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Learning Disabilities on the job.

Submitted by an LD OnLine user on

I have viewed the postings, I am currently a senior in college at 37 years old. I have two boys to care for and never get my child support. I work for UPS. I hate my job! But I have to work to earn a living. I also need benefits, my jobs is 4 1/2 hours a day and works wonderful to be with my children and go to school. But recently I have been moved alot, to learn my new trucks is really hard my job does not like to accomdate, I recently told them of my LD and now my co-workers make fun of me telling me I am slowwwwwwwww… I hate it and I am very physically fit for the job it is the problem of loading 3 new trucks with all residential address with loading sequence numbers I have a hard time with. I know I will get it, it is gonna take me a long time and with lots of repetition. I had the same problem with Algebra. It is hard and every day I worry about my job. I hate and the union does not help much. Any advice from a UPSER?

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 06/02/2003 - 6:18 PM

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I’m not LD but my girlfriend is and I come to this site to gain some more understanding and insight on LD as an adult, from the horses mouth or mouths in this case. You have kids in which your the sole provider, you work and are a senior in college, WOW!!! These nimrods have the guts to harrass you. I don’t know the environment you work in but that’s what it sounds like to me. If they’re kidding arround with you and you accept that as co-workers poking fun, that’s one thing but if it’s harrasment that’s another and you should do something about that. Unfortunaltly from what I was told if your employer didn’t know about your LD prior and they don’t intend on providing accomidations now than I believe they have that right. I’m sure there are other people who actually went through this that can help you better but I’ll give my 2 cents being on the othe side as someoen without LD. I assume that you were able to do your job well, before these changes? Maybe if you can prove to them how much of a good and loyal worker you are and that these accomidations would not cost the company anything but time (I know time is money especially in your Biz) and you would be even better. Maybe they would help. By the way what are you going to school for? Maybe you can quit and get into work experience with your degree path

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 06/03/2003 - 1:38 PM

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No advise, Cynthia, just wanted to say I really admire you. It must be hard to keep ever thing going but it sounds like you are doing pretty well. Going to college is great—I it leads you to a fantastic job you love.

[%sig%]

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 06/05/2003 - 8:10 PM

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Hi!
I don’t work for UPS but I’ve been discriminated on jobs a lot in life. I’m 35. I have learned not to tell anyone about the ld. I am using supportive employment and vocational rehabilitation. I have learned that we are smart people and others will take advantage of us if they learn the truth. I have been fired or quit because of this. I have learned to be more thick skinned. You have to tough it out to survive. You can’t let the people make you feel bad about yourself. You are qualified just as much as anyone. Don’t let them push you out of your job. If you leave do it because it’s your choice. I am learning to stand up for myself.
The employment security commission will give you your benefits if you get layed off or fired so don’t quit.
Good Luck! Take Care!

[%sig%]

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 06/06/2003 - 5:02 PM

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I am currently working on a project to assist state employment counselors to help persons with LD obtain employment and receive assistance with adaptive supports once a job is found The counselors face a number of challenges:

-some people do not want the help, because they have had bad experiences with the”system” and it is better the employer does not know about any kind of disability
-some obtain the extra support to locate work, but afterwards they do not want any extra help
-some just want a job with no accomodations as they are used to handling the situation themselves
-some of the persons don’t even know they have a disability, they just have a problem with instructions, reading, listening, etc. and they are constantly loosing their job

The state workers do not know that someone they see has a learning disability, and a person with a learning disability does not tell everyone they meet about their disability. I want to know from anyone, that if you walk into a government office seeking help to get a job, what would you want the state workers to do differently so you can be successful regardless of the learning disability?

