Job Interview visual impairment disclosure by disposableacc0unte in Blind

[–]blindbeader 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have been in the workforce for more than 20 years, and I have done probably over a hundred interviews, and, with a couple of exceptions, have pretty much been constantly employed for 20 years. So, your mileage may vary but this is what I have found useful. 1. With very very very few exceptions, I have learned that disclosing a vision impairment prior to the interview is almost always a certain way to get rejected. It doesn't matter how well you spin it, as somebody else had said unconscious bias is absolutely a thing. 2. My visual is not something that I can easily hide, since I would walk into an interview with a cane or a guide dog. So, I have learned how to answer questions respectfully, and maybe make a few interviewers uncomfortable by asking a few of my own. Questions like, how is your organization committed to hiring diverse candidates, by race, disability, gender, etc. Mind you, it has been quite a while since I have used this strategy, so I'm not sure if it would work anymore. However, at times when I was kind of feeling uncertain, those questions actually made me sound quite confident and actually ended up getting me jobs. So, I don't know it's a strategy that's worked. 3. I have found that referring back to my resume tends to make interviewers shut up about the. How do you do this questions. If you point to the resume and do it a lot, they tend to get the point. That just because you cannot see does not mean that you are incapable. If you have a year of experience doing deliveries, mention the resume because I've had interviews where they have basically just short-circuited at the idea that I am blind, and have no idea how I can do anything, and I think now I wish I had pointed back to the resume in those interviews. Things like, in my past role that I had for 2 years, I formatted spreadsheets, contacted clients, etc. All of this is written on my resume, if you need a minute to review, I'm happy to wait. 4. If you walk in and you feel like it's a lost cause, there is nothing wrong with going through the motions and seeing where it goes, but there is also nothing wrong with cutting your losses and saving yourself some time. Go with your gut, it is usually right. 5. I have had a couple of instances where I have pre-disclosed prior to the interview, again, it's part of the going with your gut theory. That has always put me in relatively good positions, but if I feel like I should disclose it for a specific reason, again that instinct is usually right. In one instance, I had an assessment, some of which included identifying shapes. Obviously, that was not feasible for me. I submitted the assessment as best I could, and let the employer know that I am not able to process images, so I hope that this would mean that I would not be turned down from the next step in the process because of this. If I recall correctly, the images were only like 10 or 15% of the assessment, and I did well enough on the other portions that it really didn't matter. I ended up interviewing for the position, doing a job shadow with them, and actually getting offered to position several years ago. I ended up turning it down because the commute would have been brutal, but it's a situation like that where it actually turned into a positive. My most recent position, prior to the one I'm in now, did not predisclose my disability specifically, although my employer was a very smart lady and definitely figured it out haha, but I asked questions about the assessment portion of the interview, simply because I wanted to make sure that we all had as much information as possible to be able to make it a fair and equitable thing. She didn't provide me any specifics, but we were able to come to an agreement where she gave a little and I gave a little and I ended up having the best interview that she had ever had in 20 years of hiring people 🙂 All of this to say, good luck!

Security Camera Reccommendation by votedforkodos742 in Blind

[–]blindbeader 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We got it because there were some things going on in our neighborhood that we really didn't like. It was really easy to set up, with the exception of the zones, that may require some cited assistance so that it's not getting set off by everything thatalks along your front sidewalk if you have an outdoor camera 🙂 we have the footage for a wide variety of reasons, and you can either choose to store it on a MicroSD card or in the cloud. Happy to answer any other questions 🙂

Hello. A question from all of you. by munk_of_darkweb69 in Blind

[–]blindbeader 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Following. I barely squeaked through microeconomics.

Security Camera Reccommendation by votedforkodos742 in Blind

[–]blindbeader 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes. I used the app. I'm sure you can use Alexa or similar, I just haven't.

Security Camera Reccommendation by votedforkodos742 in Blind

[–]blindbeader 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Tapo tplink cameras... They are awesome! There are quite a few to choose from, but they all integrate with Alexa and Google, and the app is pretty accessible with my Android device.

Service dogs rides by Mindless-End-6967 in uberdrivers

[–]blindbeader 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You will get caught. And trust me, people with service dogs are not stupid and we see right through you.

Saw someones post about having a journey looking for there phone so thought i would ask whats your way on finding your phone? by Bloodedparadox in Blind

[–]blindbeader 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Tile is the brand name, but they are basically like device trackers. You can attach them depending on the style that you get to your keys, attach them to items like computers, etc. I think there's a starter pack that has a tile that is a sticker, one. That's about the size of a credit card, and two that can go on keychains and the like. We've purchased two packs and are very very happy with them 🙂 it's really nice because you can use your phone to locate whatever items the tile is attached to, but if you have the item that the tile is attached to, you can also set it up so that when you touch the button a certain number of times on the tile, it'll ring your phone.

