Success Stories
“I’m the first visually impaired person they hired. They didn’t think we could do the work. Now that they see me and how well I’m doing, they want to hire more people with vision loss."
Elaine's Story
Up until 1989, Elaine was “getting around like every one else,” she was happily married, had a daughter and a good position at the Chicago Tribune. One day she noticed her vision was blurred. She went to a low vision specialist who diagnosed her with Stargardt’s, a form of macular degeneration that affected her ability to read, drive or see detail. He told her there was nothing that he could do for her, but he did leave her with advice that has stuck with her to this day. Her vision loss was not the end of the world, just the beginning of a new one.
Elaine soon found that this new world had different rules. In this world, she was told she had limited choices. She could either be an office clerk or work in a sheltered workshop. When she discovered she was pregnant, the staff at a local social service agency told her to go home and have the child before she came back for services.
Elaine had a son and when he was three years old, she enrolled at a local college and received an associate’s degree in early childhood development. She worked at a pre-school for children with disabilities until she fell off a ladder and broke her foot. Things went from bad to worse, as her husband, who had diabetes all his life, had to have his legs amputated. Elaine had to make a difficult decision and decided to care for her ailing husband and her young son. Her husband passed away within two years. They had been married for 17 years.
Now the sole bread winner in the family, Elaine went back to work. She worked at a home health care organization, for the military and finally for a large retailer. Her visual impairment proved too much for her and she knew she couldn't make it on her own.
Then Elaine found the Guild for the Blind. We don't believe in limiting people's options. Rather than focusing on their disability and what they can't do, we focus on their unique abilities and ask, "What do you want to do?"
Using a computer with adaptive software opened up whole new options for Elaine. Unlike other agencies that use computer based tutorials, David Flament, our manager of adaptive technology, provides classroom instruction with lots of individual attention.
Next Elaine worked with Lauri Dishman, our manager of counseling services, for help in her job search. “Before I worked with Lauri, I didn’t know how to look for a job. Lauri helped me write a resume and cover letter. She taught me what human resources departments are looking for. She practiced interviews with me and told me what to say and what not to say.”
Then Lauri told Elaine the Social Security Administration was hiring and helped Elaine apply for the job online. The next day, Elaine received a call from a supervisor who invited her in for an interview. “Everything Lauri practiced with me happened! I felt so confident in the interview.” Two days later she was hired.
Elaine loves her job as a customer representative. She knows what it is like to be on social security and what could happen if someone loses their benefits. “I was once on the other side of the window,” she says, “I know what it is like to be scared and confused by all the rules and regulations. If I can be a friendly face to let them know that I will do all that I can to help, then I’ve done my job.”
Not only are Elaine’s clients happy with her, so are her supervisors. They are impressed by how hard Elaine works and how much she cares about the people she serves. They are also fascinated by her visual impairment and how she uses her adaptive software to provide the same level of service as her sighted colleagues. “I’m the first visually impaired person they hired. They didn’t think we could do the work. Now that they see me and how well I’m doing, they want to hire more people with vision loss. I am so proud to think that, in my own way, I am changing people’s mind about what it means to be visually impaired and helping other people with vision loss find work.”
More Stories
"Success to me is learning all the things I can do for myself and for others. When I help other people with vision loss at the Guild, it makes me happy and reminds me of how far I have come and how far I can go." Read Jose's Story
"When people lose their sight, they feel cut off. When you sit down and interact with others, sharing stories of failures and triumphs, you feel like you belong again." Read Jerome's Story
