‘Equal opportunity to prove ourselves is all we ask for’

The job application process is so automated these days. You apply, get called in for a series of interviews and tests, get accepted and sign the contract. But what if you’re a blind person looking for equal employment opportunities?

I have been totally blind since birth, but I didn’t let that stop me from achieving success. I went to school with sighted children, and got a Bachelor’s degree alongside my sighted classmates.

A few years after graduating and doing home-based freelance jobs, I felt motivated to apply for an office-based job. I didn’t expect my blindness to be a hindrance in finding a decent job, as I knew I had the necessary skills and experience as sighted people.

I remember feeling very excited after getting calls, texts, or emails for a job interview. I remember thinking, “Wow! Perhaps they believe I have the necessary skills to do this job as I got invited for an interview.” But things changed as soon as I showed up.

Superficial judgment

At first, I tried to not disclose my blindness and would just show up for the interview. The hiring manager would immediately say that their company can’t accommodate my application.  I felt like they were judging me based on my blindness and not on my marketable skills.

The usual excuses they gave me were: “we don’t have ‘special facilities/devices’ for you to use; the software that we use isn’t compatible with your screen reader (This is the software blind people use to read text on screen and translate them into speech.); or, our company won’t be able to buy the equipment that you need for you to be able to do your job.”

I remember going home frustrated after these interviews; not being able to defend myself because I got dismissed immediately.

Honesty

Because of this, I decided to try a different approach. I disclosed my blindness up front. On the phone with the interviewer, I’d say, “I’m totally blind, but my skills and qualifications make me feel confident that I can do the job competently despite this physical limitation.” This helped me to avoid wasting my time by going to their office. If they tell me immediately that they can’t accommodate my application, it’s done. A good process of elimination.

Sometimes, a company would let me go through the job application process without any hassle. I remember feeling hopeful and asking myself, “Is this it? Will I finally be able to work in an office with sighted people?”

But that wasn’t the case. They say they’d call when it’s time for me to submit my requirements. They never did.

I lost hope. The doors of employment were shut behind me more than once. At that time, I didn’t think I can prove to myself and to other people that a blind person can have an office-based job and excel in it.

Fortunately, things changed. One day, I got a call from the president of ATRIEV (Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration, and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired). A call center training workshop was going to be held at their school and I was invited as one of the participants. After two weeks of training, a company in partnership with this organization hired 3 blind employees from this group of trainees. I was fortunate to be one of them.

As good, or better

Meeting high expectations was one of the first challenges I faced in my new job. There were 3 blind employees who were hired before us, and they were performing well. This is why they hired more. My group was expected to perform as good or better as they are. This inspired me to learn quickly and strive for excellence every day and prove to myself and my colleagues that blind people can. (READ: Are working women really empowered?)

 WATCH: The story of Hannah

I’m not writing this for myself. I’m in a better place now. I work as a sales executive in a call center.

I’m writing this on behalf of other Filipino blind job applicants who have the necessary educational background and skills to work in the corporate world but get rejected and judged based on their “disability.”

Some of them have settled for less or have lost hope and stopped trying. They often become completely dependent on their family for financial support and stop believing they can provide for themselves and for their loved ones. This is very sad.

(READ: Armless pilot Jessica Cox: ‘It is truly a gift to be different’)

A different view

I hope to raise public awareness through my own experience. I want to address the misconceptions that employers have about hiring blind persons.

These are the things I’ve always wanted to tell employers and the public:

• Blind people don’t need special devices, facilities, or equipment to work in the office.  All we need is a computer with a screen reader to read what’s on screen and translate them into speech. There is free software that can be downloaded to do this, so it won’t cost employers anything to hire a blind person.
• Blind people are more disciplined and focused in doing their job. There are no visual stimuli to distract us.
• Blind people don’t need to be taken to places all the time. With the use of our white cane that acts as our extended arm, we can move around the workplace and know when obstacles are in the way. All we need is for people to orient us at first and show us around. We’ll remember the physical layout of the office and can move around without asking for help. We wouldn’t be a burden to our employer and co-workers.

I hope this serves as a challenge to employers. Make a difference in whichever industry you’re in and hire us. Give blind people a chance to work for you and work with you. Don’t only tell us, but show us that you don’t discriminate. We’re more than willing to prove to you that you’ve made the right choice if you only give us equal opportunities.

So if you are a business owner, an executive, or a hiring manager, I ask of you this, “Knock knock. Would you please let the blind in?” – Rappler.com

Hannah Mae Aldeza is a sales executive. Follow her on Twitter: @HMaeAldeza.

iSpeak is a parking space for ideas worth sharing. Share your stories with us by emailing move.ph@rappler.com.