Adrienne Kleinman's Blog (129)

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…

Over the years I have gone to countless interviews. Some of these meetings took place in quaint non profits or super hip production houses, while others were in big corporations that were within glistening skyscrapers. The majority of my meetings and interviews with prospective employees went off without a hitch, but some had complications. These issues sprang from lack of an accessible location.

One of the first things I do when I get an offer…

Michelle Vrieze spent several years working in the education field, and then went back to school for her Master’s Degree in Human Services. Currently she works as a Staffing Specialist for MCIL -- meaning that she matches clients with PCA’s in order that their personal care and homemaking needs are met. Read on to learn more about Michelle!

How did you get started at MCIL as a Personal Assistant Staffing Specialist? What…

The hiring process can be a stressful time for anyone. There’s a lot to think about and consider: fine tuning your resume, gathering references, creating a convincing cover letter, and submitting your application. Next in line comes the offer for the interview—the applicant’s time to really showcase to their potential employer why they’re a great fit. As you get ready for the interview, there’s a few things that you should consider and be aware…

Mary Kay Walch, director of sales and marketing at BlueSky Designs, has worked in the assistive technology

industry for more than 30 years. Improving product design and life for individuals with disabilities. Educating

families, therapists, teachers and suppliers. Her specialty is improving accessibility and independence…

As a person with a physical disability, there are a myriad of things that I need to think about and plan for in my daily life. This includes my personal life, my mobility, my education, and even my career. I may need to adjust the way I complete tasks, get to a destination, complete my schoolwork, or navigate my place of employment. Any workplace that I am hired at will have to accommodate me to their best of their ability--enter Assistive Technology (AT)…

Nick Wilkie has devoted his career to working in the Human Services field. The last 12 years he has been employed by the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL), working as a Transition Specialist, then shifting to Advocacy within Public Policy. Currently, he is heading the promotion, outreach, and teaching of a new…