[Jobs] FW: eSight's NetWork News: Disability Disclosure - Before or During a Job Interview?

Wed Jan 24 21:41:37 CST 2007

>From esight.org

Dear peter,

This week's editorial takes a look at the issues 
presented in the following article: "Should You 
Disclose a Disability on Your Resume?" by Kim Isaacs, 
Monster.com resume expert. 

Thank you, James Elekes, for forwarding it to eSight. 

You can read it at
http://resume.monster.com/articles/disability/

The following four points within that article drew my attention:

First: "Never reveal a disability on a resume," says Jeff
Klare, CEO of Hire DisAbility Solutions, which is jointly
operated by Monster.com. He cites the possibility of
discrimination or preconceived, inaccurate notions about
disabilities as the primary reasons to avoid the topic on a
resume.

Second: "Get your foot in the door for interviews, and, if
the disability is visible, put their minds at ease early on
in the process, assuring employers that you have the skills
to do the job," says Dr. Daniel J. Ryan, author of "The Job
Search Handbook for People With Disabilities."

Ryan admits people with visible disabilities (e.g.,
noticeable impairments to speech, hearing, sight or
mobility) might want to disclose those disabilities in their
resumes or cover letters so there are no surprises at the
interview, but he advises against such disclosure.

Third: Klare also advises against disclosing your disability
on the resume or cover letter as the reason for a gap in
employment. "There are many ways to fill gaps," he says.
Options include volunteer work, continuing education or
other activities performed during time away from the workforce. 

Fourth: Be careful about including achievements on a resume
that could unintentionally reveal a disability. That doesn't
mean omitting all references to organizations that are tied
to disability, but use common sense, Ryan stresses.

Nan Hawthorne, who has authored many eSight articles, agrees
with Klare and Ryan and starkly puts the
disability-on-a-resume issue this way:

 "Self-revelation ... early in the game is tantamount 
 to adding this postscript to your cover letter: 
 'Don't bother to call me about this job!' It is a sad 
 fact that we must at least get our toes in the door 
 before we talk about disability. We must make it as 
 hard as possible to turn us down just because of 
 disability." 

I can see the rationale in not revealing your disability in
your resume or cover letter, but, once you receive a
telephone call for a job interview, what do you do?

There are a variety of options for handling the disability
disclosure question after you've landed a job interview.  

For example, see the eSight article, "Don't Ask, Do Tell -
But When?" by Peter Altschul at
http://www.esight.org/View.cfm?x=671

In that article, Peter writes:

 "While I believe that people who are blind or 
 visually impaired should consider surprising a job 
 interviewer by not disclosing their disability until 
 they appear for an interview, I also believe that 
 this decision is a personal matter based on such 
 factors as the job being sought, the culture of the 
 organization, the degree of visual acuity, and the 
 unique circumstances of each interview. (I will, for 
 example, disclose my disability before an interview, 
 if I learn that the organization is planning to send 
 me printed materials.) 

 "People who choose to use the 'element of surprise' 
 should be prepared to confidently address a variety 
 of initial reactions -- ranging from effusive 
 greetings to embarrassed silence -- and develop 
 strategies to weave their disability into the fabric 
 of the interview." 

Joe agrees:

 "The surprise approach fits my personality. I feel 
 that in the first three minutes of the interview, 
 while the interviewer is undoubtedly preoccupied with 
 not saying the wrong thing, I can be saying all the 
 right things with confidence, therefore showing the 
 interviewer that I can control a situation, if even 
 briefly, which they themselves couldn't handle." 

Courtwright, on the other hand, believes in leveling with a
prospective employer as soon as possible:

 "I guess I would say the best approach I have found 
 is something like, 'Don't Ask (but know they will 
 anyhow), Do Tell (but not too much -- focus on the 
 job, not your disability)' and 'Do It as Soon as 
 Possible.' This might help the interviewer become 
 comfortable with you quickly, and it helps to 
 emphasize skills you have rather than what you need 
 right off the bat." 

Durre, though, takes a middle-of-the-road approach:

 "At the suggestion of my Ph.D. advisor, I included a 
 'Personal Statement,' a few paragraphs in length on a 
 separate sheet. In this statement, I stated that I am 
 blind and explained briefly what adaptive strategies 
 I use to get my work done. This way, I informed my 
 future employer of my disability right off the bat, 
 but, in doing so, I focused on how I am able to do my 
 job." 

As Peter suggests, when to disclose your disability - before
or during a job interview - probably hinges on personal
preference. It's a choice each one of us needs to carefully
consider, taking into account our specific disability, our
temperament and our personality.

So, to help each of us within the eSight community discover
which route is best for us, please reply to this week's
discussion question:

 Do you feel more comfortable revealing your 
 disability before or during a job interview? Why? 

