Guest Blogger: Jane Hatton

In her second blog for Making Lemonade Jane shares her top seven places to find a job. Jane founded and runs Evenbreak, which is a specialist job board for disabled job seekers. Check it out at www.evenbreak.co.uk.

Sometimes we get in the habit of looking for work in the same places all the time and in doing so we might be missing an opportunity elsewhere. Here Jane reminds us of some of the various ways to pursue employment opportunities.

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Seven Places to Find a Job!

Trying to find work in this economic climate is a challenge for anyone, and even more so for disabled job seekers, as we also have to overcome the (misinformed) prejudices of some employers as well. I often get asked for tips on job searching by disabled candidates I meet through my role in running Evenbreak. I’d like to share some of those tips with you – I hope you find them useful.

With so few jobs around, it’s important to look in as many places as possible to make sure you don’t miss out on the job that might be the best for you. Here are a few places you might consider (some obvious, some less so):

Jobcentre Plus – these have Disability Equality Advisers who should be able to point you in the direction of any suitable jobs. You can search online, telephone them or visit in person. They can also advise you of any schemes you might be eligible for (e.g. the government’s Work Choice programme).

Newspapers/journals – most local papers have a job section for local jobs, and national newspapers will often advertise jobs as well. Trade journals will often have a jobs section for jobs in that particular sector. Many libraries will hold copies of local and national newspapers, or they will be available at the Jobcentre, or they may be available online.

Job boards – there are a lot to choose from, so have a look round and see which ones advertise the kind of jobs you are interested in. Some are very broad (Monster, Reed etc.) and some specialise in particular sectors (e.g. sales or IT) and others in particular groups (e.g. the job board I run).

Recruitment agencies – again, there are plenty to choose from, but it’s better to just pick three or four you like and register with them rather than with too many. The better ones are registered with the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC). If you can meet with the consultants face-to-face it helps to build a rapport and for them to remember you.

Networking – The more people who know what specific opportunity you are looking for, the greater the chance of someone helping you. Tell everyone you know (family, friends, neighbours, work colleagues, people you know through hobbies etc.) and also look at meeting new people. This can be done through “offline networking” (going to seminars or exhibitions or networking meetings in your area) or “online networking” (using networking sites such as LinkedIn or Facebook or Twitter).

Job fairs – many employers hold job fairs where they display the jobs they have available. These are usually advertised in your local paper, and your Jobcentre Plus should definitely know about them.

Being pro-active – rather than waiting for a vacancy to come up, try looking at the employers you would like to work for, doing some research and contacting their HR department. Even if there are no current vacancies you might be able to send in a speculative CV for any forthcoming vacancies.

Try all seven methods, and good luck in finding that dream job!

If you would like more tips on finding a job, have a look at this e-book http://www.evenbreak.co.uk/blog/disabled-looking-for-work/  it’s packed full of advice for disabled jobseekers and is only a fiver!

Guest Blogger: Helen Markey

The thought of seeking new employment is daunting enough for anyone. There may be a number of reasons that may spark a job search; you may be unhappy in your current role, it could be down to relocation, a change in career path or even a desire to take on a new challenge. No matter what the reason for the search, we can all agree that the searching and application process involved in looking for our next role poses a huge amount of consideration.

We need to consider what exactly is going to be best for us and how it will impact on and improve our lives. Well imagine taking on the task of searching for that new, life changing role, but imagine what it would be like if you had a lot more to consider.  Imagine facing the search with a disability, and specifically a visual impairment.  Hard as it is to imagine if you have never experienced any sight loss, you can imagine how much more of a challenge this may pose when considering all the obvious steps it takes to secure employment.

As part of my new job search, I would like to share my experiences from the perspective of a partially sighted person. I have just had the opportunity to attend a course designed to provide information and support for severely sight impaired and partially sighted people, run by the RNIB and co-facilitated by Steph Cutler of Making Lemonade. During those three days I have met some interesting and brave people, and I would like to share our perspective with you.

I think it’s best to explain how I came to meet these amazing individuals and why I started my search for employment. I had relocated to Manchester city centre just around two years ago and decided that whilst I enjoyed my job and had great colleagues, it would be better to look for a new role a lot closer to home.I wanted to save having to commute everyday. I took my time with my job search as I wanted to find a role that would be challenging. I did this by using all the usual considerations and I also had to face a few other realisations in the process.