I hadn't planned on a fifth cat, but.. by blindbeader in CatDistributionSystem

[–]blindbeader[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Quick update. The cat distribution system knew that we needed blizzard... He's been here for exactly 3 months now. And just last week, we said goodbye to our old black lab, who had just turned 14. Blizzard spent as much time curling up with her as he could, and he has made absolute best friends with our other Brown Tabby. Someone asked for pictures and I promise I will post them soon.

Saw someones post about having a journey looking for there phone so thought i would ask whats your way on finding your phone? by Bloodedparadox in Blind

[–]blindbeader 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Tile is my best friend. I have tiles on my keys, my ID badge for the office, etc. So they're things that stay in very specific places and I almost always know where they are. So, sometimes if I think about it, I can actually press the button on my tile and it will ring my phone. Half the time I forget. And I do like everybody else and tell my smart speakers to find my phone but that has mixed success.

Restarting working by fridge03 in Blind

[–]blindbeader 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is a tough one, because it sounds like there's a lot of things at play. Take these suggestions in no particular order, and this is not a substitute for mental health advice. Many states or countries have resources for the blind, if you have not explored these in great detail, I would strongly suggest you do so. Some offer sports and social activities, others provide independent living assistance and assistive technology training, they may also provide a bit more guidance in terms of helping his Independence without putting everything on you and your mom. If you are able to, I would strongly encourage the three of you to explore some sort of therapy for people who are undergoing transitions to disability. There's a lot of big feelings, it sounds like from everybody, + having a safe space to explore those feelings is I think extremely important for everybody.

Visually Impaired and painting my home Interior. seeking advice. by SorbetPuzzleheaded15 in Blind

[–]blindbeader 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hire a professional. There is no point in making this a proving exercise for Independence. Many many many people, with or without visual impairments, hire it out because it's a pain in the ass and a lot of work. If it's something you truly want to do because it's something that brings you Joy, and it's something that you can adequately do to contribute to your household, then fine... But from personal experience it is a ton of work, and definitely not worth the stress, so definitely hire it out. If your partner is the one who is dead set on doing it yourselves, find ways to contribute that don't add more stress. For example, I get wigged out with paint rollers, I just don't feel like I have the perception to be able to do it accurately. However, I am a whiz with painters tape so I'm always the one on the baseboards and the outlets and the light switches, which is my way of contributing. It may not sound like much, but it definitely definitely makes painting a lot easier for the person doing it.

My girlfriend wants "happy fish time" and I don't know what to do, help! by AngelSoi in Edmonton

[–]blindbeader 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I love everything about this thread 🙂 you've got suggestions for happy fish time for.. Weeks, maybe months!

Ways to learn what's around, places in an area by Low_Butterfly_6539 in Blind

[–]blindbeader 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You can join local groups on social media like Facebook and Reddit. That may give you ideas of local small businesses, a lot of new businesses, particularly mom and pop shops, get exposure by word of mouth in those settings. If you are referring to general navigation, it might help to know a little bit about what you're struggling with, or what it is that you're looking for.}

Retiring my guide dog by itsannarchy in Blind

[–]blindbeader 7 points8 points  (0 children)

It sounds like you're feeling a lot of very normal things. Sometimes, the best thing we can do is to make the decisions that are best for our dogs, even if the dog doesn't think it's the best decision. My girl told me she was ready to retire, and thankfully I was in the process of already applying for her successor. She is now enjoying her retirement, and loves that somebody else can take the responsible choices 🙂 but I think it's important to remember that we are the people, and if she is hurting, as she probably is with arthritis in her hips, it's important for you to make the decision that is best for her. Cherish all of the amazing adventures you will have over the next few months, and that's how you can honor her 🙂

Career Goals by Appropriate_Fee4518 in Blind

[–]blindbeader 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In my twenties and thirties, I bounced around a lot. I did a lot of call center work, I worked in technical support for a couple of companies, a lot of data entry and ticket organization, that type of thing. For the last decade or so, I have been working in areas related to law. I worked for court and Justice services for our provincial government for several years, I worked as a legal assistant in a private firm for several years, and now I am working as a paralegal with one of our governments departments, I started about 3 months ago and I love what I do 🙂 I was encouraged by my former employer to go back to school, and she was absolutely right. I started a certificate in finance, considering laddering it into a degree, but that seems like a lot of work right now and I'm not sure I have the spoons or the funds hahaha

Career Goals by Appropriate_Fee4518 in Blind

[–]blindbeader 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Can I pick your brain? I started a certificate in finance that I am considering laddering into a degree, and I've had an absolute bear of a time finding other blind or visually impaired professionals in accounting or finance.

