[acb-hsp] New to the group with questions

[J.Rayl]

Hi Angelina,  You will likely not like my response.  I'd avoid the driver 
issue if at all possible ...it generally does not work out unless 1. you are 
fortunate enough to work in an agency where they supply the driver in the 
same mode as your secretary, thereby filling one position in two; or, you 
have a very, and I do mean very, dependable family or friend who also can do 
this for you.  And then, you must guard on issues of confidentiality and too 
much dependency which can get very tricky.
I did this driver thing for two years when I, too, had a Bachelors in 
Psychology and worked as an Advocate, and it was a nightmare!
The drivers were not reliable--often showing up late or not at all.  One 
would frequently go into the lobby and I'd find her asleep on the couch when 
I came out of meetings.
Confidentiality, no matter what or how many forms they signed, was a 
never-ending problem.  This was a relatively small community but no matter 
how many cautions, mandates, admonitions, yada yada, somehow, somewhere 
...I'd learn that they were talking to the staff, their families, 
...someone, about the clients or their families, and eventually, it got back 
to my boss.  GRRR!
Then, it got to be a question of: was Jessie doing the job or was the driver 
doing it? And of course Jessie was, but the sighted people decided that 
nope, the sighted driver was, so it became the sighted (multiple) against 
the one blind and well, there we were.  And then, the issue of payment. 
Back then, I had attendant care--which I fought for (and probably would not 
get now).  They paid about 3/4 of the cost, I paid 1/4 of the rest enabling 
me to keep SSDI.  But even then, it got danged expensive--coffee, parking 
tickets, meals, other miscellaneous expenses, then the wreck of my car which 
ended the whole deal.
Then, there is simply the whole issue of doing work in other people's homes, 
and I'm not comfortable at all with that--especially in this day and age, 
and I really think we, especially as blind professionals, need to really and 
carefully think about that.
My suggestion to you is, go onto your Masters degree where your 
opportunities of better, more fulfilling employment as a social worker will 
be much, much higher.  If you want to work (and hopefully you will) in the 
interim, look for hotline jobs, vista volunteer, etc.

Hope that helps from a 30 year veteran, now working on her dissertation LPC, 
counseling psychologist.  <smiles>

I'm in private practice with a whole host of clients and issues, now with 
contract working with Day Report Center.

Take care.


Jessie Rayl
thedogmom63 at frontier.com
www.facebook.com/Eaglewings10
www.pathtogrowth.org

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Anjelina Cruz" <anjelinac26 at gmail.com>
To: <acb-hsp at acb.org>
Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2012 11:09 PM
Subject: [acb-hsp] New to the group with questions


Good evening list,
My name is Anjelina and I am new to the list. I am totally blind and
am currently pursuing a BSW degree. Since I will be venturing out into
the field next semester as an intern, I have a few questions.
1. What was your experience at your first placement? What were some of
your fears?
2. If you needed to travel to clients homes how did you accomplish
this requirement?
My placement will most likely be in a more rural setting with limited
public transit, and I’m not sure how to handle the driver issue. Is it
appropriate to hire my own driver? Can an agency deny me employment or
an internship because I do not drive?
3. Has your place of employment provided you a reader, or did you have
to hire one for handwritten information.
Thanks for any feedback and advice.


-- 
Anjelina
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