[Menvi-discuss] dealing with blindness in bios and other careerinformation

[Ria Andriani]

Hi Julie,

Much as I'd like to agree with the majority, leaving out your
blindness in your resume and cover letter might lead to some
repercussion later. I nearly got a job but lost it 2 days before I was
about to start because I had a dialogue with my would-be-employers
about access.

I would take Sandra's approach: make it one of your strong suit.
Blindness doesn't need to stick out like a sore tooth. It's just one
of the facts of life and one can't change people's attitude by not
disclosing it. Grant it, you have to choose your moments and you'll be
the judge of that.

Good luck,
Ria


On 2/20/14, Miranda <knownoflove at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi,
> I agree with those who have suggested to leave it out. In my opinion, it
> would give the prospective employers a reason to never give you an
> interview, and I for one would much rather see you succeed!
> Both my husband and I do not mention our blindness prior to an interview
> unless the employer is specificly seeking someone with a disability for the
> particular position.
> As others have also mentioned, just because you work within the blind
> community doesn't automaticly mean that you yourself are blind. For
> instance, my husband (who just happens to be blind) volunteers with a
> disability organization where some of the volunteers happen to have no
> disabilities. They simply feel this is one way they can give back to their
> community and support those with disabilities. So, if they listed this
> volunteer work and an employer automaticly assumed they were disabled
> without even knowing, that would be cause for discrimination if ever found
> out. It's the same in this situation.
> I hope this helps, and I sincerely wish you all the best in your career!
>
> In Christ, Miranda
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Menvi-discuss [mailto:menvi-discuss-bounces at menvi.org] On Behalf Of
> Julie McGinnity
> Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2014 11:07 PM
> To: This is for discussing music and braille literacy
> Subject: Re: [Menvi-discuss] dealing with blindness in bios and other
> careerinformation
>
> Hi all,
>
> Thanks so much for the feedback.  I am torn.  I understand how an employer
> would look at my bio and resume, realize I am blind, and throw it away.
> The
> problem is that a good number of my accomplishments(leadership,
> scholarships, and even work/volunteer
> experience) deals with the blind community.  I don't know how I would go
> about hiding it without cutting out a part of my successes in life.
>  Perhaps I include those things and leave it up to them to realize that I
> am
> blind...  But I wasn't sure.
>
> Thank you so much for the input.  It is definitely appreciated.
>
> On 2/18/14, Leslie Hamric <lhamric930 at comcast.net> wrote:
>> Hi all.  I too, want potential employers to see me as a competent
>> person first.  The blindness will come up eventually.  If I mention it
>> on the bio or resume, the potential employer could decide to look no
>> farther.  I have talked with many people about how/when to disclose
>> blindness and everyone handles it differently.  In the end, you have
>> to try different approaches and do what's comfortable for you.  Good
>> luck.
>> Leslie
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Menvi-discuss [mailto:menvi-discuss-bounces at menvi.org] On Behalf
>> Of Marda
>> Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2014 7:16 PM
>> To: This is for discussing music and braille literacy
>> Subject: Re: [Menvi-discuss] dealing with blindness in bios and other
>> careerinformation
>>
>> I don't want to hide my blindness and have had to mention it in
>> advance when needing accommodations but I don't include it in my bio
>> because I want people to evaluate me first as a competent person and
>> then as a blind person who except for blindness is a person like
>> everyone else who wants to be treated with dignity and respect.
>> Marda
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Julie McGinnity" <kaybaycar at gmail.com>
>> To: "This is for discussing music and braille literacy"
>> <menvi-discuss at menvi.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2014 4:46 PM
>> Subject: [Menvi-discuss] dealing with blindness in bios and other
>> careerinformation
>>
>>
>>> Hi everyone,
>>>
>>> I am currently taking a Career Development for Musicians class.  Our
>>> latest project is to come up with a bio for ourselves.  We will also
>>> be working on resumes and other print materials that we can display
>>> in a job interview/audition situation.  I am therefore wondering how
>>> those of you who are blind dealt with your blindness in a bio.  I am
>>> not wanting to hide it necessarily because I feel like it would be
>>> obvious that I am blind to anyone looking at my resume.  But I refuse
>>> to write about it as though it is some adversity I have overcome
>>> because that's not accurate either.  Any suggestions would be greatly
>>> appreciated.  Thanks.
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Julie McG
>>> National Association of Guide dog Users board member,  National
>>> Federation of the Blind performing arts division secretary, Missouri
>>> Association of Guide dog Users President, and Guiding Eyes for the
>>> Blind graduate 2008 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only
>>> Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have
>>> eternal life."
>>> John 3:16
>>>
>>> Please visit www.menvi.org/donate.html  to make a voluntary
>>> contribution to MENVIs work.
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>>>
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>>
>>
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>
>
> --
> Julie McG
> National Association of Guide dog Users board member,  National Federation
> of the Blind performing arts division secretary, Missouri Association of
> Guide dog Users President, and Guiding Eyes for the Blind graduate 2008
> "For
> God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who
> believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life."
> John 3:16
>
> Please visit www.menvi.org/donate.html  to make a voluntary contribution to
> MENVIs work.
> -
> ---------
>
> Thank you for subscribing to MENVI.  Should you wish to unsubscribe, change
> your delivery, or set any other options available to you, please view the
> list information page below.  Should you have any questions, please contact
> the owner of the list.
> _______________________________________________
> Menvi-discuss mailing list
> Menvi-discuss at menvi.org
> http://menvi.org/mailman/listinfo/menvi-discuss_menvi.org
>
>
> Please visit www.menvi.org/donate.html  to make a voluntary contribution to
> MENVIs work.
> -
> ---------
>
> Thank you for subscribing to MENVI.  Should you wish to unsubscribe, change
> your delivery, or set any other options available to you, please view the
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>


-- 
Ria Andriani
University of New South Wales
Bachelor of music/Bachelor of arts