Swimming in the Mainstream

Hello. Unfortunately I will probably be unable to participate in this phone conference, because I don't have a way to make long-distance calls unless I use my cell phone or my roommate's calling card. I will see what I can do though, as this definitely sounds like something not to miss. I have given serious thought to abandoning my state VR agency in seeking assistance with my job search. The reason for this is that they are undermining my abilities in a big way. At a recent meeting with both my current counselor and a previous counselor, who is now a field supervisor with the Bureau of Blind Services, I was told very arrogantly that unless I have a "true" paying job, they wouldn't even consider an O&M evaluation for me. Just what is a "true" paying job anyway? Apparently it is not simply a receptionist position with a nonprofit agency. I truly believe that, in order to get out and achieve one's goals when visually impaired, one of the key factors to be considered is orientation & mobility. After all, if one doesn't even know their way around the area in which they live and/or work, how will that person be a successful employee if they can't even travel independently? I for one have had some top-quality O&M instruction in the past, but I have forgotten a good deal of it. I am afraid to go out of my apartment complex alone because I have not had any formal O&M instruction for several years. There has been lots of construction in my area, and nobody wants me to get hurt or worse. I have worked on my travel skills briefly with my skills tutor and she has done an excellent job with me, but she and I have other projects going too. I admit that funding in this day and age is a huge problem, but I also think attitudes need to change. But that is part of the funding problem I suppose. The other part has to do with some decisions that have been made with the current administration and with past administrations. I am not in the least bit ashamed to acknowledge that publicly. I used to be but as things have progressed to the point where they are now, I am no longer ashamed. But even if we didn't have this ongoing problem with the Presidential administration, I wonder if these attitudinal barriers would still exist within the realms of the blindness community/the state VR agencies. Regarding opportunities, I think my skills as a frequent poster on this and other forums might come in quite handy someday, perhaps in changing attitudes.

I think the strongest part of this is the understanding that you are not alone. We as a group have objects to overcome and situations that must be solved beyond what most people would ever think about. We do have inner style that helps to navigate.

It is nice to know that, I am not alone, that the world may not want us near and do many things to keep us held back, I am correct. My skills are strong and judgement allows me to move forward.

I do have some thoughts on 'creating opportunity' for a job. This goes along with competative advantage and creating a skill level that allows you to be hired. The job market is tight with many college educated graduates looking for work. This is your competition. The idea that business in a tight economy will find money to hire a disabled worker becomes more difficult. In 2000 the nation had a drop in national value and needed to reprosition itself. This may take the better part of 20 to 25 years to do. During the time period the idea of offering a disabled employee a job becomes a tough issue. The newness of the ADA was also at a time of expanding economic preasures. Many companies hired the handicapped because the profit and liguidity would not be jepordized. This has all changed.

Creating an oppotunity may require the disabled become microenterprises, conustants, Specialized Internet resellers, or other advanced income generators.

I know myself that my career will be ending in a few years. The job opportunities for near-blind people in their mid 50's will not be there. I must plan a career change now to create opportunites for me to continue to have some income. The national economic situation is in transition and will be changing more rapidly in the future. We, as disabled americans must plan for ourselves because we will not have anyone else to do it with us.

Many people have very little interest in handicapped people. Able-bodied are having a tough time of it themselves and this trend my continue for many years.

This is not the same nation of 15 years ago. To 'create opportunity' will mean outside of the business organization as exists today.