I had spent most of my life hiding a lack of vision. I am unable to see anything other than bright lights and large shapes through my right eye. Then I experienced sight loss in my useful eye due to an ongoing condition called Uveitis. I also had cataracts and glaucoma and was very short sighted. I did make some of my colleagues aware of some of the challenges I faced, but only really when those challenges were work related. If I could avoid telling anyone then I would.

Over the years I had become very good at being creative with my approach to work. We discussed in the course that visually impaired people learn to become great problem solvers and are very resilient. I also found that the more you tell people the more strange questions you have to answer. The amount of times that people have TOLD me I should be able to drive as I can see as I have glasses is unbelievable.

So, after applying for a large number of roles, I received a few invitations to interview. It was my forth interview when I was offered a job, it wasn’t particularly a dream job, but as it was closer to home I took it.

I was too terrified to be pleased. I was dreading what was going to happen. I knew that I had created a security blanket around myself in the role I had been in previously. I knew that if I were to be honest about needing some support then it would probably be offered to me but I had hidden it for so long that I just couldn’t even begin to be open about it. I regret this a lot as I do believe that a lot of people can be supportive. I know that I was just making things a lot harder for myself by feeling that my visual impairments were a problem that I couldn’t get over. As someone pointed out to me this week, its not that we can’t do things, we just do them in a different way to other people. 

 I was so anxious about the new job that I couldn’t stop going over in my mind the things that I knew were going to be impossible for me to do in a conventional way. I knew I would be learning to use new, bespoke software for the role. I was excited to do this, and very keen to face a new challenge, but how would I be able to explain that unless I sat very close I wouldn’t even be able to see the computer? My useful vision was decreasing at this point by the week. I was experiencing a large amount of white floaters, which I would describe as looking through a net curtain, and this was making it harder for me to focus on any text. It was obviously affecting my personal life as well, but I was mainly concerned about the work. 

I knew when I arrived on the first day that I was going to have to face a very awkward conversation at some point. I tried to convince myself it would be ok, that I would be able to find ways around it like I usually did. Yet, something told me I wouldn’t be able to hide this time. I was an hour into my new job when it was time for me to learn the computer system. I couldn’t even see the writing on the screen. Busted! I had to ask if I could have a word in private, and for the first time I explained my situation and the extent of my visual impairment. I felt so guilty for hiding it at the interview and for even thinking that my visual impairment was a problem.

I may not see as well as most people, but there are so many other things to be thankful about, for that reason I could never quite get my head around how I was supposed to feel about it. 

At that point I felt very embarrassed, I felt ashamed and a failure. I hate to let people down and felt that the impression I had left on this group of people was irreversible. I would beat myself up about it for a long time after it happened. I agreed with the manager that we would part ways and I got my things together and left. After an hour or so into my new, life changing role they had told me that even if I had told them about my visual impairment, they didn’t see what they would have been able to do about it. They felt that the only option was for us to part company and for them to find someone else. I look back on that situation now and feel sad that this was seen as the only solution. I felt so alone and didn’t know how to tackle the aspects of my disability and how it can be handled in the work place.

I now know about how wonderful organisations like Action for Blind People, RNIB and Access to Work can assist both employee and employer with finding ways around the challenges that can be faced in the workplace for partially sighted people. They even fund equipment and take the time to assess and support individuals and companies throughout the process. That particular employer didn’t know how to handle the situation and would benefit from being educated on what support is available for people who simply work in a different way and perhaps may just need a slight adjustment.

 I have been able to work all my adult life and found that my sight had decreased to a stage that I could no longer work in the same way as I had before. I just wasn’t aware of the help that is available, of the software on offer and the help and funding from local and national organisations. I heard this week that 75% of severely visually impaired and partially sighted people are out of work. I knew I was at a turning point in how I would approach my future employment and that I wasn’t going to give up. There is no reason why I can’t continue to work and be an asset to any company.

I had known that I would need to have surgery on my good eye in order to prevent further sight loss caused by the glaucoma. I had this towards the end of last year and although it didn’t go as smoothly as it should have, I am now long sighted instead of short sighted. I can’t read things close up anymore, without reading glasses, but I can see a computer a lot better than before. I feel so lucky for this, as it means that I don’t need any special adjustments, or haven’t come across a situation where in work terms I would require these adjustments.

