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June 14, 2005

Using Leverage as a Leveler

People with disabilities have a variety of leverages which can help level the playing field for the job recruitment game. We just have to identify and learn how to effectively use those levers.

Here are three quick examples of leverage we can learn to use.

First, during his guest speaker appearance on May 19's eSight Phone Conference, Olegario "Ollie" D. Cantos VII, Special Assistant to Assistant Attorney General R. Alexander Acosta in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, gave us these important tips about networking:

That's leverage. It's a "self-help" approach within - and outside - the disability community for obtaining your first job or moving up to the next step in your career.

Second, Ollie is also using his leverage within the U.S. Justice Department to fully implement and enforce Management Directive 715 . This directive requires each federal government agency to assess "the full spectrum of employment within the agency" and evaluate the agency's status in relation to employment of people with disabilities at the end of each fiscal year.

Once an agency identifies a barrier to equal opportunities for individuals with disabilities, the management directive says it must decide how to respond. "Each agency must assess the appropriateness of any policy, practice, procedure or condition determined to negatively correlate with disability," it maintains.

By the way, you can now listen to Ollie's May 19 eSight Phone Conference - a feature made possible by a grant from Verizon - at http://www.esight.org/View.cfm?x=1791


Third, in their book, "No One Is Unemployable: Creative Solutions for Overcoming Barriers to Employment," Debra L. Angel and Elisabeth E. Harney write about becoming "an exception to the rule" as another type of leverage to gain access to mainstream jobs.

They maintain that myths about employing individuals with disabilities are not usually malicious but are often damaging and can be more easily changed when challenged by facts.

But, instead of trying to change a hiring manager's entire belief system, focus on challenging his or her belief that the myth is always true, they recommend.

"If the candidate can become the 'exception to the rule' (in the eyes of the hiring manager)," they write, "he can gradually introduce the employer to other exceptions until the rule no longer applies."

That's using, as leverage, the "super crip" image you may have earned in the eyes of others through achievement and savvy marketing of what you can offer an employer. By positioning yourself as an exception to commonly held misconceptions about job candidates with disabilities, you gain access to mainstream employment and to further opportunities to change perceptions.

It's also a new twist to this month's overarching "getting beyond 'special'" theme on this blog.

So, considering the three "leverage" examples I just mentioned, how would you reply to this question:

What have you learned from the preceding three "leverage" examples that you can apply in gaining an equal footing with your non-disabled counterparts?


Add your comments to this posting

Posted by Jim at June 14, 2005 05:22 PM

Comments

The idea of leveraging is good. However, the idea of being the exception to the rule seems to belie the fact that the focus should be on ability. Truth be told we are all exceptions to the rule since the rule never encompasses everyone anyway.
There is a conversation that I believe needs to occur between the disabled applicants and the potential employers. What needs to be discussed is what constitutes an asset? How can my abilities be given the creative freedom to provide value to your organization?
The value of each individual is crucial in the process and the statistics suggest that the individuals with disabilities are being lost in the shuffle, in the competitive race and their abilities and contributions are being brushed aside unceremoniously.
The questions that beg to be answered are why are large corporations allowed to publish diversity statements that do not reflect their hiring practices?
Changing perceptions requires that you be given the opportunity to express yourself. It requires an open, honest dialogue. It requires transformation of thinking. With the enormous creative skills required to live daily with a disability, it is amazing that companies cannot see what is right in front of their eyes.
There is another issue and that is the reticence and reluctance of those with disabilities to speak and advocate for themselves. Again it is critical to have an open and honest dialogue. Without that dialogue I do not believe real progress can be made.
I think it is important that a person with a disability become comfortable with who they are. From that point on it is no longer necessary to apologize for their situation. It is critical to be the person that they are which in this case would be a person with a disability who has the ability to work at a competitive job and make a contribution.
Attitudes seem to be changed one at a time but the effort is worth it.

Posted by: barney mayse at June 15, 2005 05:22 PM

Firstly, Barney, , TOUCHE!!! Your thinking rocks! Pleas allow me to take a slightly different approach however in an attempt to bring some readers to your level. The old addage does say that "you can't fight city hall", but Barney has accurately hit the head on the nail when he states that "Attitudes seem to be changed one at a time but the effort is worth it."

