Deaf People Not the Only Ones Having Difficulty Getting Hired
Sunday October 29, 2006
Deaf and hard of hearing people are not the only ones having difficulty finding jobs. Hearing people with disabilities also have problems. That is apparent from this stunning account by a hearing man who happens to be missing one leg, in the Sunday, October 29 Washington Post essay "Why No One Will Hire Me."
When I started reading it, I thought to myself, "What's the big deal about missing one leg?" This is an intelligent, normal hearing guy. Why is this guy having trouble finding employment? Is it something in his attitude? Is it outright discrimination against his disability? Is anything missing here? Have any deaf people had experiences similar to the one he describes?
Comments
I am hearing impaired and wear behind the ear hearing aids in both ears. I was born this way and my mother made sure I mainstreamed in public school. I’m so thankful she did since it help me deal with real day-to-day situation and not a “sheltered” life. I started out working in a restaurant when I was 15 years old after school for four years, I was a hard worker, I wanted to prove to people that I could do the job well in spite of my hearing disability.
I attended tech school for almost a year and then was offered a job, with on-the-job training of what I was going to school for. I worked that job for 7 years. I resigned to stay home with my kids, did daycare for awhile. Then I decided to freelance graphic design out of my home office. Ran the freelance busines for almost 9 years, meeting many clients and made friends with some. That was an interesting experience. Most time I did not mention my disability because either I didn’t think of it at the time and/or I wanted to prove to them I could do the job with my brains and talents.
Now we’re to the present, I am currently starting a new full-time job. How did I get this job? With my years of hard work, great experiences, skills and knowledge as well as 2 great references. One of the reference was my old boss from the restaurant job, he is also my freelance client who has always been happy with my work ethics and the work I provided for him. The second reference is another client that I’ve worked with for the last 7 years, she is also a great friend. I’ve maintained a positive attitude and always try to please my clients with great results.
But let me back up here, I’ve been searching for a full-time job in the last 10 months. I’ve applied to over 50 places this year that are in the graphic arts industry, some said I was over qualified for some jobs. I’ve never had it on my resume my disability. I figured let them see my resume, my portfolio and then we can talk in the interview.
This new job, in the conversation about dealing with foreigners and possibly older generation with hearing problems, I pointed out that I am too with hearing disability but it doesn’t really affect my job about 90% of the time, just on the phone and with certain people face-to-face. But I had my own business for 9 years so I learned how to deal with those issues. In case you’re wondering, I’m still freelancing while working for full-time, it just wasn’t enough clients for me to make a full-time wage on my own.
I know other people who do not have any disabilities but with a college degree, with lots of years of experience and they had a heck of a time finding a job. I think the market is tighter nowadays, so it may not be just your disability preventing you from getting a job, it could be too many people out there for the same job.
Hang in there and keep looking…there will be a perfect job out there somewhere, someday. Just be patient.
Best of luck!
Jen
Hi. I find the same things occurring as I look for work. I look in the newspaper, call companies, send in resumes with cover letters, and fill out applications yet I only have a position that, on a good week, I get called to work for 7 hours on one day. I have worked a total of 2 1/2 days and am supposed to be able to pay for 2 medications and save up money to move out of my mom’s house. I also pay for public transportation. That costs about $205/ month. Minimum wage won’t cut it. With that as my problem, people hesitate to hire me because I walk with a “bounce in my step” (limp) due to two twisted hips which God gave me as part of my unique makeup. I’m not complaining about the hips or the ADD or the learning difficulty. I’m just saying that I’ve held jobs in the past and because of the snowball effect, I haven’t held a full-time job since Good Friday 2003. I don’t ask about pay and benefits, because my primary goal is to gain experience and give back to the community in which I live. I’ve tried school to get my bachelor’s degree but have run into snags there. People see my difficulties as lazy. I’m far from lazy. If I were lazy, I wouldn’t be seeking employment. I totally agree that, even though Section 504 and ADA are laws that are to prevent discrimination, employers look at $$$ and cost benefit. Why would they hire someone that would be a liability. On the other hand, such situations would give them a tax credit. Wouldn’t that offset the liability thing?
Okay, enough with the tangent. I have strong mathematics skills and am very good at working one on one with people of preschool age or elderly age.
I volunteer in nursing homes and the residents enjoy every bit of it. Right now, all I can do is pray that God will show me where He wants me in HIS PLAN. I’ll keep praying and looking. God will take care of the rest. Keep in good spirits!
God will bless you!
~ Philemon 4