Please post your disability disclosure thoughts at
http://www.esight.org/link.cfm?n=888

Jim Hasse
Senior Content Developer
eSight Careers Network(tm)

P.S.:   We want to hear from you! E-mail us at
  MemberServices at eSight.org with your comments,
  questions and suggestions. Or call us at
  (212) 683-4950, and introduce yourself.

eSight's NetWork News (eNN)
Wednesday, January 24, 2007

*1. Worthy of Note This Week:

  "Addressing Concerns About Your Disability
  in a Job Interview" 
  by Nan Hawthorne

  While an employer may not be permitted to ask questions
  about your disability, that important person nevertheless
  has them in mind. Here are some suggestions from employers
  themselves about how to proactively put their minds at  
  rest.

  Go to: http://www.esight.org/View.cfm?x=126

  "Dave Johnson Tells How to Be Super in Sales" 
  by Nan Hawthorne 

  In this interview, Dave Johnson explains how salesmanship
  has helped him succeed as an employee and businessman. He
  says the ability to sell is an essential skill for every
  person who is blind.

  Go to: http://www.esight.org/View.cfm?x=312

  "Disability Awareness: Essential to Any Diversity Program" 
   by Nan Hawthorne 

  Leaving disability awareness out of your company's 
  diversity initiative gives you only half a program.

  Go to: http://www.esight.org/View.cfm?x=106

*2.  Sharing Career Management Resources

 Vera Institute of Justice in New York City invites you
 to apply for its 2007 Summer Internship Program.

 Internships are available in the following departments:
 Center on Immigration and Justice, Center on Sentencing
 and Corrections, Center on Youth Justice, Accessing
 Safety Initiative, Prosecution and Racial Justice,
 Child Welfare, Health and Justice, Planning, Library,
 Operations, Adolescent Portable Therapy, Adolescent
 Reentry Initiative, and Guardianship. 

 All Internships are paid positions. See details at 
 http://www.esight.org/View.cfm?x=845

 John Miller reminds us that the Los Angeles Career 
 Expo 2007 will take place on January 30. It brings 
 together industry and government with entry-level 
 college graduates and professionals with 
 disabilities. Find out how you can participate at 
 http://www.esight.org/link.cfm?n=894

 Dean Martineau informs us in the latest issue of Top 
 Tech Tidbits for Thursday that Main Menu will have
 a thorough discussion of Windows Vista on its January 31
 program, corresponding to the date when Vista is released.  
 It will have at least two major guests and will take 
 listener questions in advance and during the program. 
 See details at http://www.esight.org/link.cfm?n=895

 Visit the Tidbits page at 
 http://www.topdotenterprises.com/tidbits.htm 
 where you can subscribe to the RSS feed and 
 get back issues.

 Michele Glaser recommends Cliff Ennico's article, 
 "Should You Hire A Mentor, Coach Or Consultant?" at 
 http://www.arcamax.com/businesssuccess/s-131064-865618

 Rita Pulsoni forwards the press release, "Assistive  
 Technology Products Work With Vista For Accessibility Right  
 Out of the Box." Learn all about it at   
 http://www.esight.org/link.cfm?n=890

 Mike Burks alerts us that Mozilla Corporation is looking 
 for a full-time QA engineer and accessibility evangelist 
 to test and promote accessibility in its software. Possible 
 job locations are the Mozilla's offices in Mountain View, 
 California, or in Toronto, Canada.

 For details, go to: http://www.esight.org/View.cfm?x=837

 Arlene S. Kanter reminds us about the Conference for 
 Law Students With Disabilities, January 27-28, 2007, 
 at American University, Washington, D.C. 

 The American Bar Association's (ABA) Section of 
 Individual Rights and Responsibilities' Committee on 
 the Rights of Persons With Disabilities (IRR), along 
 with the ABA's Commission on Mental and Physical 
 Disability Law and the ABA's Law Student Division, 
 will be sponsoring a planning conference for a new 
 national student organization that will encourage 
 those with disabilities to pursue careers in the 
 legal profession as well as assist them in the 
 admissions process, throughout their tenure in law 
 school, and in securing employment after graduation. 
 Attendance at the conference is free and financial 
 assistance for travel expenses is available on a 
 first-come, first-serve basis. 

 The conference is being held at American University's 
 Washington College of Law, Washington, D.C. For more 
 information, contact IRR at (202) 662-1030 or go to: 
 http://www.abanet.org/irr/studentconference.doc 

 Celebrating Success 

 If you have a special project you're working on and
 need a promotional boost from a concerted eSight
 effort online (such as the one we've arranged for
 Glenda), please briefly describe it in an e-mail to
 MemberServices at eSight.org with the words "Please
 Extend my Reach" in the subject line.

