Well, all of my blind friends were at Perkins when I was there. I have not
met many blind folks since my employer transferred me to Phoenix in 1975, so
the only blind people I know personally are those life long friends from my
Perkins days. I can't think of a single blind friend that had been out of
work for any extended period of time in all of these years. Perhaps it is
just too small of a sample to draw any conclusions from.
Alan
Alan R. Downing
Phoenix, AZ
-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Steve
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2014 1:18 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: employment
Alan,
It depends on who your friends are. There isn't a big amount of statistical
research done on this; but the last I knew, AFB research says it about 70
percent unemployed or under-employed.
And, if it weren't for Randolph-Shepherd and the Rehab industry, I dare say
it would be more like ninety percent.
I deliberately chose not to go into a "blindness-specific" occupation when I
was younger.
Unfortunately, a lot of positions that were open to the blind years ago are
not real good career opportunities now. Medical transcription is being
outsourced overseas in a lot of instances, and with speech recognition, it
will become even less available. In my opinion, same thing with piano
tuners, as a lot of people use digital keyboards which now have real
piano-like feel.
I will echo Colin's comment too about developing a resume that does not
indicate age. Even though age is not a Bona Fide Occupational Qualifier, a
lot of employers implicitly avoid older applicants.
In my view, the Americans With Disabilities Act also limited our
possibilities more than they helped. There was a small industry of
consultnats helping employers design job descriptions listing the Essential
Functions of their jobs. Even though they're supposed to make reasonable
accommodations, I think the result of that whole process was to really
tighten up the screening process to where it has disadvantaged a lot of
disabled applicants.
Steve
----- Original Message -----
From: Alan R. Downing
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2014 12:16 PM
Subject: Re: employment
Howard, on the subject of employment, is the unemployment rate of the blind
still in excess of 70% or more? I am not affiliated with the ACB or NFB,
so don't read any of their publications on a regular basis. I was always
suspicious of such claims as all of my blind friends were gainfully
employed. I attended Perkins thru my freshman year and then transferred to
my local public high school. I still believe that had I stayed at Perkins,
I would never have gotten into MIT, or any other science or engineering
colleges or universities. Naturally I had many friends from my Perkins
days, and thru my adult life, they were all employed in their chosen fields;
teachers, attorneys, accountants, piano tuners and the like.
Alan
Alan R. Downing
Phoenix, AZ
-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Howard Kaufman
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2014 7:52 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: employment
Ron, I will trust your research.
My data is subjective. Again, my data is the most important data for me,
because it is my job hunt.
I also have two disabilities.
I am beginning to think age is bigger than blindness.
I always got a job before, and I was always blind.
Since I passed 55, it has been much harder. After 60, not even an
interview.
H T Kaufman MSW LCSW
Adaptive Technology Instructor
---
This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus
protection is active.
http://www.avast.com
|
