Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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The woes of being blind and working. (self.Blind)
submitted by mi1ky_tea
I live in Ontario and only know two people who are employed and have never seen a blind person employed besides places like CNIB.
I notice it seems to be easier to get employed as a blind person in other countries. I've even been told by multiple employment agencies that visually impaired/blind folks are some of the hardest to find employment for.
I'm over people assuming I'm incapable when they haven't actually seen me do anything. Chill out it's just the interview.
Furthermore when I "prove" that I am capable and independent there seems to be this weird thing where nobody actually listens to me when I DO request help.
I was at an internship in an office environment. They used dual display computers aside from what they called the "training room" I wasn't always able to use the training room. I don't know how many times I tried to explain to the supervisor that using 2 displays with magnification just wasn't going to work. I tried to show them and everything. Their solution was to turn off the screen despite me explaining to them that doesn't mean the screen is no longer active just turned off. They seemed to get annoyed with me so I honestly gave up. It's almost like they were like "well, why can't you use this"
Not only that but it also rubbed me the wrong way when she said I lacked confidence? Oh I lack confidence? Or I'm blind and so I always have to prove that I am just as capable as my able bodied peers and that puts me under a lot of pressure and anxiety to not make any mistakes. As any mistake I make could be used against me, unfortunately.
Ugh I just hate everything.
I notice it seems to be easier to get employed as a blind person in other countries. I've even been told by multiple employment agencies that visually impaired/blind folks are some of the hardest to find employment for.
I'm over people assuming I'm incapable when they haven't actually seen me do anything. Chill out it's just the interview.
Furthermore when I "prove" that I am capable and independent there seems to be this weird thing where nobody actually listens to me when I DO request help.
I was at an internship in an office environment. They used dual display computers aside from what they called the "training room" I wasn't always able to use the training room. I don't know how many times I tried to explain to the supervisor that using 2 displays with magnification just wasn't going to work. I tried to show them and everything. Their solution was to turn off the screen despite me explaining to them that doesn't mean the screen is no longer active just turned off. They seemed to get annoyed with me so I honestly gave up. It's almost like they were like "well, why can't you use this"
Not only that but it also rubbed me the wrong way when she said I lacked confidence? Oh I lack confidence? Or I'm blind and so I always have to prove that I am just as capable as my able bodied peers and that puts me under a lot of pressure and anxiety to not make any mistakes. As any mistake I make could be used against me, unfortunately.
Ugh I just hate everything.
Crackerjack540 5 points 3y ago
I totally get where you're coming from. I've worked at a movie theatre for 15 years. I enjoy the work and have worked my way up to manager. Never had much luck getting other jobs. No matter how well the interview goes. I could always tell they closed the book when I mentioned my visual impairment. Even my friends have told me that I wouldnt be able to do the jobs that they do. I've recently began to resign to myself that this is my life and it's all I'll ever do.
I've been meaning to ask what other blind or visually impaired people do for work on this sub for a while. But I'm a pretty shy person.
I live in the US. There are very many laws to protect disabled people. But I've never found them to be very helpful since proving that someone didn't hire you because of a disability is nearly impossible.
I only got my job at the movie theater because I didn't disclose my disability. The hiring manager at the time is one of my closest friends now. And she told me that if I had told her she wouldn't have hired me. I had to claw my way to where I am.
Sorry. I know that's mostly ranting and not helpful to you at all. But it's what I have to offer.
I've been meaning to ask what other blind or visually impaired people do for work on this sub for a while. But I'm a pretty shy person.
I live in the US. There are very many laws to protect disabled people. But I've never found them to be very helpful since proving that someone didn't hire you because of a disability is nearly impossible.
I only got my job at the movie theater because I didn't disclose my disability. The hiring manager at the time is one of my closest friends now. And she told me that if I had told her she wouldn't have hired me. I had to claw my way to where I am.
Sorry. I know that's mostly ranting and not helpful to you at all. But it's what I have to offer.
DrillInstructorJan 1 points 3y ago
I'm self employed. On one hand, it means I'm constantly in the position of persuading people to hire me. On the other hand, once that becomes normal, it's a lot easier to deal with, and you end up with repeat clients. All self-employed people have to deal with client relations but I think it's easier when it's a client rather than an employer. Maybe it sounds like there's a very small difference but I have a lot more leeway to suggest things and negotiate. Clients take you more seriously than employers. So, if you really can't figure out anything else, and I can get that you might not want to end up working for the charities, see if you can start something up on your own. What's the worst that can happen? You end up with an awesome boss!
