What job do you do?

[Lizzy]

Hi I am 21 and I have CN since I was born, I am currently in College studying Psychology but I have worked as a Math tutor in a junior high in California when I was 17 and also as an offiice assistant in government offices.
SEE U

[Alex Nevard]

I;ve had a few part time jobs during secondary school, pot washer bar staff that kind of thing. Currently at Uni studying Medicine

[Simon Beasley]

I'm 27, I'm a gardener and part time lecturer in Horticulture. I'm about to go travelling around the world for 12 months in July.

Never let Nystagmus get in your way. Thats my motto!

Simon

[dqbiggerfam]

I am 22 and just found out about a year ago that I have nystagmus(not sure which type) for a long time. I have a limited work record, but here are a few things I have noticed:

1) It might be my diet(probably contibutes quite a bit), but if a job is not low stress, I can only work for about 5 hours before I start to get "short" with people that get in my way or bug me too much.

2) As is mentioned on the site, jobs that do not have a large territory(in the sense of a lion's pride) are much eaiser to do than a job that requires lots of movement. Once I start moving, it's like centrifugal force: the movement keeps me stable, but sudden stops are hard.

3) When using a keyboard, I find that having good audio and tactile feedback allows my WPM to double, as it is often tough for me to ONLY see if I hit the right key. The side effect of this is that there are few keyboards that don't have so much audio feedback that I can't use with someone else in the room(without annoying them, anyway). They aren't cheap either.

4) When getting glasses(mine are a fairly weak corrective prescription) I really reccomend Transitions lenses(or something similar), as excessive glare hurts my eyes and you don't have to look high and low for slipovers that don't look ugly or just refuse to fit the frames. You don't even have to get prescription glasses to get transitions either, as you can get "blank" Transitions lenses as well.

Now for my actual work record:

I have had 2 dishwashing jobs. While I have few problems with my vision there as I am mainly standing and just moving my arms, it is hard on the feet. The hours on the second one(splitshift AND cleanup the restaraunt when done with the dishes, essintially a 10am to 9+pm job) SERIOUSLY screwed with my biological clock.

I have been an "office monkey" or "General Business Assistant"(take your pick) and I find the range of jobs/skills needed as well as combination of movement and sitting is easy to do. DEFINITELY beware of jobs that are likely to envolve many obstacles outside of your field of vision, as I work at the local thift store and find that I trip a lot during busy seasons in the work room. It takes a year or two to get used to the cycle.

Sorry for the ramble but English was not my favorite subject in school(and now I know why I had so much trouble seeing the darn text books), thus leading to my semi-lack of organization in a letter/note.

[Lorenzo]

I guess this was the nearest topic... On Wedensday I degreed "*** laude" in musicaology (specialized two year degree) - that's also why I haven't been very active in the forum lately - with a thesis on multimedia content related to a musical instruments collection here in Rome.

To keep on the topic I work for a musical foundation in the cultural activities section, in particular following two EU funded projects the foundation is partner in. It is a very interesting and stimulating job, with a very 'intenational' conterxt. It requires working 99% at a computer, but I have seen a real improvement with flat screens (if you're still using CRT ones invest in an LCD, your eyes will suffer a lot less!)

[triangle]

I'm from the USA, and wondering how many (if any) have applied for Social Security disability? I'm 52, and in a smaller town, where there aren't too many jobs.

I have a solid resume, and would be good as general Office Assistant, but in 3 cases, I did not disclose vision problems, and lost the job, for not coming up-to-speed quickly enough.

Now, as I look for work, I am torn between disclosing vision problems, or keeping quiet, again. It does take me longer to learn the job, because focusing is a conscious effort, and I don't seem to be able to "see" and "listen" at the same time, anymore. However, on a couple occasions, I advised prospective employers of this, and did not get the job.

My work, too, really makes me tired. I find that I doze off while trying to read or work at the computer for any amount of time.

I need an income, and am running out of ideas. I actually have applied for SS Disability, but I hear that it's denied the first (few) times.

Has anyone else had this kind of experience?

[Mrs Chris McMillan]

Its pretty difficult to get disability allowances here in the UK with Nystagmus. I have heard people in the US say that they get turned down the first few times, yes. Its probably even more difficult for you to get it in the US because more people who we would regard as partially sighted here in the UK are able to drive in the US and so would get less attention.

Here in the UK we have to ask health professionals to fill in all our disability allowance forms for us as they know the right words to use. I was able to fill in and was awarded some disability allowances back in the late 1980s with no problem, but when I was called for a review, I filled the form in using more or less the same words. And was turned down. By getting a health professional to read through my form, and then writing a *very* long detailed letter and undergoing a medical test, I finally got to keep my allowance. But I'm pretty sure I didn't pass until he watched my Nystagmus move and could see that it doesn't allow my eyes to work in all directions.

Not sure what to suggest except that I understand you have 'attorneys' who deal with disability matters. You'll have to hope that someone else from the US reads this and can help you further. I'm out of my depth.

Sincerely Chris

[Timothy Burton]

Hi,
I'm replying to Mrs Chris McMillian's posting subject title 'careers' and it has inspired me to reply. I have a degree in the film of Film & TV and want to get into this field, however I'm concerned that with my servere Nystagmus and being unable to drive cos of this it might hinder me. I expect like other suffers it might take me longer than other people to do certain things.

I am registered partially sighted because I want to be as honest with any future employers as possible, how does you husband cope with his visual impairment? regarding travelling and carrying out tasks to complete his work, does it take him longer to do this if so how does the BBC adapt to this?

Like other members I don't consider myself to be disabled, but being unable to drive thought I should be as honest as possible.

Reading your post has really really helped me.

