NOAH AOC

Hello, I haven’t found a section for albinism and career so I will write here. I think there used to be one!!

Anyway, I’m currently looking for a job. I have good qualifications but not sufficient experience. I’ve had 4 interviews and disclosed my visual impairment in all!! Of course I didn’t get any job yet… I’m not sure the reason is my vision. I think it is about my lack of experience. By the way I’m in Montreal and looking for a research assistant / associate position in the health field.

This is not my only problem though. I am immigrant, I live alone and I need to work to get some income. Don’t I? So I’m looking for a part-time job and I’ve never found a good one for my eyes. Most of available part-time jobs are customer service which I hate because they require bilingual skills and so I’m stuck. I have the vision problem (OA), I have the problem of being immigrant and not excelling the official languages but I really need to work ASAP.

Thank you for reading my boring story but anyone in Montreal who can help??

Hey,

I am from Missouri City TX and I too have a situation about working part-time. At the present time I am working as a teacher's assistance at an elementary school for autistic children. I have been working there since last year August. Two months ago, I asked my boss when I can renew my contract. She told me in March. Just three days ago, she called me into her office and told me that it would be best to look for another job that would best suit me. She mentions that I can continue to work until the end of May, but not for the next school year. After receiving this news, I was deeply distressed. I could not believe what I was hearing. She then continued saying that it seems like I am having difficulties when cutting or reading to the kids. Not that I am an illiterate or anything, but I am a fantastic reader. She went on saying I had a little difficulty handling the copy machine. All these things she stated was in regards to my disability. Just because I am visually impaired she made it seem like the only thing I am good at is watching children. This really brought my self esteem down.

Right now I am searching for a new job for this summer. I was informed by my boss to work in a daycare setting or a Montessori school. For the meantime working in a daycare during the summer would not be a good thing for me because I can do a better job than that. I have my associates degree and now going for a bachular's degree in special education. As long as I got the Lord by my side, I will never give up on becoming a teacher. I have always loved kids and I am good at it.

What advice do you have for me. If by any chance, do you know any teaching jobs that might be available for me? Please let me know. Thanks!

Beauty Queen, being fired for your disability is discrimination and against every law in the disabilities act. You should not lose your job due to your vision. Any job should be Equal Opportunity, and if she could only give you reasons based on your disability, she can get in HUGE trouble. You should really fight that. even if you do not want to continue to work there now, that still needs to be faught.

Good Luck

~Meghan 

I agree with Meghan Beauty Queen.  That is something that you shouldn't take lightly, you have the right to have any job that you are qualified for.  And you can't be fired because of your disibility.  The person who hired you should know that, and if not then i would have a conversation with her and let her know.  I'm sure that she would be able to find some information about it on the internet if she doesn't know.  Good Luck.

My sister is graduating this year with her bachelor's degree in teaching, she majored in early childhood development and is going to be an elementry school teacher. I know that with us, the degree does nto always mean a job, but it helps.

I live in Michigan, and Michigan is what is called an At Will employment state. this means that an employer can let you go for any reason they would like that is within the confines of the law. So consequently I have been fired for having my disability, but it was hidden behind other, perfectly legal explainations.

All we can do is go in and work hard and hope that some one will notice. Practice interviewing skills, amd practice talking about your disability in a way that sounds like you have made your disability a posative thing in your life. Employers often take that as a strength rather than a weakness.

Beauty Queen, aside from being as wrong as your boss was, I would want to find a different job after that, I would never want to work for some one that was looking for me to fail. try other schools in your area, they might be looking for someone to do the same job that you were doing before.

I'm so sorry to hear it.  I live in Alvin, not too far from you.  My wife has OA (a new acronym I learned today), and has had no end of trouble finding a career or job that works for her.  She has a PhD and since she can't drive (but wants to live in the country), her opportunities seem to be limited.

I know a later post in this thread mentioned "at will" employment, but I don't think "at will" covers disabilities.  I think the Americans with Disabilities Act covers you - a potential course of action is to mention the ADA and an attorney (whether you intend to proceed or not), and look for a new job while keeping your part time one for a while longer.  

Have you looked into "Visually Impaired Consulting"?  I looked into it myself, but couldn't rouse my wife's interest.  Search around for it - there's a school in Texas that can teach you how to do it and according to my mom (who was an elementary principal), they're always in demand and well-paid.

Sp 

FYI:  "At-Will" employment appears to be a murky area with regard to the ADA.  I'd let your employer know that she may be violating federal law by refusing to consider or offer reasonable accomodation - and that she may be opening up the company/school to a lawsuit which would be far more expensive than keeping you.  Does this school/company have more than 15 employees?  (Companies with 15 employees or fewer do not appear to be subject to ADA).

Americans with Disabilities Act

It is unlawful to terminate an employee who qualifies as disabled under the meaning of the Americans with Disabilities Act if as an employer you could make an accommodation to the employee's job which would allow the employee to perform the job.