Job Interviews

[cswimmer]

As previously mentioned in other threads, I am trying to find a full-time teaching job. I am 3 years out of college and have gone on countless interviews, all ending unsuccessfully. I am wondering if this has something to do with my disability. I feel as though the school districts are impressed with my resume and credentials and happy to schedule an interview, not knowing I am in a chair. The interview is the first time they are made aware of my situation and I can't help but feel it has been the deciding factor for them. It has been suggested to me that I disclose the fact that I am in a wheelchair somewhere on my resume or in the cover letter, or even to apply in person so they can see me beforehand. I am hesitant to do this, because I feel like it will cost me getting an interview. I am curious to hear what other people think and what I should do.

[Ziggy]

Can you offer to do a phone interview first? So they can get to know you before they see you in the chair?

[Lifeisgood]

I don't know, I think that by asking to do a phone interview, if you are local and they are interviewing other candidates face to face, makes it seem like there is something to hide which would decrease your chance of getting the job even more.

During the interview, you might want to bring up the topic of having a disability yourself, and talk about the ways in which it not only will not hinder you, but can be beneficial and enhance your interactions with the kids and open their worldview.

[orientallefty]

Sounds like discrimination. Even though discrimination for hiring is illegal, it still goes on. If the interviewer sees you in a wheelchair, I am not surprised that there are many misconceptions going in the interviewer's mind while talking to you (and the law forbids her asking them) such as: Is she more prone to illnesses? Why is she in that chair (is she a careless person that got into an accident and ended up in that chair?), Will her appearance disrupt the classroom harmony? Will she be able to control the classroom as well? As the interviewer is not allowed to ask those questions and you want to clear her doubts, I say you volunteer some of those answers and show that you are the best candidate for the position.

My first job was working as a typist (on typewriter) for a private mainstream school. After that I also worked in the administration in that school and taught simple English to preschoolers. I don't think I can get the 2 latter jobs if I applied for them before my employer felt comfortable with me.

[Melz]

Sounds like discrimination. Even though discrimination for hiring is illegal, it still goes on.

Yep. They are just more careful in their wording and how they handle it.. but still happens.

[Betsybell]

I think it would be good to talk about it up front in the interview, too. If you bring it up and tell how it will not affect your teaching abilities and give examples of how you've dealt with issues that may have come up during your student teaching or other experience then that should make the interviewer understand more about your abilities. It would also open up the topic so that the interviewer could ask other questions that they may have and are afraid to ask. Then you would know what their fears about hiring you are and hopefully dispel them.

Betsy

[Gymp]

I think it would be good to talk about it up front in the interview, too. If you bring it up and tell how it will not affect your teaching abilities and give examples of how you've dealt with issues that may have come up during your student teaching or other experience then that should make the interviewer understand more about your abilities. It would also open up the topic so that the interviewer could ask other questions that they may have and are afraid to ask. Then you would know what their fears about hiring you are and hopefully dispel them. Betsy

This approach worked for me.

Gymp

[sean]

I'm wondering if it is access being thier concern, are there any other wheelchair users in the schools you're applying too.
Pretty sure here in Australia wheelchair access only happens where it is called for. You have to ask for it, it seems. By law if you require access, you'll get it. Institutions like schools are expected to pay, in part, the cost and ...huf huff have to put up with all the reno' disruptions, and the endless red tape.....and then you'll move on or leave!

Are you going for jobs where they have clear access provided?
Be sure you are fully able for the work, then you can offer reassurance that your chair is not likely to be problem and as Lifeisgood says, bring up the topic yourself and point out some positives.
If this is proveing to be the deciding issue for employment, for your own sake be more up front about it, let them know before you meet, let them get over it or not, don't waste your time.
Not sure if its very fair of you to be turning up knowing (expecting) a reaction that spins an administrator/beaurocrates mind into potentially too much work. What are you expecting when you know you are about to surprise them?. Do you really want to work?
Just thoughts.

All the best. sean.

[erin86]

Obviously, not being able to stand is going to be a huge issue when proctoring examinations. I had a Mandarin language teacher who was around 140cm and on crutches. Many students opened their books during the exam. I don't know whether she couldn't tell or she pretended not to know.

I have noticed that students don't sweat about an exam if the teacher is disabled and unable to proctor effectively. The interviewer probably already knows that.

[Dodger67]

Obviously, not being able to stand is going to be a huge issue when proctoring examinations.

There's nothing obvious about it at all.
I had a teacher who was a wheelchair user, when she supervised exams she simply moved around between the students' desks.
If you don't have the height to see clearly all the way into the back row you simply go there and take a closer look.

