Young adult with an LD struggling to secure a job

Parent Cafe
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<p>To give you a more complete picture of my situation and to answer your questions, let me tell you what I’ve been doing these past 2 years since college graduation. I’ve been working with Voc. Rehab. (NY State’s VESID). Before they provide any other services, they send all their new clients for Diagnostic Vocational Evaluation (DVE). It’s a 15 day long group evaluation and consists of tests, group work, as well as informal observations of the client’s social interaction, ability to think on one’s feet, etc. There were no actual work simulations, though. While I’ve done well on most of their paper-and-pencil tests, except the one which was similar to the Performance section of WAIS (completion of incomplete pictures, short-term memory, processing speed, noting details) which I bombed, my evaluator noted that I did not interact as much with the other clients, did not always understand their conversations and that when I tried to join their conversations, my responses came with a delay. I needed a longer time to think, etc. and the overall recommendation was that I should first go to Work Adjustment Training (WAT) in a clerical setting and then “would be a good candidate for Supported Employment in a very structured and supportive setting”. However, I did not want to do WAT as I wanted to start earning money sooner, did not like the stigma and felt that it would dampen my job prospects, so my Voc. Rehab. counselor sent me to a computer training school for a 3-months MS Office course (Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Outlook) to prepare me for an office job, which in retrospect, was a waste of my time as it was intended for people who’ve never used a computer before and I learned very little new stuff, and what I did learn, I forgot by now. </p>

<p>After completion of the course, the training school sent me for an “internship” at an agency for people with developmental disabilities (they have group homes, day programs, health services, etc.). The placement was their suggestion as I was told it’s a nonprofit supported by the government and a good potential place for me to work at. I volunteered at their central office, but this was clearly a wrong place for me. I could only do the rote tasks: filing, stuffing envelopes, sorting, but nothing which required understanding as despite me wanting and trying to comprehend everything I was asked to do, I couldn’t master it due to my disability. Perhaps if I were given more time, I would’ve have cognitively mastered the tasks, but this just wasn’t the right setting. If you are wondering, this MR/DD organization routinely accepts interns from 2 and 4 year colleges. Eventually, this disability agency just told me not to come anymore. </p>

<p>Simultaneously with volunteering at this MR/DD organization, Voc. Rehab. sent me to a job placement agency in my neighborhood, to their direct placement program, as I felt uneasy with supported employment because of the stigma and fear of being relegated to a dead-end job. The job placement person just sent my resume and cover letter to administrative assistant/clerical jobs in response to ads posted on Craig’s List and Idealist. I also sent out a few applications on my own through these sites. I did get several interviews, but these jobs were clearly over my head: required quick-thinking, multi-tasking, interaction with people, and of course, I never got hired. I also took a “Keyboard Specialist” exam with the NY State civil service (consists of spelling, grammar, clerical checking and letter formatting) and scored very well, but the actual jobs are not pure data entry but rather entry-level administrative jobs and again I did not get hired from the interviews. After 6 months of unsuccessful work with the direct placement program, supported employment was seriously considered for me again, but at the last moment my Voc. Rehab. counselor decided I should stay in my current program for now. The old job placement person left the agency and now I am working with a different one. She is trying to apply to library and bookstore jobs for me, but I haven’t gotten a single interview with them yet. Actually, the NYPL position I applied to is a part-time “Page” position designed for h.s. students (but they made an exception for me as I have a disability). I interviewed with their HR person, and presumably she did forward my application to individual libraries, but I’ve gotten no responses so far. As for bookstores, my job developer applied to Barnes and Noble for me for a bookseller position, and she even called them up, but they have already hired for the Christmas season and wouldn’t consider new candidates until after the season ends as they don’t know yet how many people they would need.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, I’ve been serving as a research subject for visual perception experiments in the psych. lab at Columbia University(looking at flashing squares on the computer) where I spend about 4 hours each day and am paid $9 an hour for it. I got this “job” through my brother who goes there and used to work in this lab. Of course, this is not my only source of income. I live with my parents and am supported by them and since graduating from college, I get SSI for a psychiatric diagnosis. I really don’t think I have a mental illness, though, and believe whatever issues may be attributed to mental health are actually a result of my neurodevelopmental disability (cerebral palsy).</p>

