[acb-hsp] Impossibilities of hope and self-esteem

[Jule Ann Lieberman]

Peter,
There probably is no one on this list that has not felt like you have at
some point. We  all have struggled with the same frustration  and agree we
as the blind community far too often blame ourselves for lack of
professional progress.  I worked for a few years as an employment counselor
at an agency for the blind and my greatest frustration was not with the
consumers of the agency but with the limited scope of employers for job
opportunities. All the times I suggested to consumers to find their passion
and then plan on how to accomplish it; further training, starting small and
building on skills and experience. It all sounds like solid advice but the
missing factor is the pain that comes from rejection, barriers and just
plain ignorance on the part of the workforce.  I can honestly say that with
your post this will not get better for you. No, hissing here folks. Where I
am going with this is that you must first know that you are of value before
others will  believe you have value.  And although I do not know you, I
truly believe you have great value even if you do not recognize it yet. 
Before you sever all ties to people that perhaps can help you to recognize
your worth, take  some time to see that in talking about yourself with
others you may find your worth, and it is there I know. Yes, I have crossed
through this path myself and even still at times wonder is it all worth it? 
I am currently finishing up my graduate degree and have started my own
non-profit service for persons with vision loss. And I have not received a
salary in five plus years. So, I too know what not only this lack of salary
means for our financial status in my family but also the self esteem that is
lost from not having the satisfaction of work recognized with pay.
It will improve for me, and I  believe you too can find your worth. Keep
talking and even more importantly listening. 
Jule Ann Lieberman 

-----Original Message-----
From: acb-hsp-bounces at acb.org [mailto:acb-hsp-bounces at acb.org] On Behalf Of
Mary Ann Robinson
Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2013 7:20 PM
To: Discussion list for ACB human service professionals
Subject: Re: [acb-hsp] Impossibilities of hope and self-esteem

Hi Peter:

I want to echo many of Karen's sentiments.
 It is difficult to know what might be helpful to you.  While it is painful
to continue to pursue hopes and dreams when we are frustrated, the chance of
realizing those hopes and dreams is greater if we continue to pursue them
but impossible if we give up altogether God bless you too.

Mary Ann
.----- Original Message -----
From: "Karen Rose" <rosekm at earthlink.net>
To: "Discussion list for ACB human service professionals" <acb-hsp at acb.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2013 4:17 AM
Subject: Re: [acb-hsp] Impossibilities of hope and self-esteem


> Hi Peter:  I hope you have not left the list yet and do get this message. 
> Reading your post makes me feel both scared and sad.
>
> First, you have not failed anyone--if anything, it is we other blind 
> people who are failing you both by not encouraging you in your search and 
> your struggles in ways that are meaningful to you and in not directly 
> helping you to find the work you are seeking.
>
> I can certainly remember well struggling to find my first job for many, 
> many years, through uncounted rejections, and I think we have all shared 
> those painful experiences.  But the only failure would have been giving up

> hopes and dreams, no matter how long those dreams are frustrated.
>
> You have mentioned in a previous post that you have majored in political 
> science but are really interested in aspects of engineering and IT.  Would

> you be interested in jobs involving statistical analysis for a campaign or

> a polling org?  Alternatively, I know of a computer training program here 
> in Berkeley, Ca. specifically designed to train people with disabilities 
> in computer networking or in office computer work.  This is Computer 
> Technologies Program, and they have two major training programs, a short 
> one in office work and a longer one in computer networking.  *They also 
> have a 90 percent placement rate.*  I would be happy to help you connect 
> with them if you like.
>
> In a different post, you indicate a disillusion with the U.S.  Would you 
> be interested in doing some kind of internship/work outside the country?
>
> Again, I really, really hope you get this message, that you will not give 
> up either on work or on us.
>
> Karen
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Peter Wolfe" <peterqwolfe at gmail.com>
> To: <acb-hsp at acb.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2013 12:19 AM
> Subject: [acb-hsp] Impossibilities of hope and self-esteem
>
>
>> Dear all ACB-Human Resource clients,
>>
>>
>>    After my short stay here, I've decided that its best for me to
>> leave the list. It was nice to hear your plans for trying to build up
>> this ideal group in the future for fellow blind people. I just don't
>> share in the optimism of myself nor other blind people by the
>> arrogance of various blind professions in and outside of ACB, AFB, NFB
>> and others that I see only blame towards the less fortunant to not
>> have jobs overall.
>>
>>    I'm leaving this list with other E-mail list cause I cannot handle
>> the stress of trying anymore. I really believe that this is it for me
>> on my hopes for a future. I went for five years in under graduate and
>> tried numerous places for federal employment and its gone to waste.
>> Tens of thousands of dollars, years of education and a utter waste on
>> everybody. I'd like to apologize that I failed the blind community and
>> future generations of blind students out there. Its just not worth it
>> just staying on welfare till they the Congress cuts that too. I wish
>> all of you all the luck with sequestration or its equivalent but I
>> don't have to worry anymore about any of it.
>>
>> Thank you and God bless,
>> Peter Q Wolfe, BA
>> _______________________________________________
>> acb-hsp mailing list
>> acb-hsp at acb.org
>> http://www.acb.org/mailman/listinfo/acb-hsp
>
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>
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