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SAN FRANCISCO VOCATIONAL SERVICES |
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The SFVS Reporter |
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Spring 2000 |
SUCCESS
STORIES
At San Francisco Vocational Services we see growth and achievement on a
daily basis.
Watching clients overcome fears about returning to school, becoming
productive with new technologies, and looking for work is highly rewarding.
But the highest level of satisfaction comes when a client lands a good
job or overcomes other obstacles of self-sufficiency.
In this issue of the SFVS Reporter, we are proud to feature four
individuals who have made great strides to find good jobs and move forward.
These determined people realized that through hard work and dedication
they can effectively use old and new skills, and become a functional part of
working society.
Maria Gomez is a woman of petite stature.
Standing a mere 4'1" - a result of dwarfism - Maria has had a lot
of obstacles to overcome. The
world around her was constructed for taller people and many, particularly
employers, have pre-judged Maria's abilities because of her size.
But Maria has learned that being functional and successful isn't a
matter of height, but a matter of perseverance.
Prior to her enrollment at SFVS, Maria completed her GED and had
already studied a little about computers at Mission Language and Vocational
School. But Maria didn't have any
success finding work and felt her skills were slipping away from a lack of
practice. She didn't really feel
like she was job ready until graduating from her basic office training program
here at SFVS. After
completing her courses, Maria was ready to incorporate her abilities into a
plan of action for getting her job.
During her job search, Maria could tell when she was being judged by
her size and not for her competitive skills.
Those "she-couldn't-possibly-do-the-job" looks from employers
made her want to run away, but she persevered.
Thankfully she encountered interviewers who intelligently
recognized the awkwardness of the situation and made Maria feel
comfortable and welcome.
Before landing her current
customer support position at Secretary Services in San Francisco, Maria went
on about a dozen interviews. Maria
says that when she arrived for her interview at Secretary Services, the
employer lowered all the swivel chairs in the room to accommodate her size.
After starting, the slot box used for mail distribution was also
lowered to provide easy access. These accommodations were easily and quickly accomplished,
allowing Maria to be productive, comfortable and efficient.
A headset with a built-in microphone replaces the typical wide-handled
telephone handset for taking phone calls.
As an experienced computer user, the data-entry part of her job
required no special equipment, and Maria quickly mastered the company's
proprietary message-taking software. Maria
is now establishing a solid work history, building on her existing skills,
developing new ones, and building credentials as an employee with valuable
experience transferable to a variety of settings.
PHIL LINDO
Phil Lindo is a busy guy.
In addition to his full-time Customer Service Liaison position in the
ATM Debit Card Unit of Bank of America, Phil also works part time as a
"cast member" at the Disney retail store near Union Square in
downtown San Francisco. He enjoys
both positions and plans on keeping them for the long-haul.
Phil had already discovered a lot about overcoming obstacles while
maintaining his two jobs. And though he is blind in one eye, uses a white
cane, and requires extreme magnification for text, Phil functions very
independently. "B of A has gone above and beyond!” declares Phil regarding his
accommodations. “They go out of
their way to find out what I need," like getting Zoom Text magnification software and other
adaptive tools to work with their systems.
Replacing a physical instruction manual, B of A has installed help
information right on his computer desktop so that he only needs to click on it to
update and read client information. Phil
also gets assistance from one of his coworkers who, voluntarily, handles some
of his sorting and routing of printouts allowing him to be more efficient.
And his supervisor is close by to monitor Phil’s work and to make sure he’s
doing a good job or see if he needs any additional help.
Phil has recently discovered and found inspiration in the success of
two other blind people who work at B of A; one is a department manager and the
other is a department supervisor. Enthused,
Phil says, “When I got here, I was told about these people and how
successful they were. So there
wasn't this huge emphasis on proving anything to B of A management, but a lot
of it was proving what I could do to myself!”
Phil has the following advice for anyone confronting life with a
disability. “Don't play a pity
trip because there is no room for that at work.
Be true to yourself. You
may have to work a little bit harder than other people, so you must be
prepared to work a little bit harder. Be
honest with yourself. If someone
asks if you need anything, be honest about it.
Don't try to take advantage of the situation expecting others to do the
work for you because something seems difficult.
Try something before you ask someone else for help. If it is going to become a huge obstacle for you, discuss the
situation with (your supervisors) openly, then have someone else do it.
And, lastly, enjoy your free time while you can because once you start
working you'll be missing it!”
LIBBY ROTH
Libby Roth suffers from Bipolar Disorder.
When she first started her training at SFVS, she was in a depression.
And although she wasn't going back and forth between mania and
depression on a day-to-day basis, she would occasionally experience extreme
mood swings. Now, through proper
treatment, Libby can look at her work objectively and continue to do her best
without needless obsessing.
San Francisco Presidio offices of the Haight Ashbury Free Clinics (HAFC),
Libby looks back on the obstacles she's overcome with pride and satisfaction.
When applying for a volunteer position at HAFC, she discovered they had
a paid job opening, as well as a
sensitivity to people with disabilities.
With this evident sensitivity, she found an environment that felt
comfortable to her and she was offered and accepted the job.
Originally hired as a part-time temporary employee, Libby's position
has since been made permanent.
Libby recently told her boss about her disability, and states, "It
doesn't really matter that much to my boss. It just offers me that much more
support." Libby adds,
"You must have people that can support you emotionally: just a circle of
friends or a psychiatrist or therapist, whose support can help you deal with
the isolation that you feel and help you alleviate that."
Libby's recent success has given her a new perspective.
As a result, she wisely offers the following advice.
"You've got to stick to your plan for it to work, not give up and
just do it because it will work out for you in the long run.
