very mixed feelings. I knew it was meant as a complement but I felt that the person was denying an important part of me. I have since learned that it does signify acceptance as a person. Recently I was told by my supervisor that I am one of her heros because I am a skilled professional and keep on doing a good job despite increasing disabilities.