Any other thoughts on this as well? Please tell me your experiences

[%sig%]

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 06/08/2003 - 9:02 PM

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I can relate to this subject. I ‘m College graduate who
works in foodservice at a hospital in Wilmington,NC . My coworkers speak like I’m a idiot. They keep that I’ m
slow. I ’ m ready to transfer another department what should
I do? Chris

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 06/16/2003 - 2:47 AM

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My father has LD and has been somewhat successful hiding it most of his life and getting by. I have complete respect for my father, who with minimal education has managed to support himself comfortably thus far. He has worked at the same place for over 25 years now and hasn’t enjoyed his job for most of those years. By the bits and pieces that I get from him, it sounds as if he is being harrassed at work by a new boss. He is having his job threatened, being told he is too slow, he doesn’t do things properly, and that his previously boss would have fired him if this new guy didn’t step in for him. My Dad is afraid to find a new job; and quite honestly, by everything that I have read, I am afraid for him. I don’t think that he should be subjected to the daily humilitaion that he has had to put up with, but where do people with LD find jobs? How do you get around it and land a job? I am more than willing to help my Dad out where I can, but I can’t get the job for him. I am searching for assistance programs, agencies, ANYTHING, that can help. I need resources to help my father. At 54 years old, the possibility of being out of work is truly devastating to him. It is the least that I can do, as his daughter, to help him out. My father had gone without for so many years just to pinch pennies for my college education and eventually his very own house, which he paid for in cash after years of earning just above minimum wage. At what time do you disclose LD? How can I help my father put together a resume? I know how to write a resume for myself, but how do I make that process his own?

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 10/28/2003 - 8:30 PM

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Looking for someone with LD, holding a job and willing to be interviewed.

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 11/06/2003 - 12:39 AM

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I feel for you, You and me would be great friends,
if you ever want to e-mail me, it would be great. My e-mail
is [email protected]

I had a hard life at school and at work, I try and try and
try, but it is hard to get ahead with dead end
jobs all my life I guess I did not get the breaks in my life now I am in my 40’s. but I keep trying , I have the will
that God gave me to do your best, because you are
talented in some areas

Ronnie

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 11/09/2003 - 5:24 PM

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…Sunday, November 9, 2003…

Cynthia —

Get in touch with the regional Affirmative Action Officer / E.E.O. Officer
of UPS; they will give you that information from UPS HQ Corporate Office.
Claim interest in the Americans with Disabilities Act. Did you inform your
supervisor both in writing and verbally? You may need a co-worker to
assist you a bit. If the other co-workers tease you, you need to get
management support to stop it. If you don’t seek help and assistance
immediately to learn the new position/role, then __you__ may be in
trouble. Try to learn the new slot/position, __with_assistance__ .
If you fight the system, you are to blame. If you ask for help, you will
be out of trouble. I live in New Jersey, and I have considered work for
UPS myself ( at Newark City Center, and at Newark Airport ) .
It is your responsiblity to learn the job, and get help. UPS may need to
assist you with Reasonable Accomodation. Colleges are “clued-in” and
more aware of LD Student/clients. Corporations are less so, especially for
“industrial jobs”. I am 41, and have had to drop out of
college ( Kean University ) because I failed College Algrebra too many times. Good luck .
/signed/ Joe Tag,Jr. ; EMAIL, “[email protected]
NOTE: MY EMAIL IS FOR ADULTS WITH L.D. HISTORIES, ONLY!
YOU MAY WRITE ME; DON’T ADD ME TO ANY LISTS! NO MASS EMAIL’S,
PLEASE.

[quote=”Cynthia Rodgers”]I have viewed the postings, I am currently a senior in college at 37 years old. I have two boys to care for and never get my child support. I work for UPS. I hate my job! But I have to work to earn a living. I also need benefits, my jobs is 4 1/2 hours a day and works wonderful to be with my children and go to school. But recently I have been moved alot, to learn my new trucks is really hard my job does not like to accomdate, I recently told them of my LD and now my co-workers make fun of me telling me I am slowwwwwwwww… I hate it and I am very physically fit for the job it is the problem of loading 3 new trucks with all residential address with loading sequence numbers I have a hard time with. I know I will get it, it is gonna take me a long time and with lots of repetition. I had the same problem with Algebra. It is hard and every day I worry about my job. I hate and the union does not help much. Any advice from a UPSER?[/quote]

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