I have since learnt to touch type and have even increased my speed. I have found this to be an invaluable skill so far. I have spent the start of the New Year applying for jobs and I am being honest about being partially sighted. I have been disclosing that I have a disability on my equal opportunity monitoring forms and no longer feel embarrassed to do so. I have been working temporarily whilst continuing my search for the right role, and I am finding that I feel quite happy without any adjustments. I feel less pressured testing out my new sight in this environment and I have been offered support from the employer if needed.

 I attended the course this week mainly to find out about disclosure. Is it better to let a potential employer know how you are disabled? If so, how would you best go about it? More importantly, how will this affect how you are considered as a potential candidate for a role? I was very skeptical about doing this for a long time but I also wanted to as I wanted to get it out in the open. i wanted it not to be a hurdle, just something that can be adjusted to if needed, and moved on from. 

I have noted over the years that I feel more confident about applying for roles within the public sector as they seem to be more open minded when it comes to a disability. From my own experience, they seem better able to handle it than the private sector. I don’t like to think this is just how it will be and that disabled applicants are limited to applying for roles with ‘friendlier’ companies.  And is it too much to ask for a company to be slightly open minded about things they may not have experienced? It would be a shame for any organisation to miss out on a great employee and great talent because they see a disability as a hurdle rather than what it is, a challenge that can be handled and managed well with the right information and the right support. 

Speaking with other severely visually impaired and partially sighted people, it is so clear to see how much we have had to fight to do everything in our lives. Things that people take for granted. Things like getting about on a day-to-day basis safely and on time always requires forward planning, problem solving and organisational skills that most people just wouldn’t need to exercise. We are survivors and fighters who have faced some ignorance and a lack of understanding, but just carried on regardless. We have developed a thick skin, a sense of humour and ability to laugh at situations and ourselves. 

I spoke to one lady this week who told me she was continually spoken to like a robot by her boss. She laughed it off and one day asked him why he did this.  He didn’t have an answer. 

Nobody with a disability wants pity or for people to wrap them in cotton wool and assume they aren’t capable. I have met eight very successful people this week who have achieved so much in their lives already; they carry on regardless and never complain about how hard the challenges they face may be. They so want to be treated as capable people with a lot to offer, which is what they are. They just want a fair chance and an opportunity to prove

themselves.  Everyone deserves an opportunity in life. My visually impaired friends and I would just like an opportunity. I hope that employers can strive to be more aware and less wary of the unknown. There is a lot of help and support out there for employers and employees, so there is no reason why either shouldn’t move forward together positively.

Guest Blogger: Girl With The Cane

I stumbled across Sarah (AKA Girl with the Cane) when I found myself reading her blog last year. I am clearly not the only one who finds her musings on living with a disability and her articles interesting as she has recently been nominated for three Canadian Weblog Awards.   

I instantly loved her strap line, ‘living with disabilities, too stubborn for my own good and too opinionated to stay quiet’.

Sarah has undoubtedly been dealt more than her fair share of lemons but her final line here shows she is living the ‘lemonade way’. Thanks to her for writing this piece for my site. At this time of year, as she says so herself, we often look ahead at what’s next. As she also says, ‘you always have a choice’…..

Check out Girl With The Cane at www.girlwiththecane.com and look her up on Twitter.

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Life’s greatest truths are often the simplest, yet they’re the ones with which we have the most difficulty.

I know it was that way with me. Life had been trying to teach me, “You always have a choice” for quite some time. However, I was not prepared for the way I’d have to put it into practice the first morning that I woke up at Penetanguishene General Hospital in Penetanguishene, Ontario.

It had been a tough few months. The journey had started back in November, 1998, during a job interview in Parksville, British Columbia. I had gotten a terrible headache that I later learned was a hemorrhagic stroke. I was very fortunate not to suffer any lasting damage from the stroke. The Royal Victoria Hospital discharged me with a brain AVM or arterioveous malformation. AVMs are present at birth, and involve blood vessels. They can happen anywhere in the body. They are particularly serious in the brain, however, as they can cause strokes like the one I experienced (or worse).

It was a lot for a previously healthy, 22-year-old woman to accept.

The doctors at the Royal Victoria Hospital told me that the necessary treatment might involve brain surgery. Other potential options included radiation, a process called embolization, or a combination of the three treatments. I went home to Ontario to be closer to my family while I investigated treatment options and went through the treatment itself. In May 200 I had open open-brain surgery to treat the AVM – and a stroke a few days after the surgery, much larger than my first one. My left side was weakened almost to the point of paralysis, and I was having seizures. I spent several weeks in the hospital getting the seizures under control with medications before an ambulance transferred me to Penetanguishene General Hospital.