[deleted] 1 points 3y ago
[removed]
vwlsmssng 1 points 3y ago
What support frameworks are available and laws in place to help disabled people get employment in Canada?
The UK has laws about employers making reasonable adjustments to accommodate disabled workers, an Access To Work scheme where the government will pay some or all of the extra costs of being a disabled worker, and its promotes a Disability Confident scheme where employers can advertise they understand all this and will guarantee a job interview if you meet the job requirements.
The UK has laws about employers making reasonable adjustments to accommodate disabled workers, an Access To Work scheme where the government will pay some or all of the extra costs of being a disabled worker, and its promotes a Disability Confident scheme where employers can advertise they understand all this and will guarantee a job interview if you meet the job requirements.
mi1ky_tea [OP] 3 points 3y ago
We have something similar we have a law here about equal opportunity workplace and blah blah blah. But honestly 99% it's just words written to abide by rules. They also do have government grants that are typically offer through employment agencies either run by the government of Ontario or government of Canada. Most of the time that gets us a probation period and then a decision is made afterwards. However, these agencies can't guarantee a job.loke they say they can't force someone to hire you.
There is also funding from other places for assistance devices but that honestly doesn't seem to be the issue. The issue is they just don't want to have deal with employing us.
There is also funding from other places for assistance devices but that honestly doesn't seem to be the issue. The issue is they just don't want to have deal with employing us.
vwlsmssng 1 points 3y ago
> 99% it's just words written to abide by rules.
This is where the UK's Disability Confident scheme helps. You can find the employers which not only want to abide by the rules but also will have educated their staff that once adjustments are in place disabled workers are ordinary workers.
> The issue is they just don't want to have deal with employing us.
We have a government run jobs website (someone like Indeed run it for them) where you can search for jobs and filter for employees on the disability confident scheme. This way you can find the employers who are happy to employ you if you are qualified, at least equal to the best other candidate, and capable of doing the job once adjustments are in place.
All employees in the UK get a two year probation period during which they can be dismissed on a whim, disabled employees are treated differently here.
I hope I've given you some information that you can petition your MP about. Good luck with finding an enlightened employer.
This is where the UK's Disability Confident scheme helps. You can find the employers which not only want to abide by the rules but also will have educated their staff that once adjustments are in place disabled workers are ordinary workers.
> The issue is they just don't want to have deal with employing us.
We have a government run jobs website (someone like Indeed run it for them) where you can search for jobs and filter for employees on the disability confident scheme. This way you can find the employers who are happy to employ you if you are qualified, at least equal to the best other candidate, and capable of doing the job once adjustments are in place.
All employees in the UK get a two year probation period during which they can be dismissed on a whim, disabled employees are treated differently here.
I hope I've given you some information that you can petition your MP about. Good luck with finding an enlightened employer.
KillerLag 1 points 3y ago
I work in Ontario and see that often. Have you had a workplace assessment done? It does help some workplaces to be given a specific list of adaptive equipment that can work with their system (although, PDFs are still generally a nightmare).
Are you working at larger companies, that have a dedicated HR system with systems in place regarding adaptations? That also helps as well, but generally speaking, that's usually very large organizations
Are you working at larger companies, that have a dedicated HR system with systems in place regarding adaptations? That also helps as well, but generally speaking, that's usually very large organizations
mi1ky_tea [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Unfortunately,I am not working right now. I'm looking though.the issue is getting employed.
Where do I get a workplace assessmrnt done?
Where do I get a workplace assessmrnt done?
KillerLag 2 points 3y ago
CNIB does them (full disclosure: I work for VLRO, so part of CNIB), although I have heard of other third parties that have done them (not too familiar with them). The workplace has to make the request to the local office, which would then send out usually two people (one for tech, one for O&M). For larger offices that already have internal tech support (and familiar with JAWS/Zoomtext and such), they may only need the O&M assessment.
Depending on the computer systems, some things can't run accessibility software. It would be lack of compatibility (I've literally seen databases that look like they run on DOS) to security systems (they wouldn't let any outside software run on computers connected to highly sensitive equipment, such as nuclear reactors).
Depending on the computer systems, some things can't run accessibility software. It would be lack of compatibility (I've literally seen databases that look like they run on DOS) to security systems (they wouldn't let any outside software run on computers connected to highly sensitive equipment, such as nuclear reactors).
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