• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

Leadership Scholarship is Nicole Caso of degree. The student must have a diagnosis of Bronx, NY. The award was presented by albinism, show strong leadership potential, NOAH Board member, Donna Appell. extracurricular involvement, and academic achievement. The scholarship is awarded Nicole is currently a freshman at Fordham each spring and is used to assist with academic University majoring in Psychology. She plans expenses. to pursue a Master’s Degree in Counseling and a Ph.D. in Psychology, enabling her to perform “I am honored to be the fi rst recipient of the and publish psychological studies. She says, “I NOAH scholarship! I would like to thank don’t look at my albinism as a disability, but a Michael McGowan and the entire NOAH ‘different ability.’ My low vision is just another community for their continued support, both way of viewing the world.” academically and personally, as I begin my studies at Fordham University.”- Nicole Caso The McGowan Scholarship is an annual award presented to a student pursuing a Baccalaureate WorkingWorking for a LivinLivingg ProProfi ling the careers ofof a select group ofof adults with albinism ByBy Kelsey Thompson, NOAH Board of DirectorsDirectors As children, we were often asked, “What do you can, and do excel in every day. want to be when you grow up?” A fi reman? A For many parents of young children with ballerina? A doctor? An astronaut? albinism, one of the most mystifying questions Now, as adults, when introduced to a person, is, “Who will my child grow up to be?” Here one of the fi rst topics of conversation is, “What are some ideas… do you do for a living?” Even though When Luke Chastain was fi ve years old, one’s job is only a small piece of who he wanted to be a train engineer. Now, we are, it’s undeniably important. For at 30, he works as a Senior Software virtually all adults, a career is an aspect of Engineer for AT&T. As a California Bay personality. A career embodies our likes Area resident, Luke spends about 30 to 60 and dislikes, our skills, our temperament, minutes on the bus or train every morning and our values. to get to work. For adults with albinism, it’s no different. “I found this job through a friend. Only Most of us go to work every day, interact once have I ever gotten a job that wasn’t with coworkers, supervisors as well as through someone I knew,” explained customers, and are held to the same standards as Luke. “Software was something I did as a other employees. But these stories, as quotidian hobby growing up and so it was natural for it to as they may seem, are important. Collectively, then become a career.” these stories provide a brief snapshot of the sheer range of jobs that people with albinism According to Luke, sometimes it can be challenging to manage time and priorities in the Page 6 Albinism InSight, Autumn 2009 Volume 27 No. 3 fast-paced fi eld of software development, but there were no computer classes. I joined a high he fi nds rewards in fi nding simple solutions to school computer club that met during lunch.” complex problems. “Learn as much as you can. Read, go to classes, At work, Luke described having a large screen learn from people who have more knowledge monitor and occasionally using a monocular. It than you. Never stop learning. Be enthusiastic can be challenging sometimes, he said, when about what you do,” Jesse’s looking over a colleague’s shoulder to see advice to young people something at their desk. “People have been interested in the fi eld is, understanding when I ask them to explain what “Don’t be afraid to tell people they’re seeing,” he said. you have diffi culty seeing. Be disciplined, organized and To a young person considering a job as a structured in your work.” software developer, Luke recommends starting early to fi ne-tune your skills and marketing Sheila Tidd, age 26, found your creations. “Write software as a hobby,” he that the people she interacts advised. “Do it every day. I with on her job are usually Sheila Tidd think the opportunities to get pretty accepting of her visual your work in other people’s impairment. She works as a hands are much better than substitute teacher with grades K-8 for a school when I started. It’s really a system in Michigan. different world.” Sheila earned her bachelor’s degree in 2007 Jesse Kain would agree. from Aquinas College, where she majored in Language Arts and minored in Early Childhood For 30 years, he has worked Education. She found her current job through Jesse Kain in the IT fi eld, currently her college. working as a systems engineer for the New Mexico Public Education Sheila noted that she always had a love of Department. Jesse, who has a bachelor’s degree working with children. She began volunteering in computer science, typically drives the six and at the age of twelve; in high school, Sheila a half miles to work, occasionally taking the bus volunteered daily in an elementary classroom, or ride-sharing with other commuters. which quickly confi rmed that teaching was the job for her. On the job, Jesse’s responsibilities consist mostly of project management. To “I chose this fi eld because I love to interact with accommodate his visual impairment, Jesse uses children. Children are so full of life and can a few simple adaptations, such as hand-held teach adults a lot.” magnifi ers and a giant computer monitor with As a substitute teacher, Sheila rarely has a low-resolution settings. “typical” day. Using a bioptic telescope and a Jesse loves work that is interesting, intellectually GPS device, Sheila drives to each of the various challenging and personally rewarding like schools. Her commute can range from ten software development. minutes to an hour. The subjects she teaches include reading, writing, math, social studies “I’ve always enjoyed the intellectual challenge,” and science. said Jesse, who noted that he found his current job through a friend. “I fell into computers back “I have to be fl exible,” she said. “I pick up the in high school about 35 years ago. Back then, lessons and teach on the fl y.” Volume 27 No. 3 Albinism InSight, Autumn 2009 Page 7 When reading the tiny print degree, this time in Public Administration. in the teacher’s edition of “I found my job on the Internet,” Staci laughed. textbooks, Sheila employs a “I have chosen to pursue my career as a social small magnifying glass. For worker because I enjoy meeting and connecting computer work, she positions with people where they are in their lives as herself close to the screen or well as helping them achieve that ‘light bulb’ fi nds a large-screen monitor moment. This fi eld allows me to become more when possible. tolerant as a social worker, and as a regular Reading students’ nametags and reading a person, of the complexities of society.” student’s work over his or her shoulder can be Her job entails a mixture of counseling, tricky, but she has found ways to work around education and advocacy. Staci helps people these challenges. with epilepsy to develop job-readiness skills, “I explain to children that Ms. Tidd has bad such as resume-writing and interviewing. She eyesight which means that I have to get closer also facilitates groups to educate clients about to things in order to see. If I get close to your important legislation, such as the Americans work, that is why,” she explained. “Experience with Disabilities Act. helps with all of these challenges. I fi nd “I enjoy empowering people with that the more experience I have the more disabilities, and helping them these situations occur naturally and understand that they too can work and smooth out.” live their lives,” Staci said. “I enjoy “Do not let your fears of the unknown informing and inspiring these people, scare you away from the job,” she which in turn enables them to realize cautions young adults considering a that they too can live.” career as a teacher. Taking advantage Staci relies on public transportation of opportunities to actually get in a to get to work every day, taking a classroom and learn from teachers in the bus and a train for 30 to 45 minutes fi eld can help a young person to test the each way. On the computer, she waters and experience fi rst-hand what Staci Burton adjusts control settings to her liking it’s like to work as a teacher. and uses prescription reading glasses “Most importantly, tell children about your and a small CCTV for reading. Like Luke, eyesight in a way that is age-appropriate,” Sheila occasionally it is diffi cult for her to view the added. “Children are more understanding than computer screen when working with a client. “I most adults and are more willing to work with tell the client that we have to ‘work together’ you when they know you are being honest and and that he or she has to be my eyes and see open with them. You will be amazed how well things that I don’t. The clients don’t mind.” this helps and works!” In Staci’s opinion, love and support are the two Much like Sheila always felt drawn to a career crucial ingredients for success. She encourages working with children, Staci Burton, age 31, young people with albinism to connect with dreamed of becoming an attorney since she was state vocational rehabilitation services as they very young.

Load more

  6

Copy Link