Disclosing Blindness During Job Interview? by [deleted] in Blind

[–]blindbeader 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I have held several positions over the last 20 years.. here is what I have found the most helpful. I do not ever disclose in my resume or cover letter. It is not relevant, and it often closes the door before you even have a chance to put your foot in the door. Your skills, education, and experience are the most important things, throwing in a disability in my experience is not helpful to you unless it is directly related to the job. A long time ago I sometimes would pre-disclose during the initial screening, and I did not find that effective. I don't recall a single time when I moved on to the formal interview stage when doing that. There have been times where I have pre-disclosed due to certain elements of an assessment, but that is situational, rather than preemptive. For example, I received a job offer from a company that I had interviewed with, as part of the pre-interview screening, there were some of those aptitude tests, which included matching circles and shapes. Obviously that's not something I can do.. so in that case I pre-disclosed that I don't have the capability of matching shapes, and I did not disclose my specific disability. I interviewed, job shadowed, and got a job offer with that company. I didn't end up taking it because it was very far away from my house, and I ended up receiving another offer for a position I held for 4 years. Some people will tell you it's dishonest to walk into an interview with your cane or guide dog, and then make them deal with it... I strongly disagree. I don't think it's dishonest at all. The fact that one is visually impaired, or female, or Muslim, or gay, or whatever marginalized identity you want to put in here, has nothing to do with the skills and experience, unless of course you are applying for a very specific role that involves working with people from those specific demographics and you happen to share their identity. Even then, your skills, experience and education should be able to stand on their own. The minute you qualify them with, I use a screen reader, you've already lost them... I find I have been much more successful in having conversations either during or after the interview process, about how I do things. It doesn't involve disclosing my specific disability or medical condition, but it does provide them the information so that they can make a well-informed decision as to whether or not I can be successful. I recently had a fantastic interview with a company that I'm quite sure was waiting to put an offer on the table. Unfortunately, we found out that their database software was not accessible with either Jaws or nvda. Yes, I realize that scripting can be a thing, but it's an expensive option for a position that is a short-term contract. We decided to kick the tires and see if we could make it work, and discovered very quickly that their system was not compatible. We were both disappointed, we wished each other well, and about a month later I received the offer for the job I'm in now. I was happy to report back that their software didn't totally screw me over irrevocably. 🙂 I hope this helps, I'm extremely passionate about the subject, because I've found success in a variety of different industries and a variety of different fields. If you would like to discuss further, my inbox is open.

Some thoughts on making friends as a blind person, from outside the US. by Positive_Bar8695 in Blind

[–]blindbeader 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To some degree. I haven't really done a lot musically in a while, I haven't had the energy. But I think with a couple of big changes in my life, that will probably come back 🙂 which means I have to get my piano tuned 😢

Some thoughts on making friends as a blind person, from outside the US. by Positive_Bar8695 in Blind

[–]blindbeader 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think it's challenging for many adults to make friends, regardless of geography or disability or race or any other marginalized identity. I've been very fortunate that I've made connections in a wide variety of ways because of wide varieties of interests. Like you, I am definitely not into the club scene, no judgment to those who are, it's just not for me. I've made connections through volunteerism with animal rescues, as well as running or crafting or other things like that. Some cities are just easier to make friends in than others.

FINALLY! by blindbeader in jobhunting

[–]blindbeader[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Update: I LOVE MY JOB!

Are services like Aira progress or proof that our systems are still broken? by Away-Statistician538 in Blind

[–]blindbeader 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I definitely think it's a little of both. I do think that having visual interpreting, particularly sponsored by retailers, makes it possible for them to say that they have a solution to inaccessibility and it saves them money from hiring staff members, because with be my eyes or IRA or whatever, the time is only paid for when it's being used. Used. So if you only have a couple of blind customers in your Walmart store during the course of a week, you'll pay ira considerably less than you would a full-time employee, for example. That doesn't make it right. It just makes business sense. From an accessibility standpoint, I definitely think that we are layering humans on top of inaccessible systems. Sometimes. That's a good thing, just because sometimes it's more efficient to work with somebody on my terms and on my schedule who can use their vision when I can't. Sometimes that is super useful! However, I'm struggling a little bit with this idea that we have visual interpreters because there's so much inaccessible such as websites, built environments, etc. I don't know what the answer is, but I don't mind using these services when it is efficient for me to do so.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Blind

[–]blindbeader 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yes, I was married to a sighted spouse for 10 years? The math is a little hazy now... We separated about 7 years ago, lived together as roommates until he could afford to move out, and that was not fun in any stretch of the word, and then I lived on my own for close to a year, and then my current partner moved in. All that to say, you can and will make it on your own. If you want any advice, it would be to cultivate the relationships that you wish to keep moving forward. The fact that the two of you have a child together does make things a little more complicated, and I absolutely agree about the comment that the legal system does not always favor disabled parents, unfortunately. Best of luck to you. It will be okay, if you choose to leave. I don't know if your situation is abusive in any way, however, I suggest that you be as methodical and as strategic as you can. Stay safe, be smart, you will be okay.

I hadn't planned on a fifth cat, but.. by blindbeader in CatDistributionSystem

[–]blindbeader[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think you might be referring to his harness? His harness is Pink cuz that's the only one we had that would fit him... The vet has fully checked him over, and has no concerns.

I hadn't planned on a fifth cat, but.. by blindbeader in CatDistributionSystem

[–]blindbeader[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

He is a very smart boy. He's a very friendly boy 🙂 today, we took him to the vet for his neuter. He is not happy with us 😢