Held each October, and marking its 70th year, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is a month long occasion to celebrate the many and varied contributions of Americaâs workers with disabilities. We hope everyone took note of and enjoyed this important occasion.
NDEAM and the intense highlighting of the abilities of workers with disabilities may be over, but APH CareerConnect is still here! APH CareerConnect is like New York City; it never sleeps, never goes away, is super populated, up and running 24/7 teaching and educating anyone who is interested in workers who are blind or visually impaired. Common questions you may have heard many times are, âDo people who are blind work? What kind of work can they do? How do they do their work? Is it safe for them to be on a worksite?â Or, âHow would they get to work or read a memo?â Maybe you even have questions of your own.
To answer many of these questions and others, let me tell you a great story. This is a story about many stories. They are all true stories of hope, achievement, struggle and winning; stories about, and by, people who are blind or visually impaired successfully employed in many industries doing interesting and exciting jobs that pay well. Some thought it impossible, but not these workers!
If you want to take a close up look at how over 100 individuals with vision loss won their independence by overcoming the challenges they faced due to visual impairment, turn to Our Stories. Read the introduction then browse through the list of occupational categories found on the right side of the screen. From business, culinary arts or healthcare to science, skilled trades, and technology, youâll find numerous accounts of individuals who are blind or visually impaired working on lots of interesting jobs and projects with various co-workers and colleagues. Just click on the job categories that most interest you.
Iâve spent over 10 years writing and compiling these stories and wanted to use this experience as an example of how making connections, having a CareerConnect Mentor, and telling stories about your experience can make a world of difference in someoneâs life. Especially for those who are blind or visually impaired.
AFB has a team of mentors, all blind or visually impaired and successfully employed, working to help others with vision loss get back on their feet and earn their own new found independence. Or, for that matter, even help someone already employed climb the career ladder.
Would you like to help make a difference? So, whatâs your story? Email us how you found your career, and weâll get your story out there too!