Blind and Visually Impaired Community
↑
17
↓
We are hosting an AMA on AMAfeed.com about blindness and how we are fighting 74% unemployment. Friday Dec 8, 2 PM (crowdfundingama.com)
submitted by get2workorg
ryddyt 5 points 5y ago
Damn, I didn't realize unemployment was that high for people who are blind. That's crazy.
angelcake 7 points 5y ago
It really is bad and that’s not only people who are completely blind but people who are low vision and legally blind. My partner is legally blind now [low vision when they did the testing]. He spent weeks going back-and-forth to the March of Dimes to be assessed for another career since he could no longer do what he formally did, technical writing at a very high-level. He actually quit work before he needed to in order to pursue a degree [and he succeeded, graduating with honors] but because of cutbacks in his last year no longer had any jobs available in that field without uprooting and moving halfway across the country. So he went to the March of Dimes and after asking him dozens and dozens of totally inane questions that were completely generic and involved nothing a vision restricted person could actually do in the real world, including “would you have any interest in being an air traffic controller”, they came out and said that he could be a technical writer. FFS. Because he doesn’t drive - for obvious reasons - he spent hours on the bus going back-and-forth for what turned out to be a complete waste of time.
get2workorg [OP] 5 points 5y ago
Yes. Even being skilled you're often still the last in your field to be picked. We are trying to help. We hope you'll attend our AMA and from there visit our Kickstarter. We are not the only solution, but we want to be an extra solution.
angelcake 1 points 5y ago
I will let him know. Best of luck.
get2workorg [OP] 3 points 5y ago
Yes. It's really awful. We're doing all we can to raise awareness so if you can join in on our AMA event and share our kickstarter we would appreciate it so much. We don't know if we will be able to make a difference but we have to try.
SunnyLego 3 points 5y ago
Yep.
Worked at a library for 12 years. Got the job through a disability agency when I was 17. (I have epilepsy, and a vision impairment, but could still use computers with zoomtext software ect)
Started out in 2004 as just a shelver, so all I do was shelve the books that were returned for 3 hours each shift.
They started letting me work full time desk shifts, whenever anyone went on holiday, as a library officer.
Cut to 2012, a full time library officer job opens, I apply and they say "Oh we want someone with more qualifications." They then hired a 16 year old boy with no qualifications at all.
I thought "Fuck this." and went on part time disability pension, so I still worked there 15 hours a week but also now had enough money to move out of home ect.
Cut to 2016, we move to a brand new built 7 floor library, and they hire tons of new staff. My hours get cut tons, every other employee gets training on all the different roles, and I get shoved out the back doing nothing but covering new books in plastic contact. "Oh well as it's busier now we don't want you to hurt yourself by tripping over or walking into people."
My eye dr told me to quit because as stress makes eye disease worse, don't need to deal with dickhead employers constantly making me feel like I'm less of a employee because I have health problems.
I hate the fact I stayed there for 12 years.
Worked at a library for 12 years. Got the job through a disability agency when I was 17. (I have epilepsy, and a vision impairment, but could still use computers with zoomtext software ect)
Started out in 2004 as just a shelver, so all I do was shelve the books that were returned for 3 hours each shift.
They started letting me work full time desk shifts, whenever anyone went on holiday, as a library officer.
Cut to 2012, a full time library officer job opens, I apply and they say "Oh we want someone with more qualifications." They then hired a 16 year old boy with no qualifications at all.
I thought "Fuck this." and went on part time disability pension, so I still worked there 15 hours a week but also now had enough money to move out of home ect.
Cut to 2016, we move to a brand new built 7 floor library, and they hire tons of new staff. My hours get cut tons, every other employee gets training on all the different roles, and I get shoved out the back doing nothing but covering new books in plastic contact. "Oh well as it's busier now we don't want you to hurt yourself by tripping over or walking into people."
My eye dr told me to quit because as stress makes eye disease worse, don't need to deal with dickhead employers constantly making me feel like I'm less of a employee because I have health problems.
I hate the fact I stayed there for 12 years.
get2workorg [OP] 2 points 5y ago
Unfortunately that is something that is common. Our hope is that Get 2 Work will help a few at a time to combat 74% unemployment. This is why it's so important that our Kickstarter reach it's goal. We are 42% funded in our efforts to create professional marketing materials. Then we hope to approach companies and the general public in order to create our first blind owned franchise. Please help us spread the word. If you haven't checked out our Kickstarter you may do so here. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/get2work/get-2-work-needs-video-shorts-to-help-blind-entrep/description
Terry_Pie 1 points 5y ago
1400hrs in which time zone? (GMT/UTC please)
get2workorg [OP] 1 points 5y ago
Oh so sorry. EST New York GMT5
Terry_Pie 1 points 5y ago
-5 even ;) Cheers! I might even be able to catch some of it.
[deleted] 1 points 5y ago
[removed]
This nonprofit website is run by volunteers.
Please contribute if you can. Thank you!
Our mission is to provide everyone with access to large-
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
©2023 HumbleCat Inc • HumbleCat is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Michigan, USA.