Thank You

Timothy

[Mrs Chris McMillan]

Hi Timothy

Back in 1965 or so I think it was, Mike applied to join the BBC. His dad had done some acting (as an amateur) for BBC Bristol and he must have encouraged Mike to apply as a school leaver. He didn't even get as far as filling in the form, or if he did, he was rejected soundly because in those days if you couldn't drive you didn't get an interview. End of story.

So Mike went into another career until the early 1970s when by chance he saw an job advert for what is the job he's doing 30 plus years later. His 'day job' is as an audio engineer at the local university. He's also a digital photographer for them. Most people don't know he has a visual impairment outside a need to know basis. Most people wouldn't stay in post long enough to get to know Mike well, and its not encouraged to bring a car to work anyway.

Those who do need to know provide his transport between campuses (Reading has 3 campuses for its university), or he uses the inter-campus bus in term time. As far as accessible equipment is concerned, for years he had some help with equipment from Pulse Data. The equipment was so good he had no need to contact them until the other month when we discovered it was now Humanware. And we haven't been able to source the bit of replacement kit he would like. These days, after a couple of serious eye operations, Mike can read well and as he no longer does things like repair tape decks, he doesn't need some of the very detailed things he used to work with daily. I can't even remember if he has a CCTV at work any more. At home and at work we have 19 inch screens, and for the 'editing' work for recording Mike uses 2 19 inch screens.

But in earlier times he needed lots of bits of equipment with big screens because he did a lot of repair work to his beloved equipment as well as using it way beyond what people thought.

In the late 1980s I suppose it was, the BBC had a studio engineer by the name of Lloyd Silverthorne. Lloyd was a good friend of ours for many years and one thing we had in common was visual impairment. He had a relative with little sight. So when visually impaired people like Peter White arrived on the scene, Lloyd knew from experience that we were as good as anyone else. So he came to us and asked Mike's opinion and then made sure the equipment available was suitable. People like Peter White and Cheryl Gabriel can make and edit their own material without any sighted help.

Mike has had recordings played on the BBC, sure, and he used to rent them equipment that they used for training purposes - but he's never worked for them.

You ask whether it takes him longer to do things. I think probably in the old days, yes, but everyone worked to their own pace anyway. You can't rush a razor blade cut any more than you can rush a computer.

We've had our own recording business since 1975 and in the very early days it was a case of taking the 'masters' for vinyl recordings to Soho for 'cutting'. Mike just got on a train and went and saw to it. He got to know quite a few of the 'back room' boys in those days.

As vinyl disappeared and cassettes arrived, we either paid someone to act as our 'go between' in various ways or we used 'couriers' to get equipment and materials. Most of our recordings are done on location and until our daughter was 18 and passed her driving test, whoever employed him for a concert either provided a car or in the 1970s and early 1980s we had a 'tame' taxi driver. That was in the days when equipment was too bulky to ever go in a domestic car. Black cabs were all we could use. Now, if necessary, (I don't recommend it at the end of a long day) it can go in a smart car.

Film and video could be different. However, I have a close friend who has been making films in China for many years - and his sight is *far* worse than any of us with Nystagmus. I have no idea how he managed this as far as operating the camera is concerned I have to admit. I've never asked, and the only film ever televised in this country I wasn't able to see as I don't have a TV!

Currently he's more involved in broadcasting than in film making. Some of this is by chance and some probably by design because of the chance.

Do you ever listen to 'In Touch', Tim?

Sincerely Chris

[Timothy Burton]

Hi Chris,
Sorry about the delayed response, thank you, your reply was very enlightening and helpful.

Yes I do listern to In Touch, very interesting and helpful.

Thank you again

Tim

[Mrs Chris McMillan]

Think back a very long time (say 2 summers ago?) and you may remember Peter White doing the occasional interview with people who had jobs which were 'out of the ordinary' for those with a visual impairment. He did an interview with this friend of mine, and how he did film making in China.

This coming Friday, Radio Four, 11am, has a programme titled 'Unseen China'. Peter White, producer Cheryl Gabriel, and the voices of my friend and his sister acting as interpreters. Actually its a series of 3 programmes and my friend doesn't say much on this one: its his sister's turn (for once in a way). She's sighted.

But Stephen was acting as the programme's adviser and took them about China I happen to know.

My sig line isn't seen here so you won't know why I know as much as I do. I've been mad keen on things Chinese most of my life and do voluntary work with visually impaired people in China.

Sincerely Chris

[Mrs Chris McMillan]

In the UK, the most well known person is the flautist James Galway. If you go to NN UK's web site you can find a link to his web site, but dont' expect any mention of Nystagmus as it has really not given him much of a problem in his adult life. He has written an autobiography but its many years old now (not even in print I expect), and although he does mention he knows he can't see very well, there's no name given to the problem.

And its certainly not obvious when you see him perform. I've seen him 'live'.

There are quite a few people who are well known in the US, but I'm not a film person and I can't remember who I've been told. the C & W singer Kenny Rogers is one such definitely.

Sincerely Chris

[notstevieray]

I left school at 16 to become a motor mechanic, which lasted my three month probation period!.... as you would expect, but what did I know back in the mid '80's?

I then went into warehousing and have had several jobs where I've overseen contractors, couple dozen staff etc

Now work for a small music/book distributor where there is only me and the storeman in the warehouse. We just implemented RF scanning and I am loving it! Much better than reading small type order forms.......

I'm a terrible student, but am currently looking at career options now my surgery is over.

Good topic!

[OneInAMillion]

Hi!
I speak for my Husband as usual, he has CN and he is a pharmacist.
He is also very much into computers so much that he is the one friends call to solve thier problems.
One passion he has always had since he way a boy is music and he can play piano and guitar...
Nice topic!
Helpful for children and their parents!