Adrienne Kleinman's Blog (135)

Last month I addressed traveling for work if you have a disability, and this month I’ll continue the trend with air travel. A little over a week ago I returned from Los Angeles so air travel is still pretty heavy on my mind. In a perfect world, traveling with a disability (in my case, a physical one) would be flawless and smooth and require very little worry. But anyone in my position knows this is hardly ever the case. From seat accommodations to medical…

Honesty is highly valued in many aspects of human life: relationships, friendships, partnerships, and employment, to name a few. In order to have work, a person usually has to go through an interview prior to starting their job. As most know, there are a series of questions that the interviewer asks you during the screening and hiring process. It may be tempting to stretch or embellish the truth on your strengths or knowledge on any given topic in order to…

If you’re someone with wanderlust or the traveling bug, chances are it would be a major perk to have a job that requires you to travel. However, if you’re an individual with a disability, traveling for work can be a very difficult or complex task. That isn’t to say that it shouldn’t be an option for that particular employee, but that there will need to be a lot more discussion for how to make it possible.

Workplaces are required to provide…

There are several things you should make a point to accomplish during a job interview. Be courteous, hold eye contact, be engaging, and be knowledgeable about the company you’re interviewing with, to name a few. Though the one stand out action that every successful interviewee has in common is that they ask questions of their interviewer. This demonstrates that you’re not only invested in working for this company, but also that you’ve been paying attention and…

December 3rd is an important day for the disabled population of the world. In 1992, the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3 named it the annual observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons. It’s main aim is to ensure the continued promotion of “the…

Searching for a job allows you to consider various aspects that you’re not willing to negotiate on when it comes to your employment. Often times it’s not apparent until during the interview with your future employer, but keep an open ear and an open mind when discussing a new job. There are several factors that you can inquire about as well to determine if you’re  potential future employer is going to be a good match for you.

A job as a whole has…

On November 16th, 1995, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) Member States adopted a Declaration of Principles on Tolerance. A standout quote from the Principles on Tolerance, “It is respect and appreciation of the rich variety of our world’s cultures, our forms of expression and ways…

In the past, I have talked about how one would go about disclosing a disability to their workplace, as well as talking about discrimination in the workplace. This month I’ll be talking about a similar topic— specifically, discussing one’s disability during the interview.  

When you’re being interviewed by a potential new employer, it’s your chance to make a good impression on them and prove why you’d be a viable candidate to add to their team. In…

Every October 1st, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) kicks off National Disability Employment Awareness Month, or NDEAM. This month is meant to educate the masses about the employment issues that the disabled population faces, as well as to celebrate all of the many and varied contributions of…

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is there to protect those who qualify within its parameters from many different occurrences, including discrimination in the workplace. This means that when it comes to hiring, pay, promotion, firing, etc., an individual cannot be discriminated against by their employer because of their disability. Below I will go over more in depth what it looks like to be an employee that falls under the ADA, and what employers are…

Tragedy, disaster, or an emergency, can strike at any moment, to anyone, anywhere. September is the month that folks nationwide devote to remind themselves, and others, to put a plan into creation for how they would react to a disaster, and how to safely and effectively take action. Though there are rescue personnel who are always ready to help you in the form of police, firefighters, and EMTs, that doesn’t mean that they’ll be available should disaster…

When someone with a disability, or someone who recently acquired one, finds themselves in a position at work where they are struggling to complete their required tasks, requesting an accommodation is the next step. Often times the thought of discussing with your employer how to accommodate your position or workspace can be daunting. They also might worry that what you are requesting will be too expensive for them to fulfill. Luckily, the Job Accommodation…

Obtaining healthcare in America can be a challenge for anyone, whether it’s due to cost, amount of coverage, or various systemic barriers. The disability population in particular will deal with not only systemic barriers, but physical and programmatic ones as well. While the ADA is there to protect people with disabilities, that doesn’t always mean that it will prevent health care services from causing issues for their patients. This could include a lack of…

There are several different formats that a jobseeker will encounter when applying for a job. Some applications are on paper, to be filled out and submitted in person, mailed, or faxed. Some even are non-traditional and ask the jobseeker to think outside the box in the way they convey to the employer that they are the best for the job— participating in a creative endeavor on social media or in person. By far the most common way to apply to a job is by filling…

It’s no surprise to anyone immersed in the healthcare world that there’s been an extreme shortage of direct support professionals (DSPs) the last few years. DSPs are anyone that works closely with individuals who need extra care, whether in a facility, or in a person’s home. While this position is of extreme importance, it rarely gets the recognition it deserves from the state and government lawmakers. DSPs are given low wages that are hardly sufficient to…

One of my biggest nightmares is having to endure some type of an evacuation when I’m in a building not on ground level. This occurrence terrifies me in my own apartment where I live on the second floor. It’s even scarier to envision going through this at my place of employment where I’m surrounded by individuals who aren’t familiar with my personal care needs. The best remedy is to have an emergency plan in place should a situation arise.

At my…

One of the most effective ways to grow is to gently push your limits on what you can handle. This includes various areas of your life: professional, personal, emotional, mental, physical, etc. It's important to recognize when you are able to increase your limits for the purpose of growth, but equally as important to decipher when you need to set limits for yourself.

Whenever I start a new job, I like to do everything I can to showcase my…

As we near the end of May, I’d be remiss if I didn’t draw attention to the importance of this month. This May marks the 70th year celebrating Mental Health Month! Mental illness can affect anyone, it doesn’t matter your background, who you are, or what you do. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), along with the rest of the country, raise awareness on mental illness to fight the stigma, provide support, educate the public, as well as advocate for…

Whenever we start a new job, we bring with us the accumulated experience of our past positions of employment — and even skills we’ve acquired in our own personal life. All of those moments add up to make us into the person we are today, and the individual that will be joining the team, or crew, or group at any given new place of work. Applying what you already know is an excellent way to bring an edge with you into your new, or current, workplace.…

Kianna Lehman has been a receptionist at Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL) for almost 5 years. She enjoys her job because of how she gets to be of assistance to those who have disabilities such as herself. Her background is in Business and Management.

You had mentioned that your…