Barriers to Careers

Now, please do not laugh when I tell you this one! Believe it or not, most of society still thinks of us blind folks as only being able to play music for a living. Really! They think of us as musicians and probably so because of the successes of people like Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, and so on.

Years ago I went on a trip with my parents to Europe and had just graduated from University. My proud papa was going around telling everyone that I had just graduated. Before he could tell them what degree I had graduated with, one very innocent gentleman piped up and said, "Isn't it nice that she got her degree in music!" I gently told him no, I had just obtained my degree in commerce. My parents later told me that the poor man looked as if he wanted to disappear under the table.

In actuality, blind persons face several barriers to careers. For some reason, society seems to have preconceived notions about what blind persons can and cannot do for a living, or I should say that many persons do not even think that we are able to work. They look upon us as people to be taken care of rather than productive and contributing members of society. They falsely believe that we can only work such careers as: piano tuners, teachers to teach other blind persons, social workers to help other blind persons, basket makers and weavers, and musicians. A very disheartening picture if I may say so.

I'd like you to visit my company's website at www.sterlingcreations.ca to see what I do for a living and if you would like to know more, feel free to send me an email at donnajodhan@sterlingcreations.ca.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your accessibility and special-needs business consultant, wishing you a terrific day and inviting you to go out there and tell the world that blind persons can do a lot more than just play music or weave baskets for a living!