What do you say at work?
I've been diagnosed with early onset macular degeneration starting in my left eye since 2004 then in my right eye a few years later. I have some advanced training that has allowed me to find and hold down various contract and "permanent" jobs. Doing work on computers is helpful because PCs have a lot of ways to get by. My favorites have been screen magnification, increasing font size and dark mode. Lately I've swapped out my favorite ergonomic keyboard a keyboard with built-in backlit keys. Sometimes, despite all these tools, when doing some kinds of tasks, I must slow down a lot and check my work much more carefully, otherwise, my disability may force errors. This has led me to consider positions that are in some ways a little less complex than the ones I have taken on before.
The part that feels most tricky to me is what to tell a potential employer. Interviewer: "Why are you seeking this job? It seems a bit below your earlier duties?"
This is what I want to say: "Because my visual impairment has gotten worse lately, I find I need more time (than I used to) to process visual information. I know I do better when I'm jockeying fewer apps at once and juggling fewer windows. I also do better when I'm performing some very similar tasks from day to day. That way I can optimize my PC and apps for those specific tasks, and not make mistakes. "
I'm not quite ready to say that yet. Would be interested in hearing your views on it.
you raise an interesting question. As a retired business owner I can tell you I would have appreciated your candor. I would add something like this - “I am confident I can perform the duties of the position with only minor accommodations for my visual impairment.” Letters of recommendation from previous employers would be helpful. Best of luck, Sharon Moore patient leader
