By Samantha C Sinclair
What are you curious about?
Although a lot of improvement has been made in society toward disabled persons, I wonder wat else needs to be done?
As a visually impaired young adult I can speak for a big portion of the disabled population. The Disabilities Act is in need of repair.
I started school at age three. This was at the end of the 1990’s early 2000’s. It was still thought to be best by many that the disabled attend a special school.
The closest School For The Blind is two hours plus from my home. At age three my parents would have had to taken me to KSB on Sunday night, and returned to pick me up on Friday.While KSB is a wonderful thing, it is not the right path for all. While I would have learned a lot from KSB, I’m so thankful my family made the decision to keep me at home. Despite a lot of push back, I graduated high School in a public school.
A lot of the push back was due to uneducated. No fault of the persons. However, I was one of the first visually impaired students to go through the school system in my town. I hope there continues to be education in public school systems to prevent this from happening to others.
Through out my school years, I had ups and downs. I graduated in 2015. I was a student in two separate districts. I went through several helpers. These people were there to help me with daily tasks while at school, to insure print work sheets etc were put into a braille format, an help communicate with my teachers and other school staff. It takes a special person to work in the roll. I appreciate all who work with special needs students. Some I wish I could have kept all the way through. While some did not work out.
Most teachers are willing to help in anyway they can. Some are not. Thank you to all teachers who willingly work with the disabled so they can learn in a triditional classroom setting.
My dream job starting in high school was a 911 Dispatcher. Several family members of mine have or are serving in Emergency Services. I was blessed to meet a completely blind Dispatcher, thanks to my friend. She is a dispatcher, and allowed me to job shadow under her, along with others who allowed this. Thank you all.
The job shadowing in high school was not a problem.
When I ran into trouble was when I started applying. I had and have people backing me. But so far, only one agency has interviewed me, while others haven’t even given me that. I understand there are situations where there are more qualified applicants. However, sometimes it’s clearly known you are not being hired because of your disability.
My question is this. Where are the holes in the disabilities act? Why isn’t anything being done about it, and if so, what is it? Because clearly there are a lot of loopholes because I’m not the only one in this predicament. My town is not the only town with this problem. 
I have had others, including visually impaired people, encourage me to fight for my chance. Here is the thing. You have to have proof. Do you have any idea how hard that is to obtain. I tried to do something. I didn’t have a leg to stand on per say.
Also have you ever heard the saying, “I don’t want to be where I’m not wanted”?
That isn’t me backing down, it’s just me being smart.
My top priority would be my Emergency personnel, and my callers. I would want to be trained correctly. I would be concerned if my trainer was unhappy with my being placed in the roll I would not be trained properly. This could put someone in danger.
I learned a lot job shadowing. I also learned a lot from my Grandpa who dispatched for years. I understand it is a highly stressful job. Multi tasking is a must. Weekends, nights, and holidays are required. Proper phone and radio edicate are important. I’m willing. My disability is not allowed to stand in my way.
Don’t let your disability stand in your’s.
I hope this reaches the right hands. Something needs to be done to improve the disabilities ACT today.
Thank you.
God bless.
SamanthaCSinclair.com 