Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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If you can pass; do you tell your boss? (self.Blind)
submitted by faerylin
So I am legally blind; most people who meet me don’t know and if I seem off they think I’m high or weird. Lol I’m getting a job and honestly not planning on telling them. My vision is bad far away but not too too bad up close.
Has anyone done this? Did it work out?
Has anyone done this? Did it work out?
CaptnSisko 12 points 3y ago
So I have retinitis pigmentosa and if you don't know it affects peripheral vision and night vision but honestly is different for everyone. I've never brought it up during an interview process. I can usually pass off bumping in to something during the brief time i'm in an interview and I always go for the handshake first so I don't miss someone trying to give me a handshake and not seeing it. Unless it is imperative to the job like needing to drive and not having a license I would leave it out.
serconian 9 points 3y ago
Solid advice.
Great handshake move, I hate leaving people hanging.
Great handshake move, I hate leaving people hanging.
faerylin [OP] 3 points 3y ago
Thanks this is what I’m thinking too.
sphericaldiagnoal 11 points 3y ago
I told my boss when I began experiencing vision loss, because my job involves driving. He was very understanding, and now I don't have to transport clients anywhere and he'll pick up any appointments for me that happen after the sun goes down. If it wasn't relevant I probably wouldn't have mentioned it.
faerylin [OP] 4 points 3y ago
That is awesome; I don’t have a license so that’s not an issue I run into.
TK_Sleepytime 8 points 3y ago
I tell them after I get through orientation and I always check the disabled box when I'm hired without specifying why. If it is an equal opportunity employer in the US they get grant money for hiring you and you can take advantage of that by requesting things that will make life easier for you (like screen magnifiers) and it makes it so they have to provide you with printouts if you can't read PowerPoint presentations and such in meetings. I've told every boss I've ever had that I am vision impaired and it has never backfired. But I've never told them I'm autistic. I let them think I'm awkward because I'm blind ;)
mammaube 5 points 3y ago
I tell them cause my vision changes each day n sometimes I'll need extra help for something so personally I'd say something
ESTJ137 2 points 3y ago
For what I want to do it’s a plus so I have to. I am involved in advocacy and accessibility and activism in the disabled community.
I am totally blind anyway, but if I wasn’t. I can see why i wouldn’t either. Unless I did work in the field that I do then it’s a major advantage.
I am totally blind anyway, but if I wasn’t. I can see why i wouldn’t either. Unless I did work in the field that I do then it’s a major advantage.
bigblindmax 2 points 3y ago
I’m in the same position: legally blind, decent up close, bad far away. I can pass as sighted, though not flawlessly.
You absolutely should disclose IMO.
Can’t speak for everyone, but I’d rather be seen as a highly-competent, well-adjusted blind person than as a slightly incompetent, kinda-weird sighted person.
It’s an awkward conversation, but it will save you ten times the awkwardness and trouble down the road.
You absolutely should disclose IMO.
Can’t speak for everyone, but I’d rather be seen as a highly-competent, well-adjusted blind person than as a slightly incompetent, kinda-weird sighted person.
It’s an awkward conversation, but it will save you ten times the awkwardness and trouble down the road.
faerylin [OP] 1 points 3y ago
The problem Is as soon as I mention it the interview goes south and never get a call back.
bigblindmax 2 points 3y ago
The problem with disclosing at the interview (especially at the end) is that you’re giving your pitch about why they should hire you and **then** dropping the bombshell that you have a disability. As you said the interview goes sour from there and ends on a low note.
Something I’d suggest you try is disclosing it when they call you to schedule the interview. They’re committed to at least hearing you out at that point, but will likely go into the interview with low expectations. Then you show up, seem competent and normal, surpass expectations and impress the interviewer. You can use an employer’s bigotry against them to start the interview out on a low note and end it on a high note. Bit degrading, but it works.
Something I’d suggest you try is disclosing it when they call you to schedule the interview. They’re committed to at least hearing you out at that point, but will likely go into the interview with low expectations. Then you show up, seem competent and normal, surpass expectations and impress the interviewer. You can use an employer’s bigotry against them to start the interview out on a low note and end it on a high note. Bit degrading, but it works.
faerylin [OP] 1 points 3y ago
The one time I did that, I got a call later stating they found someone and the interview was going to have to be canceled as the position was filled.
bigblindmax 2 points 3y ago
I mean that can certainly happen, but on average, it’s a good approach.
SugarPie89 2 points 3y ago
You do not have to disclose that you are blind, however I think it would work in your benefit to tell them because they can offer special accommodations for you. I believe a company of over 25 people cannot refuse to hire you on the basis of your disability and must offer accommodations to help you. They can only fire you if you are unable to do the job after theyve tried to help you.
KillerLag 2 points 3y ago
One important question is how reliable your vision is, and what the fallout of a mistake could potentially be. If you were working in the fast food industry, and made missed part of an order, it wouldn't be too hard to add it on. But if the job is a pharmacist and you make a mistake filling in a prescription (badly written script or something), then that could have significantly dire consequences.
While more work places are using computers, I've still seen some places that still require faxes for paperwork. Handwritten, poorly done faxes or photocopies are a NIGHTMARE to read.
While more work places are using computers, I've still seen some places that still require faxes for paperwork. Handwritten, poorly done faxes or photocopies are a NIGHTMARE to read.
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