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Blind and Visually Impaired Community

Full History - 2015 - 08 - 23 - ID#3i226i
10
Finding a job is hard... Please help (self.Blind)
submitted 8y ago by MeepBoopBeBoop
So, this is my situation. I'm albino. I've been in and out of basic retail jobs and restaurants since I was eighteen and I currently am employed part time (around 8 hours a week at minimum wage). I was a senior in college until my financial aid ran out and I can no longer pay to go, and honestly my grades aren't really all that great. I'd like to go back one day.
Here's the real problem. I'm 25 and I'm still living at home. I recently was informed that I would have to find a new place to live. My parents will no longer support me. Now I'm in a time crunch to find a better job so I can move out and support myself or become homeless. I'm panicking, I've been looking for jobs online for about six months without any luck and my time is really running out. My eyesight is limited and I can't be in the bright sunlight for over twenty minutes without running the risk of getting severely burned. I've been to several interviews without any real luck. I don't know what to do... Please, any help or advice would be very much appreciated. I don't even know what I'm asking here... I've never posted to Reddit before. I don't really know how all of this works.
geoffisblind 3 points
I'm going to give information as it pertains in the US because that is the system I know, if you aren't in the US I hope you can still get something out of this. That being said there are a few things you can do. The first is to contact a local blind/ visually impaired organization. Many call themselves "Lighthouses." We actually have a list if organizations local organizations on our wiki, $1. It is still being worked on so it may not have the information you need quite yet, but I digress.

I have two local organizations in my area. My local Lighthouse for the Blind offers indoor warehouse work, full time starting at $8.00/ hr and going up with experience. I worked in the warehouse as a summer job a couple years back. The money they made from the warehouse and assembly business was put back into their services. Even if they cannot provide you with employment themselves they can help you seek employment, they will almost certainly have contacts and can help you get a job. If your local organizations can't help I would look at contacting national organizations. There are two major organizations in the US; The American Council of the Blind, and the National Federation of the Blind. There is some debate on which is better, I would do your own research and find out which you prefer. Either way, both can potentially help you find a job. There also state divisions of both of the national groups. The last piece is if you are in the states contact the division of the Department of Social Services in your state. Mine is called Rehabilitative Services for the Blind. They will set you up with a Vocational Rehab counselor that can provide you with training, equipment, and contacts to help you find a job. They could even help you get funding to go back to college. While that is happening some states (mine included) can provide you with something called "Blind Pension." It's not a whole lot, I think here it's something like $700 a month, but it might help you get by if you use it wisely while you are getting on your feet. I hope this helped, best of luck!

Edit: Formatting
aam22 3 points
Contacting the Division of Blind Services in the area will also help. They have Vocational Rehabilitation programs that help you find jobs and also prepare you for jobs if you do not have all the skills.
DocCyane 3 points
Go learn bookkeeping. If you're clever, you can get the basics down quickly. Then go to a temp agency and tell them you're looking for work in any Accounting office. Keep learning more and improving your skills, especially with regards to the software. (Quickbooks) You can learn a great deal from YouTube. Take any temp work that comes along to get office/business experience.
clandestinewarrior 2 points
NFB has a joblist to which you can subscribe and get job openings sent to your email
rumster 2 points
Where do you live? What state?
Corm 2 points
I don't have any advice but man that all sucks. Good luck, I really hope you get it all sorted out.
mathis_99 1 points
Are you legally blind? If so, you might qualify for disability benefits. My sibling receives benefits whenever she is in between jobs, and depending upon your income, you might qualify for benefits while you work.
Because she's blind, it takes her much longer to find a job than the typical applicant. I'm grateful she has disability benefits to fall back on when needed.
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