Follow your dreams and your heart.
Try to get a job someplace where you're going to feel like you're
giving something to a cause that you believe in, and that you want to help. For me, that made all the difference in the world. It's like
going somewhere you really want to be when you go to work."
When asked if there was a secret to her success, with a very sharp,
knowing twinkle in her eye, Libby said, "Show up on time, don't be
intimidated, and develop a very good line of communication with your boss so
you know exactly what they want from you."
TIM WANG
Tim Wang suffered a debilitating stroke in November of
1994. As a result, Tim thought he
would no longer be able to produce his exquisite graphic and fine art.
Prior to his arrival in the U.S. in 1987, Tim had been an art
professor, teaching drawing, oil painting, water-color and other kinds of art
at Shanghai University. He came
to the U.S., wanting to learn about American art and to work toward completing
his masters degree. At the time
of his stroke he was creating interiors and landscapes in oil through a
gallery in Carmel, designing matching sets of home furnishings, and taking
photographs for calendars and catalogs.
Tim’s stroke came without warning.
He was effectively immobilized and lost function on his right side.
Tim credits his enrollment at SFVS for inspiring and encouraging him to
learn more about the computer and to use it more effectively, helping him
realize that his sense of creativity was not lost, only that he had to learn
or relearn methods of artistic expression and execution.
It's been hard for Tim to accept not being able to execute his ideas as
fast as he did before the stroke. He
can use his non-dominant left
hand to draw and paint, though it is painfully slow.
After five long years, Tim feels
his skills are again strong enough that he can be creative and confidently
accept art assignments. While he
still enjoys working with oil-based media the most, Tim anticipates creating
mostly in the digital domain from now on, working on brochures, catalogs and
other corporate communication materials.
Tim is proving he still has the talent and skills to produce exquisite
content, both commercial and fine art. He
recently designed an SFVS sign (although created in color, it appears in black
& white on the paper version in the masthead of this newsletter)
using digital tools. Even more to his credit, Tim recently won first place in
a poster contest on disability awareness sponsored by the San Francisco
Independent Living Resource Center, incorporating oil painting, digital
graphics and calligraphy. Selected
from over 200 entries, Tim's poster will be reproduced and displayed all over
the City. He'll also receive a
cash award from contest co-sponsor United Commercial Bank, and receive
commendation from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
We at SFVS salute Tim for his courage and continuing efforts to
demonstrate his skills and passion.
|
Business Advisory Council |
Comments
from Arno R. Kracht,
Members of the
business community – we can use your help!
The Business Advisory Council (BAC) provides oversight and guidance
to our job training, work experience and placement programs.
Members share information about their companies’ job openings and
skill requirements. The BAC tests our training curricula and planned exit
competencies against the “real world” of employer job requirements.
In today’s strong economy we are seeing many job seekers with
disabilities who have experienced homelessness and welfare dependency. Our attention is drawn to the need for increased training in
“soft skills”: positive attitude, motivation, reliability, teamwork, and
communication skills.
At the same time, we are looking to train more advanced consumers to
assist employers in Internet communications and e-commerce.
We are hopeful that such skills will increase opportunities for
telecommuting for some of our participants whose impairments make it difficult
to travel.
We need your participation! For further information, call Erin Coley
@ 415.512.9500x308 or Arno R. Kracht, BAC Chair, Bank of America
@ (415) 241-4973
REHABILITATION SERVICES OF NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA'S
ANNUAL FUNDRAISING DINNER AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER
Awards for Outstanding Individual Achievement were presented to our honorees on February 18, 2000. Instructor Gail Doyle, Maria Gomez & SFVS Executive Director Craig King; Craig King & Tim Wang; Libby Roth and Craig King; Phil Lindo & CEO Cara Rubinstein Hoxie.
CANDIDATES
FOR HIRE
Below is a sampling of the talent pool available through the Placement Department at San Francisco Vocational Services. Job categories and interest areas were chosen by the clients. If you are interested in meeting one of these qualified job candidates, please contact Erin Coley or any of the Placement Specialists at SFVS, (415) 512- 9500.
Clerical,
Office Assistant: Enthusiastic,
efficient, detail oriented people-person with excellent communication skills. Bilingual in English and Tagalog. Proofreading, types 35 wpm.
Excellent computer skills: MS Office (Word, Excel, Access). Good
customer service and phone skills. LG-OF
Administrative
Assistant:
Friendly, strong people skills, responsible,
Customer
Service/ Receptionist: Good
people-person. Hard worker. Friendly
Customer Service/Office Assistant: Hard working people-person, self-starter, dependable & organized. Ten years experience in customer service with major catalogues. Excellent phone, general office, computer and Internet skills. Highly trainable. HL-SM
Librarian Assistant: Library & general office experience. Computer literate, quick learner, highly motivated, able to work independently. HL-MB
Shipping/Receiving: Reliable, dedicated, experienced shipping clerk, PC literate w/MS Word & Access, Internet, package-tracking software, accurate 10 key by touch. HL-TM
Administrative Assistant: 21 yrs. customer service experience. Excellent oral & written communication skills. Proficiency in MS Office Suite, types 50 wpm. BA in Social Services & Welfare. Friendly, and works well under pressure. HL-DW
Administrative Assistant: Over 10 yrs. management experience. Computer skills include MS Word, Access & Excel. Excellent organizational & communication skills. Works well alone or with others. Flexible. PK-AK
Office Assistant: MS Word, Excel & PowerPoint, Windows 95 and data entry skills. Very friendly, committed, hard-working and gets along well with others. PK-VS
Our Candidates for Hire list is updated regularly.
Please check our website www.sfvocationalservices.org for the most
current information.
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