[Melz]

There's nothing obvious about it at all.
I had a teacher who was a wheelchair user, when she supervised exams she simply moved around between the students' desks.
If you don't have the height to see clearly all the way into the back row you simply go there and take a closer look.

I also had a teacher that used a wheelchair. I think they were in a car accident. I don't think he let that get in the way of his teaching. He was quite popular with the students and well liked.

As you said, a teacher in a wheelchair would just need to move around the classroom.

[erin86]

There's nothing obvious about it at all.
I had a teacher who was a wheelchair user, when she supervised exams she simply moved around between the students' desks.
If you don't have the height to see clearly all the way into the back row you simply go there and take a closer look.


First, it depends on whether or not there is enough space between students' desks. Once a short teacher or a teacher in a wheelchair goes to the back, it's party time for the students in front! But yea... teachers don't have to be that strict.

[Dodger67]

You are the teacher - you command/order/instruct the kids leave enough space for your chair.
Has it become politically incorrect to actually even dare to think of suggesting that the poor fragile delicate little darlings should maybe consider to try to actually do anything?

Did we have anything like the present rate of delinquency and failure back in the days when kids feared their teachers rather than teachers being scared of the kids?

[erin86]

^Allocating wider row space would mean that it is even easier for students to collaborate with one another! ;)

[Summer25]

^Allocating wider row space would mean that it is even easier for students to collaborate with one another! ;)

Actually it would make it harder. The further away they are from each other, the less they talk. If they do talk, then you would be able to hear them better because they can't whisper. Once you take control of a class, they will respect you more as a teacher. I had a teacher that used a power wheelchair in 8th grade. At the time I personally hated the man, but he demanded respect and got it. I still see him because he comes into my office and he still knows I never liked him...lol. I respected him though. From my one semester of taking teaching classes in college, that was what they always told you, you needed to do. Instill rules and boundries and you will get respect because they know you're serious and will be good to them as long as they respect you.

[erin86]

Actually it would make it harder. The further away they are from each other, the less they talk. If they do talk, then you would be able to hear them better because they can't whisper. Once you take control of a class, they will respect you more as a teacher. I had a teacher that used a power wheelchair in 8th grade. At the time I personally hated the man, but he demanded respect and got it. I still see him because he comes into my office and he still knows I never liked him...lol. I respected him though. From my one semester of taking teaching classes in college, that was what they always told you, you needed to do. Instill rules and boundries and you will get respect because they know you're serious and will be good to them as long as they respect you.

But isn't classroom space limited? To make more row room, you need to bring tables and students closer to one another.

[Melz]

But isn't classroom space limited? To make more row room, you need to bring tables and students closer to one another.

My school had fairly big rooms. Moving desks around to either make room or seperate naughty students etc was never a problem.

[Gymp]

...it's party time for the students in front! ...

He He ...When I went to public school the students who dared cause disruption in the class actually got the belt (strap) in front of the rest of the class.Then they phoned your parents and told them what an idiot you were in school and when you got home chances were you got the strap again by your angry father.

In high school I actually witnessed the shop teacher pummeling a smart assed student with his fists to shut the kid up.The student was expelled and the teacher continued his job teaching,he wasn't sued or thrown out of his profession.

Those days are long gone...But I will say this,there was very little class disruption from students when I went to school back in the 1960's and early 70's corporal punishment and the fear of it kept us in line.

Gymp

[orientallefty]

How many students to a desk?
In my school, there were 2 students to a desk. It's not uncommon for ordinary schools to have more students to a desk. To avoid that situation, teachers can make 3 or 4 different versions of a test but most teachers don't bother anyway.

[dahliafaolan]

I don't know about in the rest of the world, but in my little corner of America, it is very rare for there to be more than one student to a desk. Now when I went to college, there were a few classrooms where there were 6-8 long tables with a very wide aisle between us and we all sat at the tables. Well, with the exception of me since the tables were on a raised platform. I had my own desk at the bottom of the platform.

[Melz]

How many students to a desk?
In my school, there were 2 students to a desk. It's not uncommon for ordinary schools to have more students to a desk. To avoid that situation, teachers can make 3 or 4 different versions of a test but most teachers don't bother anyway.

My high school had both single desks and desks to fit 2 students. It just depended on what the teacher preferred.

[mcco5543]

OP: I'm in NJ as well. No one and I mean NO ONE is hiring teachers right now, I studied Elem ed as well and am not currently looking but my friend (without any disability at all) is highly qualified and can't find a teaching job to save her life. It's really bad in our area.