Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Has your visual impairment got in the way of finding work or clients? (self.Blind)
submitted 7y ago by pxlgirl
I'm just curious about this, because we do face different challenges and obstacles when it comes to employment. Would any of you like to share their stories?
blind_devotion08 6 points
I have struggled to find employment since I turned eighteen. From the very beginning, I have disclosed whether I have a disability, and I have had employers laugh at me, "LOSE" my application six times in a row, and otherwise just never call me back. Many of my family members treat me as if I am not trying hard enough, and I find myself struggling to explain to friends that while my wife is the only one with a job at the moment, I am constantly applying for jobs that never get back to me.
yeswesodacan 3 points
This is my problem. Also employers much rather have an able bodied person work for them than someone who needs accommodations. No matter what the ADA says you can't really prove that they're shooting you down for discriminatory reasons.
lhamil64 1 points
Wow, that sucks. What kind of work are you looking for?
blind_devotion08 1 points
Marketing communications, grant writing, and technical writing/editing are what my degree is in, but I've been looking for any full-time work that would allow me to be off of SSI and care for a family.
Slatters-AU 1 points
Job hunting just plain sucks. Your experiences sound pretty similar to most people 18 who are breaking into the job market though. Can you give us a bit more info?
What kind of work are you looking for? What have you done in the past and what qualifications do you have?
Why do you disclose your disability up front? Do you tailor your resume and cover letters for each job you go for or do you shoot out your resume?
Have you had any help with your cover letters/resume writing? Most HR/Recruitment Angencies sipmjle suck your Resume in and it is automatically scanned for keywords. Most people will not read the full thing. Why does your resume stand out over the next persons?
What kind of work are you looking for? What have you done in the past and what qualifications do you have?
Why do you disclose your disability up front? Do you tailor your resume and cover letters for each job you go for or do you shoot out your resume?
Have you had any help with your cover letters/resume writing? Most HR/Recruitment Angencies sipmjle suck your Resume in and it is automatically scanned for keywords. Most people will not read the full thing. Why does your resume stand out over the next persons?
blind_devotion08 1 points
Sorry my previous post was a bit incomplete. I was on a mobile device.
I have a bachelor of science in professional/technical writing, which covers grant writing, technical writing, document design, usability testing, and editing.
I've worked on two internships, and have used my abilities to assist more than one company to improve their content.
I worked for just under two years at my university's IT department, troubleshooting problems for both students and faculty as well as maintain/repair more complex IT problems in and around campus.
I've been looking for full-time work that utilizes the degree I earned in school, and have worked with DVR and other employment consultants to refine my resume and other qualifications so that employers get the right information and nothing irrelevant. I'm aware that a lot of HR departments use computers to search through documents for key phrases, and that's one of the things I've worked with DVR and my Employment Counselor to get through and make myself more hire-able.
The reason I've been disclosing up-front about my disability is because it winds up saving time. I've gotten as far as interviewing and walked in with my service dog or a white cane and done well, but never received a callback. I double, tripple, and quadrouple-check my information and call the company back but they either "lose" my application or decide to "choose other candidates." In the end, disclosing my disability up front seems both more honest about my personality and a protection against getting my hopes up and getting them crushed.
I have a bachelor of science in professional/technical writing, which covers grant writing, technical writing, document design, usability testing, and editing.
I've worked on two internships, and have used my abilities to assist more than one company to improve their content.
I worked for just under two years at my university's IT department, troubleshooting problems for both students and faculty as well as maintain/repair more complex IT problems in and around campus.
I've been looking for full-time work that utilizes the degree I earned in school, and have worked with DVR and other employment consultants to refine my resume and other qualifications so that employers get the right information and nothing irrelevant. I'm aware that a lot of HR departments use computers to search through documents for key phrases, and that's one of the things I've worked with DVR and my Employment Counselor to get through and make myself more hire-able.
The reason I've been disclosing up-front about my disability is because it winds up saving time. I've gotten as far as interviewing and walked in with my service dog or a white cane and done well, but never received a callback. I double, tripple, and quadrouple-check my information and call the company back but they either "lose" my application or decide to "choose other candidates." In the end, disclosing my disability up front seems both more honest about my personality and a protection against getting my hopes up and getting them crushed.
pxlgirl [OP] 1 points
Hey, I'm sorry to hear that, I've been there too. I don't know where you're from, but from my own experience sending off applications rarely works for anyone really. The only key to success is networking, preferably in person. People open up much more when they talk to you, see how you act etc. Keep in mind however, that the way you present yourself is very crucial here. The more balanced, confident and straight forward you are, the better your chances.
Most importantly, don't let others bring you down. They have no clue what they're talking about. Don't give up, best of luck to you! :)
Most importantly, don't let others bring you down. They have no clue what they're talking about. Don't give up, best of luck to you! :)
Slatters-AU 2 points
I work full time. I'm a network/telecommunications engineer. Essentially you have to be 20% better than everyone ele interviewing to win the job if you have a disability.
At the end of the day, other than 'that is not fair!, everyone should be treated equal!' why SHOULD an employer hire you/a vision impaired person over the other candidates? You have to show that you can adapt to anything, that you put in extra effort to make sure your disability is not a burden to your employer.
I do not disclose my disability at all when applying for jobs. I obviously do not apply for things I know I cannot do. I bring my own software and have bought a laptop/tablet in before to demonstrate how I use a device to overcome my vision loss.
