As part of Blind in Business’s new approach to targeting and
working with more candidates, we will be posting weekly blogs on people’s experience,
current topics that affect the visually impaired and blind in the work place
and much more.
My name is Samantha Little and I have recently joined Blind
in Business as their new media and marketing intern. I was diagnosed with Ushers
Syndrome at the age of 16. I was born with a moderate bilateral hearing
impairment and as I reached my early teens and my eye sight started to deteriorate,
it was discovered the two were related.
One of the symptoms of Ushers is Retinitis Pigmentosa or RP. RP causes night-blindness and a loss of
peripheral vision (side vision) through the progressive degeneration of the
retina. As RP progresses, the field of vision narrows—a condition known as
“tunnel vision”—until only central vision (the ability to see straight ahead)
remains. Many people with Usher syndrome also have severe balance problems.
This had a knock on effect on my education, approach to life
and my plans for the future. I was very lucky in that the local Sensory Unit
was based at my school and the University of Aberdeen had a very supportive
Disability team. However, as graduation loomed, I found myself more and more in
the dark about how to approach the world of work.
Luckily, half way through my final year, one of the Blind in
Business staff paid a visit to my university. I wasn’t really sure to expect,
but I left feeling a lot more confident about heading into employment. Robin
asked me questions about what career paths interested me and took the time
to look over my CV and give feedback. That was at the beginning of 2011.
Shortly after, I was invited to the BIB Education to
Employment event where I met motivated young people in a similar position to
myself and the opportunity to network with employers such as Channel 4. This
led to an invitation from BIB to spend a week in London to work on
applications. Because of my networking at E2E, I won a place at a Channel 4 documentary
competition. Early, the following year, after countless applications and unpaid
work experience, I had my first interview since graduating, at Box TV. The
staff at BIB helped with my research and interview prep and even made sure I
got to the interview. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the job, but came 3rd. For my
first interview, I was really please and it was just the confidence boost I needed. Then in April,
I secured a two week internship at a London based PR company and BIB were on
hand to help out with any issues I had. In the summer, whilst I was searching
and preparing for an interview at the BBC, I got the opportunity to practise my
film making skills and film the Education to Employment 2012. Unfortunately I
didn’t get the job at the BBC, but after all my hard work over the last year,
BIB offered me the chance to work full time in London. Not only am I adding to
my employable skills and learning to deal with adult issues like rent and
bills, but it allows me to take the opportunity to network and take advantage
of opportunities in the media industry.
As a graduate in today’s economic climate, there are times
when it is hard to keep the momentum going, when it feels like you have filled
out and sent a million applications, with not so much as an automated e-mail in
response. Never mind as a blind or visually impaired graduate, where there is
the extra worry of whether your sight
will get in the way, or if the company will even read your application when you
tick the disabled box or the worry of how you are going to get to your interview.
If I hadn’t had the staff at Blind in Business, checking in
to see how I was getting on, setting me deadlines, reading over draft after
draft of applications and running through interview questions with me, my year
would have turned out very differently.
My advice to any visually impaired or blind person looking
for work, would to be take full advantage of the services at Blind in Business.
It is completely free and the team are lovely J
Don’t let the location put you off. I originally lived in
Aberdeen and worked with BIB over the phone, email, and they came to visit me
and vice versa. The office has just opened a Skype account so there are no
excuses!
Facebook: ‘Blind Charity’
Twitter: @blindinbusiness
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/blindinbusiness