That wasn’t a good day. By the time I reached PGH, I was exhausted and terrified. Nerves had been making me vomit all day. I apparently told the nurse who helped me get ready for bed that there was no point in keeping me at PGH, because I was never going to walk again (I don’t remember this conversation. I was told about it much later.)

The next morning, I woke up before the nurse came in and looked out the window as I lay in bed. I knew that I was supposed to begin physiotherapy and occupational therapy that morning. I hated that I was there. I hated that I was losing my summer to stroke rehabilitation. With everything in me, I didn’t want to be at PGH, or do their therapy, or practice getting up and down their main floor ramp safely in their wheelchair lie the nurses had showed me how to do the previous day. I didn’t want any of it.

Then I thought about the five weeks that I’d just spent in the Toronto Western Hospital. I had spent those weeks in bed, in my pyjamas. Nurses had helped me to dress and undress, given me sponge baths, and brought me the bedpan when I needed it. I had been out of bed maybe an hour or so a day to sit in a chair, and that had been exhausting. If my book fell out of my bed, someone I’d had to ring the nurse bell to get someone to come get it for me. I’d slept with the bed rails up, as movement was so limited at that point that a fall out of bed could have been very dangerous. I couldn’t even position myself in bed at that point.

That is what the rest of your life will be if you don’t do this, I thought.

I didn’t want that.

So, as hard as it was, I got out of bed every day. I cried in the shower every morning. One day I cried all day. The staff made me do my exercises anyway, which seemed extraordinarily cruel to me at the time. I know now that stroke survivors often experience what experts call emotional lability – severe mood swings. The best way to get me to stop crying was to get me doing something else, which eventually did work. The emotional lability got better as time passed, but did carry over into my time at Ottawa Rehabilitation Centre, where I also had a couple of good crying jags.

But I want to get back to this idea of always having a choice. I left my seven months of inpatient rehabilitation right before Christmas 2000, so this time of year always brings back memories of coming back to live with my father, still with a great deal of recovery ahead of me, and asking, “What happens now?” I’m extremely fortunate to be surrounded by loving and supportive family, friends, and community, but I don’t mind telling you that I was scared to death. I did outpatient therapy and got stronger, but it was obvious that my weak left leg and hand were going to be issues with which I might always struggle. The theme of “choice” kept coming up:

1. I could choose to try to keep hanging on to my old life, when things have obviously changed.
2. I could choose to accept that my life has changed and embrace it.

I try for the second option. It’s not always easy. But my father said to me early on in this, “Just because your life is different than you thought it would be doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s going to be worse than you thought it would be.” So, twelve years after leaving rehab, I’m doing pretty well. I live on my own with my two cats. I can’t do everything one-handed, but I can do most of what I need. Since the stroke, I’ve done a great deal of work with people with a variety of other disabilities, as a paid front-line worker, a volunteer, and most recently as a disabilities blogger.  All things considered, I’m pretty content – weak left side and everything.

I think that the most interesting thing that I’ve noticed about being a person with disabilities is that people take cues from me about how to respond to my disabilities. So I choose to live my life like my disabilities aren’t the most interesting thing about me and that I’m willing to live a full life and try new things in spite of them. People tend to respond accordingly. 

I’ve tried yoga, ballet, and skiing with a weak left side… I’ll let you know about the next adventure!

Successfully cycling

I received a great call from my five year old niece recently which really struck me and made me think about what it takes to ‘make it happen’. It confirmed to me that we all face our own personal barriers at times to reach our desired goals, but that they are worth pursuing for the end result.

Some people are interrupted with a call they just have to take from a board room or business meeting, mine came from the local park! A very excited niece just had to call her Auntie to tell her she had learnt to ride her bike. After loads of trips to the park and umpteen attempts she pedalled off without her stabilisers or any help.

I asked her how she felt and after a pause to consider this she said, ‘I feel happy in my insides!’ This was followed by a hasty goodbye, she had to go – there was fun to be had elsewhere! 

Her younger brother then came on the phone and simply said, ‘She’s done it Auntie Stephy’!

This highlighted to me that if you want to ‘feel happy in your insides’ you firstly have to have a go, and secondly be prepared to fall off a few times. By achieving your outcome you can inspire others and make them proud. What’s more, once you’ve done it more opportunities to do more things and have more fun follow.

That ‘happy in your insides’ feeling is open to us all if we are prepared to keep trying. I

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