Career dreams shattered by disability?

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ExR

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So how many of you out there have had your career dreams shattered by your disability*?

Personally, I've always wanted to be an airline pilot. However, it's unlikely that I'd be able to get qualified as one with moderate hearing loss. Though, I'm currently working with an organisation to campaign against the current JAA class 1 medical requirements. Many of the other careers I'm interested have also got a huge barrier in front of them too. (Police constable, Armed forces etc.) Whenever someone tells me "If you put your mind to it, you can do it!". I reply with "BS". Of course, I try not to let it bother me too much. Instead, I'm focusing on other interests instead. Still, it would be great if I could pursue my main interest in the future though.

It would be interesting to hear any of your stories. I've met many people with various disabilities. Ironically many of them always have the desire to have an occupation which they cannot physically or medically be allowed to do.

ExR

*Sorry if you don't like the use of the term "disability". It seems that there is not one single term to describe our condition(s) that pleases every single one of us. From my point of view, I view my moderate hearing loss as a disability because it prevents me from doing many things which people with normal hearing can do.
 
I dont think my career dreams were shattered by my deafness but was shattered by one ignorant hearing person who really looked down on deaf people. I wanted to be an interior designer but my VR counselor (in 1990 when I was 18 years old) told me that it was impossible for me to be successful at it because of my deafness despite my good oral skills. I was a very very insecure teenager who identified herself as a broken hearing person so as a result, I took her words to heart and dropped my dreams. It was only later, at Gallaudet Unversity, was when how full of f******cing BS that woman was and that was when my distrust of hearing people in general was born.
 
if you look at many hearies' career dreams - most of their dreams were shattered by reality because they had unrealistic expectations.

Sure I want to be a police officer and military but can't cuz I'm deaf but is my dream shattered? no not at all. There are private businesses that are involved in law enforcement and military sectors. You can serve them in a different way and also be involved in their work in a different way :)
 
shel90 said:
I dont think my career dreams were shattered by my deafness but was shattered by one ignorant hearing person who really looked down on deaf people. I wanted to be an interior designer but my VR counselor (in 1990 when I was 18 years old) told me that it was impossible for me to be successful at it because of my deafness despite my good oral skills. I was a very very insecure teenager who identified herself as a broken hearing person so as a result, I took her words to heart and dropped my dreams. It was only later, at Gallaudet Unversity, was when how full of f******cing BS that woman was and that was when my distrust of hearing people in general was born.
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So, you met one hearing bitch so all hearing people are bad? Interesting..

Sorry, won't comment again.
 
faire_jour said:
So, you met one hearing bitch so all hearing people are bad? Interesting..

Sorry, won't comment again.
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You think it was just one? Shows how much you really know.

Arent you forgetting my childhood in the public schools? At that time, I was still niave and thriving to meet their standards hoping if I act hearing enough, I would be ok....not understanding that it was never gonna happen until this moment of my life....

That was the one moment when reality slapped me in the face SO f**** ing hard that after that, I knew hearing people will NEVER accept me. Before that , I was in denial. After that, it was when I became self-destructive, engaging in dangerous behavior.
 
faire_jour said:
So, you met one hearing bitch so all hearing people are bad? Interesting..

Sorry, won't comment again.
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Does a wreckin' ball always have to be thrown around? Or what? Everyone has a dream that was crushed in one form or another, then found out later it could had been if they didn't do something or did do something.

Regarding lost job opportunities: deafness was never an issue to me until I ran into the wrong people while my self-esteem was too low to keep my head straight and took what they said to heart.
 
shel90 said:
You think it was just one? Shows how much you really know.

Arent you forgetting my childhood in the public schools.

That was the one moment when reality slapped me in the face SO f**** ing hard that after that, I knew hearing people will NEVER accept me. Before that , I was in denial.
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I was going to say that but I see you beat me to it.

To FJ:
I don't dislike hearing but I have to deal with people like that more times than I care to remember. Heck, for some of us, our parents can't get past the fact we can't hear.
 
souggy said:
Does a wreckin' ball always have to be thrown around? Or what?

Everyone has a dream that was crushed in one form or another, then found out later that it could had been if they didn't do something or did do something.
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It took me like 10 years and discovering ASL that I was just as capable and as worthy.

That is what most hearing people fail to understand. The devastating effects of the hearing views can be on many deaf children.
 
deafskeptic said:
I was going to say that but I see you beat me to it.

To FJ:
I don't dislike hearing but I have to deal with people like that more times than I care to remember. Heck, for some of us, our parents can't get past the fact we can't hear.
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Aye-men sistah!!
 
I really want to be Air Force Pilot when I was young. But in reality set in when I grew up, I realized that I have limitation. I decided to become Electronic Technician but didn't get it because I was unable to finish school due to my job schedule. Right now, I'm just a Letter Carrier and I'm okay with it. I must admit that I DO have Career Blues time to time that pissed me off when I see hearing Electronic Technicians fixing machines that could have been me doing it.

Often.. I have seen deafie tried to achieve goal in career that dreamed of ended up working odd or different jobs. My friend who was an expert on maps and Geographic graduated from college and have degree in Geography. He applied NOAA and one of Goverment Agency, they turned him down because he is deaf. It pissed him off. He is currently working as a Construction contractor and Casino Operator part time as odd job.

Not many will get career of their dreams. In reality, we all living in cruel hard cold heartless world that hearing don't treat us right. We just move on and try to make a living. In matter of fact, we are NOT alone out there.. Hearings with disability or do not have degree are in same shoe as we are.

I should be very fortunate that I am making more $$$'s than my oldest brother who is a fireman. So I guess I got lucky :giggle:

Catty
 
One thing that really bother me is that hearing people don't think I can handle the job and it is always phone, phone, phone and phone all the time from newspaper ads. And I hate having hearing people look down on me and say "You can not do this job". Go find job in cleaning whether in cottages or restaurant (kitchen). I don't want to do that. I want to be an Office Clerk, but no phone please. :mad:
 
Wirelessly posted

I used to have my dream for being famous and pro artist but I realize it won't happen. So I stick with my small wish for being writer instead. Do my disability prevent me from having my dream? Nah, not at all! :)
 
Bebonang said:
One thing that really bother me is that hearing people don't think I can handle the job and it is always phone, phone, phone and phone all the time from newspaper ads. And I hate having hearing people look down on me and say "You can not do this job". Go find job in cleaning whether in cottages or restaurant (kitchen). I don't want to do that. I want to be an Office Clerk, but no phone please. :mad:
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You are not alone!! It be nice to tell hearing people to wake up to know new technology soon be out in public.. VIDEO PHONE!! This leave company no excuses to discriminate deafie!!!

Catty
 
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