Hello everyone,
Since National Disability Awareness Month and Disability Mentoring Day is this month, or coming soon for many countries, I thought we could talk about how the disabled can be successful at work. Can talk about finding meaningful work as well. We can share what has worked, and what has not. These ideas and resources we will share are not only for the disabled; all can use to be successful.
I have to admit others might have better ideas than I do and always welcome your thoughts. I went completely blind instantly in 1999, lost the ability to walk for one year, have diabetes in which I need to take insulin twice daily, neuropathy in both legs and other complications from the illness which took away my eyesight one day after work instantly, and forever.
I was working at the time of my illness. After leaving the hospital 7 months later, I was delayed because I was in a coma for 3 of those long months and had to have 4 surgeries , I immediately immersed myself in all of the blindness related training I could find to be a successful productive employee again. I started this process of reskilling myself while still in a wheel chair. I did not want to wait until I had many hours of physical rehabilitation and orientation and mobility training and was able to walk again.
I immediately began to build my network of people to help me make the connections needed to reskill myself as this new person without eyesight as quickly as possible. I found local organizations’ like the Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Sensory Access Foundation and the Silicon Valley Council of the Blind to help with my blindness skills, assistive technology and interpersonal relationship and networking skills.
Because I desired to return to work as quickly as possible, I did not go away to a blind school where I could get around the clock training. Because of this I am not an expert in all blindness related skills.
Some things I did to help me return to work
You can use this same set of skills if you are trying to retain your job or find a new job like some of the students that will be participating at the many disability mentoring day events around the world.
1. Build and maintain a network of people who are knowledgeable in the areas you are interested in; or people you can learn from. Read Networking Forum: Tapping Your Network in Time of Need to get some ideas on how to build your network.
Once you have built this network you need to nourish this resource or it will go away. Maintaining a network is like growing a rose; if you do not provide water your rose will not be healthy and will eventually die. Read Best Ways to Reciprocate for Help to learn how to keep your network healthy
2. Make sure you have all the training and tools you will need to be productive and successful. Put in the time to learn your assistive technology thoroughly. Read Accommodations to learn more about what might make your working environment, just a bit easier.
3. Learn to adapt and figure out what works best for you. Nothing is easy. Sometimes you have to use your ingenuity to solve your own problems instead of waiting for help from others. You can get some ideas of some workarounds that have worked for me by reading Working Remotely- Challenges.
4. Have a good attitude. When solving your problems think in the bigger picture. If by solving your own problem; think how can you help others with your same resolution who might be in your same situation? Even though you might be having a really bad day because the tool you are supposed to use to do your job does not work with your assistive technology because that tool was not designed following accessibility guidelines like the ones at Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). Do not get discouraged. You will have better days; usually very soon. Read Living Positively to get encouraged to have a better attitude
What has not worked for me
1. Do not try to force things to happen. At times if things are not going exactly the way you want; take a break; and come back later to take another look with a fresh mind. At times your ideas are not ready to be accepted by others; do not give up. Just look for the correct opportunity to present yourself.
2. You might have to alter your style of engagement to get the results you are looking for. Look at the personalities you are working with and make adjustments for best results.
3. Try not to make enemies along your paths to accomplish your goals. They might be your allies in future.
4. Put in the hard work and effort. Most things do not come easy. It takes a lot of hard work and time to succeed. You may need to get additional training to accomplish your goals. Get that training so you can be the best you can be.
5. Have faith in yourself. Never, ever give up! You can do it if you give yourself the chance!
Does anyone else have any helpful tips to help the students? Any tips that will help others looking for work or changing jobs? Any ideas to help retain your current job or get a promotion?
We all, very much, look forward to hearing from you.
Bill Tipton
Contributing Author,
Global Dialogue Center
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/
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