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Duckling's Got A New Job!
4 months ago
Hamha!
I've been kind of quiet lately for a number of reasons. The most notable is that I have been preparing to start my brand new job as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)!
The short story is that I applied for the job back in February, interviewed for it in March, and was officially offered the job this past Wednesday, April 30th. My official start date is Tuesday, May 27th.
What is very interesting about getting a job as a VRC is that I will be working for The Bureau of Blindness & Visual Services (BBVS) of Pennsylvania! This is the same agency that has helped me to adapt through providing tools and training to enable me to succeed despite the various stages of vision loss I had up until and beyond I became 100% blind. Knowing that I will be able to provide similar services to people with visual disabilities gives me great joy. I feel my personal experiences as someone who gradually went completely blind coupled with my customer experience with BBVS for over 27 years should allow me to provide a level of care and understanding in which will empower all those who are referred to me as their VRC.
The only real obstacle for my new job is how I will get to and from work. There is a bus service that picks up about a 15 minute walk away from my home. However, this bus arrives at approximately 6:30 AM and has been known to completely drive by the bus stop unless you "flag it down". This bus would get me about a block away from where I am to work. The getting home part should be the same, except in reverse, but I have yet to be able to verify this. It does not help that calling customer service for the bus tends to not yield very insightful data on how I can, as someone with no eyesight, successfully utilize the bus as a mode of transportation.
What I am hoping for to overcome the transportation worries is that I am still eligible for a program through Social Security known as Ticket To Work. The Ticket To Work program would allow me to retain all the services I currently have available to me for approximately 9 months as I acclimate to the job. The one service I have that is most notable is door-to-door paratransit services to get to those places I want to go to that are not medical related. I'm currently waiting to hear back from those involved with the Ticket To Work program to see if I will be eligible for the 9 month trial work period. Past experiences with using Ticket To Work point to me being able to successfully use the paratransit service while Lucca and I work together to find more reliable transportation to and from my job. Wish us luck!
Thank you all for your friendship and support. Of all the jobs I have had, I feel the most confident about being able to retain this position as a VRC. My boss is also blind and has a Seeing Eye Dog, which is a very positive sign that my physical condition will not negatively impact how I am treated as I use a variety of tools and services to perform all of my job responsibilities.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O'Ducky ;)
I've been kind of quiet lately for a number of reasons. The most notable is that I have been preparing to start my brand new job as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)!
The short story is that I applied for the job back in February, interviewed for it in March, and was officially offered the job this past Wednesday, April 30th. My official start date is Tuesday, May 27th.
What is very interesting about getting a job as a VRC is that I will be working for The Bureau of Blindness & Visual Services (BBVS) of Pennsylvania! This is the same agency that has helped me to adapt through providing tools and training to enable me to succeed despite the various stages of vision loss I had up until and beyond I became 100% blind. Knowing that I will be able to provide similar services to people with visual disabilities gives me great joy. I feel my personal experiences as someone who gradually went completely blind coupled with my customer experience with BBVS for over 27 years should allow me to provide a level of care and understanding in which will empower all those who are referred to me as their VRC.
The only real obstacle for my new job is how I will get to and from work. There is a bus service that picks up about a 15 minute walk away from my home. However, this bus arrives at approximately 6:30 AM and has been known to completely drive by the bus stop unless you "flag it down". This bus would get me about a block away from where I am to work. The getting home part should be the same, except in reverse, but I have yet to be able to verify this. It does not help that calling customer service for the bus tends to not yield very insightful data on how I can, as someone with no eyesight, successfully utilize the bus as a mode of transportation.
What I am hoping for to overcome the transportation worries is that I am still eligible for a program through Social Security known as Ticket To Work. The Ticket To Work program would allow me to retain all the services I currently have available to me for approximately 9 months as I acclimate to the job. The one service I have that is most notable is door-to-door paratransit services to get to those places I want to go to that are not medical related. I'm currently waiting to hear back from those involved with the Ticket To Work program to see if I will be eligible for the 9 month trial work period. Past experiences with using Ticket To Work point to me being able to successfully use the paratransit service while Lucca and I work together to find more reliable transportation to and from my job. Wish us luck!
Thank you all for your friendship and support. Of all the jobs I have had, I feel the most confident about being able to retain this position as a VRC. My boss is also blind and has a Seeing Eye Dog, which is a very positive sign that my physical condition will not negatively impact how I am treated as I use a variety of tools and services to perform all of my job responsibilities.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O'Ducky ;)
While it was different circumstances, I have a sibling with some physical/cognitive limitations, and the first time they ever felt really supported and happy in a workplace was when they started working for an organization that helped people in similar situations. I hope this works out for you the same way for you.
I just... wish I had the same luck...
You are a very determined individual with lots of talents, abilities, and patience. I will be looking forward to when you, too, get good news when it comes to being successfully employed.
Are you familiar with what I did in and outside of Bronycon with Coping With Disabilities Through Pony? I feel this job will be an extension of the work I did with my teams towards raising positive awareness while showing how, despite having a disability, people can still make friends and interact with society through the various arts.
I'm hoping to avoid the bus as much as I possibly can. However, at least in the getting to work part, Lucca has offered to walk with me to make sure that I don't miss the bus. This is quite a great thing for him to do given how we would have to start our walk before 6:10 AM.
Right now, I am working to see if I can retain my paratransit services. I believe I will be able to and, if so, will not have to leave for work until 7:00 AM. More time to waddle around and drink coffee is very appealing towards this duck-butt having a gaboo day at work.
Thanks, Zoom-Zoom! I am looking forward to giving my best to make this job not only work, but last for a very long time. Being able to help people who are struggling with vision loss just seems like a good fit for me. :)
Public Transportation can be tricky when it comes to reversing routes, maybe make a few trial rides to make sure of the viability
How are things over on Ink Bunny? Have you been able to make any new friends, or share any new art?
Haven't really made any specific friends on Inkbunny, though some of my old ones are there. It's nice since it has a higher file size limit, though many people don't like the site for the content it allows.
Thank you very much for your kindness and support.