Getting a job starting out and breaking into an indutry and building up some experience is always going to be hard wether you can see or not. I have many younger friends who cannot find work because nobody wants to 'give them a go'.
You can see it a few ways, are you a stronger more capable person because you have fought to be where you are, because you are willing to work much harder to compete with able bodied people in your industry? Does your strength to overcome obstacles, to adapt creatively to the challenges in your every day life make you an asset, someone who thinks outside the box and who is going to be a loyal employee for treating them like a human being?
Or is being vision impaired about what entitlements you are owed by the world because it is not fair that everyone else can see and drive and read and you cannot, and people should accommodate you because Section X of an Act says they have too?
I think we all react much better to a positive, confident person who has answers for the questions an employer will have rather than someone comes in, and just wants a job and also wants accommodations to do it. At the end of the day they are both the same, but one is driven by you, and the other is where you expect others to do the work for you.
Hopefully my words are not too harsh, and I totally relate to peoples frustration and pain in finding work, especially as a young adult out of high school or uni/college. Breaking into the workforce is hard for everyone that age, and having a disability in the mix can just make things feel hopeless.
My advice is to not let your disability define you. You are not a pair of eyeballs, you are a person, with a personality, hopes and dreams and you just happen to be vision impaired. So what?
At the end of the day, other than 'that is not fair!, everyone should be treated equal!' why SHOULD an employer hire you/a vision impaired person over the other candidates? You have to show that you can adapt to anything, that you put in extra effort to make sure your disability is not a burden to your employer.
I do not disclose my disability at all when applying for jobs. I obviously do not apply for things I know I cannot do. I bring my own software and have bought a laptop/tablet in before to demonstrate how I use a device to overcome my vision loss.
Getting a job starting out and breaking into an indutry and building up some experience is always going to be hard wether you can see or not. I have many younger friends who cannot find work because nobody wants to 'give them a go'.
You can see it a few ways, are you a stronger more capable person because you have fought to be where you are, because you are willing to work much harder to compete with able bodied people in your industry? Does your strength to overcome obstacles, to adapt creatively to the challenges in your every day life make you an asset, someone who thinks outside the box and who is going to be a loyal employee for treating them like a human being?
Or is being vision impaired about what entitlements you are owed by the world because it is not fair that everyone else can see and drive and read and you cannot, and people should accommodate you because Section X of an Act says they have too?
I think we all react much better to a positive, confident person who has answers for the questions an employer will have rather than someone comes in, and just wants a job and also wants accommodations to do it. At the end of the day they are both the same, but one is driven by you, and the other is where you expect others to do the work for you.
Hopefully my words are not too harsh, and I totally relate to peoples frustration and pain in finding work, especially as a young adult out of high school or uni/college. Breaking into the workforce is hard for everyone that age, and having a disability in the mix can just make things feel hopeless.
My advice is to not let your disability define you. You are not a pair of eyeballs, you are a person, with a personality, hopes and dreams and you just happen to be vision impaired. So what?
pxlgirl [OP] 2 points
Thank you for this, I couldn't have written this better! :) There are always two sides of the story, there's the sometimes harsh world making things difficult for us, and our own issues making things difficult for ourselves. I've met a lot who got stuck in this vicious cycle and it's a shame because things could be so much better for them.
As for the 20% more workload, I'd have set the number to about 50% to be honest. However, if you have a job that you love, you're willing to invest into it, at least that's how it is in my case. I love being a designer and I wouldn't trade if for anything else. I might add another aspect, and that is a bit of a tricky one. From my experience, any small failures or mistakes seem to weigh more than of a non-disabled. I had people trying to put blame on me for supposedly messing up something with a logo, that wasn't even my work but someone else's at some agency. Chances are that this person was as half blind as me aren't too big, despite the fact that the mistake was rather imagined.
As for the 20% more workload, I'd have set the number to about 50% to be honest. However, if you have a job that you love, you're willing to invest into it, at least that's how it is in my case. I love being a designer and I wouldn't trade if for anything else. I might add another aspect, and that is a bit of a tricky one. From my experience, any small failures or mistakes seem to weigh more than of a non-disabled. I had people trying to put blame on me for supposedly messing up something with a logo, that wasn't even my work but someone else's at some agency. Chances are that this person was as half blind as me aren't too big, despite the fact that the mistake was rather imagined.
rumster 2 points
PXLgrl would you mind I use this in a blog? I can also outreach to my group
pxlgirl [OP] 1 points
Use what? :) My post you mean?
Unuhi 1 points
I used to work before I would have needed those famous "reasonable accommodatipns".
Now... That i would need a bunch of accommodations, In a place I volunteer and they know well about my eye poop... I've had someone complain that i miss nonverbal cues in communication. I guess "pardon me for not wearing my cane always" & time to look for stuff where any kind of even residual eyesight isn't a requirement.
Now... That i would need a bunch of accommodations, In a place I volunteer and they know well about my eye poop... I've had someone complain that i miss nonverbal cues in communication. I guess "pardon me for not wearing my cane always" & time to look for stuff where any kind of even residual eyesight isn't a requirement.
pxlgirl [OP] 1 points
I hear ya. When I worked as an employee, I had to tell everyone that I might not say "hi" to people when they pass me by down the hallway. Otherwise, they'd be offended easily, so maybe warning them has prevented misunderstandings.
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