I don't jump in here often folks, but I do keep up with the reading, and I see what I believe to be a missing link on eSight. Jim asks us in this weeks news letter: "What have you learned from the preceding three "leverage" examples that you can apply in gaining an equal footing with your non-disabled counterparts?".

The only disability that a lot of disabled folks have is that they Incessantly think in a "we/they" world. I believe that this cureable cognative disorder is the only disability which results in having "non-disabled counterparts".

Let me share with y'all one of the most powerful little levers I have ever seen used which was actually born of my former, non-disabled counterpart spouce at happy hour some years ago after a long day of work. This one will fit in your pocket thus freeing both hands up to use wheels, canes Etc. As I returned to our table from the little room where they do not serve drinks, I observed that Dee had been joined by a couple I did not know. Approaching my seat, I heard from the unfamiliar she-voice that wisper of the ages:

"Isn't it amaising that he can...".".

To which Dee simply responded without hesitation: "Hey! They tought him all that shit at the blind school.". (Knew that I loved that woman for a reason back in the day.)

That one flip, yet sincerely rendered remark, flying in the face of the she-voice from one of her own, shattered all of her preconceptions in a roar of laughter as I sat down and joined the party. The conversation at the table immediately turned to current events. Yes, we did eventually get back to the topic of blind people being over-sexed that night, and, over the course of time, because that oh so usual introduction was so quickly brought down to a positive emotional level, that strange couple grew to be great friends of Dee's and mine, spreading the word that we were just hard workin fools who loved their kids and were fun to party with. By the way, since that night, I have gotten more mileage off of Dee's line over the years than TWA.

I realize, of course, that this kind of tactic is probably not going to work too well in the office of your potential employer, but seriously friends, if you honestly examine your lives, how many of you spend every waking moment seeking out the mistery of life here on eSight and jawing on the disability list serves about your woes with your "non-disabled counterparts" until you are finally confident enough to interview for that "big chance of a lifetime" volunteering at the local ... agency for the ...? Then, jump back on the net and write the next chapter on discrimination at the hands of "those non-disabled people" who "just don't understand that I can do it, want to do it, if they would only give poor little old me a chance"?

It boils down to a simple little twist on words. When I was 3 years old my Mom sat me down on the edge of my bed and said "Son, you're blind.". I said "OK, can I play now?". From that day on, I have been "that man who is blind", not "that blind man".

I'm going to stop right here to say that I am well aware that there are many of you reading this comment who are thinking, "This guy has grown up with his disability. He has no idea what it's like to have just lost ...". Let me simply say to you that, you have come into your disability from the world you are now wanting to re-enter. Whom ever you were coming in, you still are. I know your fears, and I know that they are real. I have worked in and around rehab all of my adult life, but please, please, please, don't forget where you came from!. It's the only way back!

Barney is absolutely 100% right! Learn to be comfortable with who you are.

"know thy self." Then, lighten up, get off thine but, joine the human race, and take part instead of being a disabled counterpart in the real world. Out here, you've got to learn to be an adaptable, social, likeable, individual before you can ever expect to become an employable professional at any level. Learn to golf, laugh and make friends, and Let's put this blog out of business! Want leverage? Want to level the playing field? Round the bend on eight to see a blind guy driving the cart. That will get you some acceptance on the 19th.

I'll bet you were expecting to read something really heady tonight, huh? Don't get me wrong folks, I thing that eSight is by far one of the most professionally thought out web sites on the Internet for persons with disabilities today, and I am greatful to eSight founders, and to have found the site while out surfing several months ago. However, I truly think that we must start talking to each other a little more on a gut level here about the personal insecurities that are really preventing many readers from taking full advantage of the excellent and expert professional advise on this site.

In my humble opinion, a prime example of what allows this discussion about "non-disabled counterparts" to even take place is the title of this section. Swimming is one of the many things I do for recreation once and a while in the summer season. Living in the mainstream is what I do with the rest of my life! How about you? How do you like me now! Do you thing that we should include a section entitled "Straight Talk On Personal Growth", or "Self Acceptance 101"on eSight for the "we/they cognatively impaired"?

Posted by: Roger at June 15, 2005 09:08 PM