*3. Job Alert

 You will find 33 job openings posted on eSight, which 
 can be sorted by city, state and name of company. 
 Here are the most recent postings: 

 St. Petersburg, FL
  Job Title: PAC Mate Test Technician.
  Company: Freedom Scientific, Inc.
  http://www.esight.org/View.cfm?x=814

 Mountain View, California or in 
 Toronto, Canada.
  Job Title: QA Engineer and Accessibility Evangelist.
  Company: Mozilla Corporation.
  Go to: http://www.esight.org/View.cfm?x=837 

 Rockville, MD
  Job Title: Director of Research and Evaluation
  Company: Goodwill Industries International, Inc.
  Go to: http://www.esight.org/View.cfm?x=831

 New York, NY
  Job Title: Disability Program Navigators/DPN 
            (5 Job Openings)
  Company: Goodwill Industries, under contract to NYC DSBS
  Go to: http://www.esight.org/View.cfm?x=829

 Salem, OR
  Job Title: Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
           Affirmative Action Coordinator
  Company: Oregon Department of Transportation
  Go to: http://www.esight.org/View.cfm?x=830

 Washington, DC
   Job Title: Equal Opportunity Specialist.
   Company: Department of Justice.
   Go to: http://www.esight.org/View.cfm?x=834

   Job Title: Government Relations Information Specialist
   Company: Easter Seals, Inc. 
   Go to: http://www.esight.org/View.cfm?x=813

 Search all of eSight's Job Postings at
 http://www.esight.org/link.cfm?n=64

*4. What's New on Community News?

 Check the new postings this week on eSight Community
 News, which highlights the latest trends,
 developments, events, seminars etc. in career
 management and disability employment.

 Join Eric Damery of Freedom Scientific on Tuesday,
 February 13, at The Carroll Center, Newton, MA at
 http://www.esight.org/link.cfm?n=893

 Visit booth 722 at ATIA Conference
 and Meet "the Accessibility Anywhere people"
 from Serotek Corporation at
 http://www.esight.org/link.cfm?n=896

 Proyecto Visión's January-February 2007
 News Now Online at
 http://www.esight.org/link.cfm?n=886 

 Annual International Technology and Persons 
 With Disabilities Conference: March 19-24, 2007,
 at http://www.esight.org/link.cfm?n=891

 Call for Papers - Dance Beneath the Diamond Sky
 With One Hand: Disability and Music at 
 http://www.esight.org/link.cfm?n=887 

 DiabilityWork.com Launches "Helping Employers
 Reach Untapped Worker Pool" at 
 http://www.esight.org/link.cfm?n=889

 eSight's Top 10 List for Week Ending 01/19/07 at
 http://www.esight.org/link.cfm?n=413

*5. How You Can Make eSight Your Site

 Share Your 'Aha! Moment

 Making meaning of career management from a disability
 perspective is sometimes a series of mini-epiphanies.
 That takes time. Ideas have to churn within you
 sometimes for quite awhile before you can finally see
 how to apply them to your particular situation.

 If you find yourself going through that process,
 consider using 'Aha! Moments' to record those
 thoughts for yourself (and others) so you don't lose
 or forget them and, instead, use them as a way to
 enrich your eSight learning experience and advance
 your career.

 It's another form of virtual mentoring within our
 eSight community.

 Go to: http://www.esight.org/link.cfm?n=790

 Resource Exchange

 Tell us about disability employment sites, blogs,
 tips, job leads or events at
 http://www.esight.org/link.cfm?n=182

 Or e-mail MemberServices at eSight.org with the words
 "Resources for Job Seekers" in the subject line, and
 we'll include them in eSight's NetWork News.

 Recruiters

 Post open jobs on eSight for free at
 http://www.esight.org/jobPostPosition.cfm

 Sponsors

 If you have a product or service that would be
 beneficial to our growing eSight membership and would
 like to learn how to become a sponsor of eSight's
 NetWork News, please contact Nancy O'Connell at
 212-683-4950 or MemberServices at eSight.org with the
 word "sponsor" in the subject line.

eSight Careers Network

The global, cross-disability online community
addressing disability employment issues.

E-mail: MemberServices at eSight.org
URL: http://www.eSight.org

Resources for Job Hunters at
http://www.esight.org/job_resources.cfm

eSight Networking Forum at
http://www.tabinc.org/net/

Job Seeker's Network at
http://www.tabinc.org/jsn/

eSight Leadership Forum at
http://www.tabinc.org/st/

eNN archives at
http://www.tabinc.org/cgi-bin/enn.cgi

About eSight's NetWork News

 If you enjoy eSight's NetWork News, please forward it 
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