In reading Chaim's post, first of all we are discusing a phone call.
"Susan" may not actually be in charge of hiring but rather a secretary to
the person who is. She has been given only generic answers. I think way
too much information was given to her over the phone.

Why not go down and get the application filled out and make an appointment
for an interview? Then you will find out if there really was
discrimination. Not enough information has been given here to make a
proper judgement.


dotmakr
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On Wed, 14 Jan 1998, Chaim Segal wrote:

> Hi there!
>
> This may be only loosely computer oriented.  However, I feel a need of
> some fast opinion.  In search of a job, I telephoned a company who had
> their ad in the Chicago Tribune which looked to be appropriate for me.
> called IPA.  They work on a nation-wide basis selling services of
> professionals of various sorts to businesses all across the country.  I
> spoke to the person in charge of hiring named Susan, who went about the
> normal procedure of intake.  She mentioned that before my interview, I
> would need to fill out an application.  I asked her if I would be able to
> have some assistance in doing so.  Rather then beat around the bush, I
> confessed the truth to her that I am blind.  With that remark, she claimed
> that she was still interested in going through with this, but did not know
> if I can be accomodated.
>
> The way the system works, people calls names from various lists. On my
> part time current job and the one which came before it, I have relied on
> scanning text into my computer using Openbook, then converting the file to
> ASCI in order to work from.  I explained to the woman that if I could have
> a copy of the list, I would scan it in, braille it out, and nobody else
> would see it.  She held firm ground that this is not possible, and that
> company policy dictates that on no uncertain terms should any material go
> out.
>
> The job is right on the bus line, and tis seems like the type of thing I
> could excel in if given the chance.  She would not be against my
> installing a computer and scanner down at the office and doing the
> scanning down there.  Even when I told her that I will have to network
> through the state for it, she was okay with that.
>
> My question is, can can an exception to a rule as this one be regarded as
> a reasonable accomodation?  Another felloow with a downtown mortgage
> company tried to lay the same line on me about company policy.  I talked
> him into coming around about it.  When he saw that he was turning down a
> potentially good salesman, he decided to go ahead and review my resum`e.
>
> I evenly tried to bring this woman around, explaining to her that the
> policy could be the difference between her tax money going to support me
> and other people in our shoes.  She remained undaunted.
> Is this possible cause for a lawsuit?
>
> In order to avoid list clutter, please feel free to write me back
> privately on this.
>
> Thank you very much!
> Chaim
>