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Patron
uses a wheelchair, is hearing or visually impaired, or learning disabled.
- Be friendly and approachable.
-Help
your patron feel comfortable by smiling, making eye contact, and offering
assistance. Focus on the person, not the disability
-If your patron uses a wheelchair, sit at eye-level to provide assistance.
-If your patron is hearing impaired, face him/her to facilitate lip-reading.
Speak directly to the patron, even if an interpreter is present. If
your patron is blind or visually impaired, speak directly to the patron,
even if a sighted person accompanies him/her.
- Understand your patron's
question.
-Use
open questions, which can't be answered with 'yes' or 'no':
What type of work are you looking for?
What would you like to know about the teaching field?
-Paraphrase or summarize to be sure you understand the request:
In
other words, you're researching employers.
It sounds like you're looking for job search strategies.
If I understand you correctly, you're interested in education opportunities.
-Use clarifying questions to generate a choice between options:
Are you looking for tools to help you choose a career?
Do you need tips on interviewing?
-Anticipate potential problems in communicating - If you and your
patron are having difficulty understanding each other, ask if written
communication is an acceptable alternative.
-Be aware of non-verbal cues and body language.
-Listen for cues to adjust or refine your understanding of the request.
- Respect your patron's
privacy.
-Lessen distractions or move to a quiet area for the interview.
-Maintain objectivity and avoid assumptions about the person's abilities.
-Give your patron the time and attention he/she needs.
- Plan and execute your
search strategy.
-Understand the level and amount of information needed.
Would you like to stay with online resources, or would you like
books to take home, also?
-Evaluate your patron's learning style, and determine limitations
on format or reading level.
Would you prefer a video about interviewing?
Would a resource you can use at home be helpful?
-Ask if your patron has used the source before, and provide instruction
on its use.
Have you used a computer before to find information?
-Distinguish between advice and information; do not advise on, interpret
or apply a decision to a patron's personal situation.
- Follow up to determine
whether your patron is satisfied with the search results.
-Ask if the question has been answered completely.
Did you find the information you needed about wages/interview preparation/sample
resumes?
-Check to see that the answer is understood.
-Encourage your patron to return to you for help, if needed.
Additional help is available
on this website:
Use Disabled to locate
career and employment resources for individuals with disabilities.
Use Assessments for
career tests, personality-type assessments, and tools for self-discovery.
Use Explore Careers
to find a career to match an individual's interests, and learn what
training is required. Includes Career Zone and Occupational Outlook
Handbook.
Use Interviewing for
information on preparation and technique, and virtual interviewing practice.
Use Research Employers
for company information and tips for researching companies online.
Use Transferable
Skills to define transferable skills and learn how they can be used
in the job search.
Library Resources:
Allen,
Jeffrey. Successful
job search strategies for the disabled: understanding the ADA
(1994)
Americans
with Disabilities Act (videorecording) (1995)
Brown,
Dale. Learning
for a living: a guide to planning your career and finding a job for
people with learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, and dyslexia
(2000)
Exceptional
interviewing tips: a view from the inside (videorecording) (2001)
Graber,
Steven. The everything
get-a-job book: from resume writing, to interviewing, to finding tons of job openings (2000) Kerr,
Cherie. Networking
skills that will get you the job you want (1999)
Ryan,
Daniel. Job search
handbook for people with disabilities (2000)
Whitcomb,
Susan Britton. eResumes:everything
you need to know about using electronic resumes to tap into today's
job market (2002)
Visit Resources
Available at the Library for categorized listing of available career
materials.
Sue Hermans
Central Reference Library Services Coordinator
Poughkeepsie Public Library District
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