Miss-Delectable
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Portland woman determined to find job despite disability | wlbz2.com
Finding a job in today's depressed economy is a challenge in of itself.
But imagine having a disability and trying to sell yourself to a potential employer? A Portland woman who was born deaf says the hurdles to employment are her motivation.
Deb Ellis has worked as a book keep and a tutor. She is going to school for an accounting degree and needs a part time job. She was born deaf. She communications with sign language but is also able to talk and read lips. Ellis says being deaf isn't the obstacle to finding a job it is finding an employer willing to give her a chance.
'People are afraid to deal with a deaf person, they don't know what to do with it. What are they afraid of? Communication is the issue, they don't know what a deaf person is like. We are hard working, we focus on the job, we don't play around, we don't,' said Ellis.
Laura Bolduc owns an employement agency that helps people with disabilities find jobs. She also trys to convince potential employers to focus on the person and their work experience, not their disability.
The agency also sets up mock interviews to help Ellis sell herself and her skills. Ellis says a potential employer would have to hire an interpreter to assist her at staff meetings. She also needs a video phone to communicate with clients and other employees. Sorensen, the company that manufactures video phones provides companies that hire deaf people, with the equipment and installation of the video phones.
Finding a job in today's depressed economy is a challenge in of itself.
But imagine having a disability and trying to sell yourself to a potential employer? A Portland woman who was born deaf says the hurdles to employment are her motivation.
Deb Ellis has worked as a book keep and a tutor. She is going to school for an accounting degree and needs a part time job. She was born deaf. She communications with sign language but is also able to talk and read lips. Ellis says being deaf isn't the obstacle to finding a job it is finding an employer willing to give her a chance.
'People are afraid to deal with a deaf person, they don't know what to do with it. What are they afraid of? Communication is the issue, they don't know what a deaf person is like. We are hard working, we focus on the job, we don't play around, we don't,' said Ellis.
Laura Bolduc owns an employement agency that helps people with disabilities find jobs. She also trys to convince potential employers to focus on the person and their work experience, not their disability.
The agency also sets up mock interviews to help Ellis sell herself and her skills. Ellis says a potential employer would have to hire an interpreter to assist her at staff meetings. She also needs a video phone to communicate with clients and other employees. Sorensen, the company that manufactures video phones provides companies that hire deaf people, with the equipment and installation of the video phones.