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<p>I think I responded to this post before, but I don’t see it here. Oh well. I have other ideas as well though it leads to the same place.</p>

<p>To be systematic about this, make a list of jobs that you CAN do. Start with what jobs you know, look at what your abilities are, and then look for jobs that require special skills and knowledge that you would be able to do with this special training.</p>

<p>Since you have some handicaps, it is going to be tough for you to compete for jobs that have a lot of applicants, since you are not going to be able to be as flexible as many of those applicants. However, if you put yourself in a smaller pool where the special skills and knowledge are more important than what you cannot do, it becomes a whole new scene. Then look for a program to get those skills. Community colleges, tech schools are some great sources for supplemental courses. With your BA which shows a top liberal arts education, and then a completion of some course of specialized study, you will be far more desirable. This is the same advice I have for any college graduate who is finding it difficult to get a job.</p>

<p>I am talking about work in medical billing, technical writing, special programming. You want a highly desired specialty niche.</p>

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<p>For the time being, have you considered tutoring? I realize it wouldn’t be the steady job that you need but I think that, with your background and your ability to explain, you could tutor effectively. My only caveat might be to be generous about your time if you need extra time processing.</p>

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<p>I agree that perhaps looking for a job as a research assistant. Probably one like my job (where we work on a bunch of different projects) wouldn’t be the best, but one where you’d by working under one unified grant might work. Researchers really, really value good writing skills (it’s one thing that’s made me really stand out at my RA job, I know).</p>

<p>Also, try getting in touch with your local independent living center.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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<p>cptofthehouse and others have had some great suggestions. You obviously have strong writing skills, work with that strength. Maybe editing of some kind?</p>

<p>I don’t think library jobs are a good category to focus on because there’s a frenzy of competition for them among library majors. Even the “assistant” jobs are going to be sought after by new library science graduates trying to network and work their way up the ladder.</p>

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<p>It is an unfortunate reality that when prospective employees are are screened, that those with disabilities are at a severe disadvantage because of the accomodations they often need and that there is not as much flexibility in what they can do. I have had several experiences where it was a tough go having to work with someone who simply could not do as much as everyone else when crunch time came. </p>

<p>However, if that person had a special skill that others did NOT have in the office, one necessary to the function of the business, that is a whole different story. H has an employee who is disabled and works from home, but the premium she brings makes her valuable despite the fact that she cannot easily come on site. Without that “extra” there is a distinct disadvantage to hiring someone who cannot easily come to office and do other things that an able bodied person would be able to do. And there are many able bodied folks that would love to work at home, could do an excellent job and be able to swing over and take on other tasks if needed. So that special skill is important when you have limitations.</p>

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<p>I certainly agree with part A, but not part B. While its true that SOME people with disabilities may "not do as much as everyone else when crunch time [comes], it’s frightens me that employers might have that thought about every person with a visible/apparent disability.</p>

<p>FWIW, I was at a conference recently where they presented some data on people with disabilities and their rates of EVER having held ANY job in the their lives (measured at 1-4 post-high school graduation). People with LD were about at the same level as people without disabilities. The group with lowest percentage? Not people with intellectual disabilities or people who are Deaf-Blind or people with autism or people with multiple disabilities… People with orthopedic disabilities. I don’t know if that’s particularly relevant to the OP, but perhaps her physical disability (when employers notice it) is having more of an impact that is readily apparent.</p>

<p>OP, at this point, I’d honestly suggest considering the sheltered employment. I certainly understand the stigma, but in this economy, a job’s a job, and it may give you a good arena in which to hone your skills and prove yourself. Good luck! You really do seem bright and skilled at writing.</p>

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<p>Is there a Goodwill Industries in your city? Most people think of Goodwill as resale shops - but that is how they fund their real work which is providing jobs for people who have barriers to employment. There are all kinds of levels of work. Your work on the many contracts they have, and possibly in a store, or even on the Goodwill staff. I would highly encourage you to look to this wonderful organization. They also hire tutors for challenged high school students to finish school or get their GED’s, etc.</p>