[Jobs] FW: eSight Press Release: How to Tackle False Employer Perceptions

[Peter Altschul]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

eSight Members Show How to Tackle False Employer Perceptions

(New York City, NY - October 19, 2006) It can be done. But it'll take extra
time, work and insight.

That's how the members of eSight Careers Network - http://www.eSight.org -
have sized up the task of gaining meaningful employment in today's
mainstream job market for qualified individuals who happen to have a
disability.

The extra time, work and insight is required, they say, to overcome fear,
ignorance and prejudice among prospective employers. 

A group of eSight members with a variety of disabilities and varying degrees
of mainstream work experience discussed this issue on the eSight Networking
Forum, an interactive feature of eSight for addressing disability employment
issues. eSight is the global, cross-disability online community developed by
The Associated Blind, Inc. 

Jim Hasse, senior content developer for eSight, points out the forum's
discussion revealed that, once individuals with a disability get beyond
blaming themselves for the fear and the lack of understanding disability
sometimes brings to the workplace, they are then free to address those same
twin factors during their job searches.

"They are free to sidestep those employers who display entrenched
prejudice," he says, "and concentrate, instead, on showing more receptive
employers why they are the best candidates for open jobs."

Here's how Paola, one of the eSight bloggers involved in the discussion,
cites her personal experience to describe the employer perception issue she
faces: 

"My experience with employers who are intimidated by those who are visually
impaired hit home after a job interview. The shop owner was pleased with me.
She claimed I sounded knowledgeable about the job being offered. I had
enthusiasm, people skills, and a good business sense. This was all on the
phone.

"When I showed up with the white cane, her demeanor changed instantly. The
cane was all she saw from that point on. Although she had been friendly,
warm, and witty (on the phone), now she had become withdrawn, nervous, and
rushed.

"I left the shop with great disappointment. At first, I was blaming myself
for the failure -- and then I blamed my visual impairment. After serious
consideration, I (realized it was) the inability of the interviewer to see
past my disability..."

A full transcript of the eSight Networking Forum discussion, "Disability in
the Eyes of the Beholder," is available at
http://www.esight.org/link.cfm?n=805

A feature article for October Disability Employment Awareness Month,
"Perception: The Real Barrier in Disability Employment," by Hasse recaps
this discussion about how best to tackle the issue of false perceptions.  It
is available on eSight at http://www.esight.org/View.cfm?x=1957.

The Associated Blind, Inc., a 68-year-old non-profit organization, has been
providing members of eSight Careers Network opportunities to collaborate on
disability employment issues through accessible online discussions and
resource building since October 2000.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Source: The Associated Blind, Inc.
Contact: Nancy O'Connell, Executive Director 
Tel: (212) 683-4950
E-mail: MemberServices at eSight.org

Online community: http://www.eSight.org

Blogs: Job Seeker's Network           - http://www.tabinc.org/jsn/
           Swimming in the Mainstream - http://www.tabinc.org/sim/
           eSight Community News      - http://www.tabinc.org/blog/
           eSight Leadership Forum    - http://www.tabinc.org/st/

NOTICE:
We have no intention of sending unwanted messages. Our goal is to share 
insights with professionals who have an interest in disability employment
issues.

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