Question
I am a female with a disability. As a child I had a cleft palate and have retained a speech impedement. I also have some slight visible scarring. However, it is not that I cannot be understood.

I am by profession a social worker. I have been now unemployed for eight months. I know just by evidence that it is not a lack of experience, or qualification. On the contrary, I'm am well qualified for each job that I apply for

I have been applying for several state social service jobs, especially the Department of Family and Children Services/ Child Protective Services in several counties here in GA but I have not been hired. I do possess some qualifications that I know most other job candidates are unlikely to have, therefore I know that it must be disability related.

However, I always had a good relationship with all my clients who for 99% never felt put off by me. In fact, I believe that they related better to me because I had a vulnerability.

Do you have any advice regarding my problem? Should I, f. ex., address my speech impediment etc., directly with the prospective employer, or woyuld that scare them off even more? What else can I do?

Thank you!


Answer
While legally you are not required to, if it were me, I would bring it up in the interview.  (Not before.)

Perhaps the best approach would simply be to prepare in advance a simple cheerful confident statement about your speech and the reason for it and the scarring, followed by any stories you can tell of how clients have reacted and how you believe it has actually put them more at ease.  (I definitely believe that, by the way, having the same experience with my vision impairment and people I have worked with.)

I think if you can bring the topic up reassuringly without hinting that you think the interviewer is uncomfortable or uncertain you can answer unspoken questions without putting the interviewer on the spot.  It also opens the conversation to the topic legally so the person can ask (appropriate) questions.  Who knows - it might also send up the signal that you are aware that your disability could concern them and might cause them to turn you down.. so they don't feel as free to discriminate.  

The tone of your disclosure is the key.. confident, matter of fact, professional, not at all defensive or challenging.

There is one thing I'd like you to try though.. go to www.eSightCareers.net and click on Member Net.  I would ask your question there... you will be amazed at the wisdom and common sense that little group possesses.  You may have to register, but it won't get you sent any email you don't want.  The site started out for people with visual disabilities but has definitely spread to include all.  I used to write for them, and you will also find lots of articles on just the question you asked on the site.  I know I will be very interested in the advice you get.. the folks there are pretty savvy and realistic.

It IS possible that other people are applying with more experience, etc.  Still it can't hurt to put pedople at ease and answer questions they both may be uncomfortable asking and legally cannot.  One unfortunate thing is that state employment should be the most open to you.. many states, even those who have anti-affirmative action laws, still have rules favoring or at least protecting disabled candidates.

My email is [email protected] - I would love to hear how this goes.

Nan Hawthorne