"Learning A Living: A Guide to Planning Your Career and Finding A Job for People with Learning Disabilities, Dyslexia, and Attention Deficit Disorder"
Book Review
Published by Woodbine House, Inc. (c) 2000
Cost $18.95
"Learning A Living: A Guide to Planning Your Career and Finding A Job for People with Learning Disabilities, Dyslexia, and Attention Deficit Disorder,"
By Dale S. Brown
Reviewed by Gregg J. Donaldson
"Learning A Living: A Guide to Planning Your Career and Finding A Job for People with Learning Disabilities, Dyslexia, and Attention Deficit Disorder," is an excellent guide of practical tips for anyone with a learning disability going through the process of either planning a career or doing a job hunt. As the book says; "Learning A Living," Ms. Dale Brown takes her reader from the Career Planning stage, (Chapter1) to having Success on the Job, (Chapter 14), and Putting It All Together, (Chapter 15).
The beauty of her book, starting with the introduction is that, she combines her personal perspective as a person with learning disabilities, her work in the Federal Government, with the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, as well as taking the best advice from career experts and turning it into an easy readable style. However, it is not a 'formula book.' Instead, she often emphasizes alternatives to standard career approaches, or a combination of styles to maximize an individual's best chance for success.
Chapter 8 is a most interesting chapter technology-wise, exploring the "LD Traps While Conducting Library and Internet Research." Dale Brown says, "Probably the biggest problem for most people with learning disabilities and dyslexia is avoiding and Internet research, because of the time and patience required to work in their area of disability. This can make you sound unknowledgeable when talking to people who might hire or help you."
Solutions and the best advice she offers is, "Just Do It! Don't procrastinate!" Read it, if the information is only available in books or on the Internet. You may want to use a tape player. Take frequent breaks and do all the things you did to allow you to study, when you were in school. Also consider buying directories so they can be taken home and marked up. But, most importantly, don't give up!
Other traps include:
1. You have trouble reading small print.
2. You read inaccurately.
3. You spend too much time in the library.
4. You spend unproductive time online.
She suggests this strategy to try if you tend to fall into trances online "playing" for unproductive hours:
Sum "Set a timer for a specific amount of time--for example, ten minutes.
Sum When the timer goes off, stop and stand up. Check and make sure you are doing what you are supposed to do.
Sum If your head is getting fuzzy, take a short walk. Or look away from the computer for a little while.
Sum Then refocus and get back to the job at hand.
Some people put their goals in writing right on top of the computer monitor. They look up at their goal statement as they work." (Quotes pp158-159).
Chapter 11 is very good in providing information on where people can get help with their search and what agencies/organizations help people with disabilities, as well as an extensive Bibliography of books and Resources covering related topics, from Education to Work Trends.
Recently, Ms. Brown held an informal discussion/workshop on "The Job Hunt and Accommodations," with the Excel! Networking Group. She used her book, as a guide but expanding her theories, to include all disabilities. These strategies are helpful to people with learning disabilities, alternatives in coping with reading, writing, and interpersonal skills challenges, to name a few.
Dale also discussed some overall strategies for people with disabilities, taking her audience from the two types of Job Searches, Traditional and Creative, Alternative Methods to Resumes and Accommodations. Another key idea was that a 40-hour workweek does not work for many people with disabilities. Telecommuting, and flex schedules can work if you plan how to present your case
Other key factors were:
1. Know Yourself - Your Strengths and Weaknesses.
2. Research the Company and Job.
3. When you make telephone calls or prepare for the interview, write out what you say and practice.
4. The importance of "Thank You letters," covering things you may have forgotten to say. Write them that very night, while thoughts are still fresh.
5. "There is no definitive resume," it is recommended that you use a functional resume especially if you have gaps in your work history," she said.
Alternatives are:
a. Consider using a resume service for preparing a resume.
b. A resume alternative is the JIST (TM) Card - an index card with your name, address, phone number, job objective, and a few examples of experiences either typed or printed.
c. Qualification Brief-it states an objective, description of accomplishments and an ending statement which sells you to the employer.
6. Do applications beforehand. or bring someone to assist you.
7. Get to the business early, before the interview. Do a dry run beforehand, if you have difficulty with directions.
She also has some effective strategies for dealing with negative people who look down on you when they mention that someone else has a job:
A. Smile and express joy for that person.
B. Turn the conversation to other things.
C. Begin networking, asking for that person's name and number.
C. Or Say: "This sounds like an attack, and it is not helpful."
About the Author: Dale S. Brown is an accomplished author and lecturer. She has spoken at over one thousand national, state, and local conferences and symposia regarding people with disabilities. Topics include employment, job accommodation, self-help, and other related issues. Every year since 1987, Dale has led self-help groups for the International Dyslexia Association.
*Notes: Woodbine House also publishes other books on Education and Learning Disabilities.
Address: 6510 Bells Mill Road, Bethesda, MD 20817
Phone: 1-800-843-7323
Email: Info@woodbinehouse.com
Web: www.woodbinehouse.com
Excel! Networking Group, Inc.
Phone: 703-573-7550
Email: Info@excelability.org
Web: www.excelability.org
