What does Disability Employment Awareness Month, celebrated every October, mean to you? For me, it means that the focus of those of us who work in the field of low vision or blindness rehabilitation are brought back to the end result, the ultimate goal, the reason we do what we do. We want people with low or no vision to enjoy the myriad benefits of working.
The Benefits of Work
If you are unemployed, especially if you have never worked, you might think that a pay check is what working is all about. It's not. Okay, then it's the benefits like health insurance that are so important. No, it's not that either. Don't get me wrong, Getting a pay check and having benefits are essential to most of us, but they're not what makes having a job so vital to a full and rewarding life. Working is so much more.
Employment gives us an opportunity to give back, to help others, to make a difference, to change the world, one tiny step at a time. We learn to do new things, we grow personally as we take on new challenges, we connect with people who can help us develop and we reach out to those we can share our experiences with. We learn leadership skills, develop new points of view and often feel pride and take our identity from the work we do. For many of us, our job defines us.
You may be thinking, "I'm just a grocery sacker, you're not talking about my job." Yes, I am. Every job has the potential to offer a reward beyond the tangible pay check and benefits. It's all in your perception, your attitude and your inspiration. How can you think being a grocery sacker isn't important when carrying bags to the car for a senior citizen makes her trip to the store easier, or even possible? We all have to survive, so we do what we must do, but with just a little change in how you look at things, you can thrive.
Finding Your Passion
Find your passion. If you love your work, you'll be happier, you'll make those around you achieve more, and you'll be much more likely to succeed. How do you find your passion? Get involved. Whether you are a student or an adult, get out of the house, get active in your community, your school, your church, or wherever you feel drawn and can create an opportunity. You cannot figure out what you love to do if you're doing nothing. Help your family, your friends, your neighbors and learn about what you like to do at the same time. Volunteer somewhere that needs your time and talent and learn about the world while you're helping a worthy cause.
Discovering Employment Opportunities
Talk to people about their work. Start with your family and friends. They are your network. Learn about their career paths, the companies they work for now and those they have worked for in the past. They just might be a connection that will turn into a chance for you to apply for a job opening even before it is posted to the public.
Look for a need. Is there always a long line at Subway when you go to grab a bite of lunch? Perhaps they are short staffed. You just might be the person they're looking for to fill a need that no one else can fill. Look for opportunities where you are. Businesses close to home, on the nearest bus route,or near where a family member or neighbor already works, can make getting to work easier for you.
Building your Skills
Successful people have marketable skills, and if you are blind or have low vision, strong skills to compensate for your vision loss are the first requirement for success. Using technology efficiently is necessary in almost every job. Good communication skills, both written and verbal, are highly sought after by employers. Orientation & mobility skills are essential to success. If you can't get from here to there safely, you're not going to be able to work. Did you miss out on developing the skills you need when you had the chance? It's not too late to go back and get them. State agencies, non-profit organizations and schools are there to help you get the skills to go where you want to go.
National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is also there to help employers understand the importance of a diversified workforce. Diversity doesn't just refer to people from a variety of races or ages having the opportunity to work, it means all people, including those with disabilities being given the chance to prove what they can do. Resources are shared with local employers through Governor's and Mayor's committees across the nation, which means you don't have to be out there alone trying to convince a hiring manager that you can do the job you've applied for.
Vince Lombardi said, "The only time success comes before work is in the dictionary." You have to work hard to get and keep a job, but access to resources through AFB CareerConnect and Access World will help you to develop a plan of action to get from where you are to where you want to be. The Job Seekers Tool Kit and Maintaining Your Job and Succeeding at Work have step-by-step lessons to guide you. Don't give up. Even if you're discouraged, the opportunities are out there and NDEAM is the perfect time to start working toward being successfully employed.
