Update

[Kathy Hobkirk]

I had another meeting at work today and it didn't go very well, ended up with me running out in tears and my union rep and rep from action for the blind having to say what they thought of how I was being treated.

Now I can no longer get contact lenses in because of the darn conjunctivitus which I have had for 6 months and keeps coming back and I have been told this will keep happening, after talking to my consultant I have decided to give the intacs a try. I told work this and they weren't happy because it means more time off work. They were asking me to commit to if it will work, when in March will it be done (when I haven't been given a date yet as I am waiting for the price) how much longer I will be off and all the other stuff that I can't answer yet. I was told off for not keeping in touch as often as they thought I should. What is the point in ringing if I have nothing new to tell them?? They have my numbers to contact me if they need to!!

I came out of the meeting a nervous reck!! It makes me think what will they be like when I finally get back to work if the intacs works.

I feel so down at the minute I just want to cry all the time.

[jayuk]

Kathy

I am soooo sorry to hear this!!

Can I ask if this is within a Large company?...What is your function within it?.....I am trying to figure out why they are acting like this

You have nothing to be nervous about!....You are in the right and need to stick to your guns!

Feel free to vent here!!

J

[Kathy Hobkirk]

Thanks J

I'm an admin officer for the local government/home office. I got the feeling today that they wanted me to quit. According to the policies my case now has to go to the assistant chief officer and its up to them whether to keep me on or sack me if they feel that they have made all reasonable adjustments. By that they mean getting me a larger screen 3 years ago!

Kathy

[Andrew MacLean]

Kathy

Angry, me? I should say so! A local authority treating a visually impaired member of staff with such callous disregard that she leaves the meeting in tears ought to be ashamed of itself.

At least your Union is on the case, and is that the RNIB lurking in the shadows. if not, I'd get in touch with them.

Meantime, you know that you have our thoughts and prayers.

Yours aye

Andrew

[Kathy Hobkirk]

Thanks Andrew

I wish I could get angry, I'm still at the upset phase at the minute.

I'm dealing with the guy who is in charge of employment retention at action for the blind who have been great throughout all my time off. He comes to my meetings at work, if I need a chat I ring him and he even comes to meet with me and my union rep at my house if something about work is bothering me. I haven't tried the RNIB - do they do the same things?

Kathy

[John Smith]

Hi Kathy,

Like the others above, I'm very angry about this. But I'm very pleased that you've got both your union and AFBP involved. If their last adjustment for you was 3 years ago, then it sounds like they may have done nothing for you since the Disability Discrimination Act came in. I'd suggest that you get occupational health, or a "company doctor" to confirm that the DDA applies in your case. I'd be very surprised if it did not.

Your employer should also be paid up to 80% of the cost of new equipment - think this comes from the DTI!

Best of luck with your fight.

[Andrew MacLean]

I found the RNIB a fantastic help when I lost my sight (I very suddenly became lens intollerant and went from having good vision with lenses in to having worse than waving hand vision in both eyes.

The RNIB assessed my needs for special help at work. They dealt with the Access to Work team at the obCentre plus, and between them and my employers they managed to make sure that i could carry on working without needing any time off (apart from 6 weeks after surgery. That was on the insistence of my surgeon, and I am pretty sure that it was not really necessary).

Give the RNIB a call. They may be able to help, but do not give up any of the support you currenly enjoy.

Andrew

[Drew Radcliffe]

Hi Kathy

I know where you are right now I've been there twice before and eventually ended up being made redundant.

Don't let that panic you though there is plenty you can do. You haven't said much so I am reading between the lines a bit here.

Are you getting the help you need through your union rep? or Action for Blind or are things feeling a little out of control.

You talk about the adjustments they have made a little - how long ago is it since they assessed/ reassesd your needs?

The way I delt with my employer which worked well for me involved changing the way that they approached my impairment. Through discussion we chose to make my job accesible for a blind person. I am not blind but sometimes my vision is so useless I get on better with my eyes closed. This way I new I could go into work with or without my lenses in and it just didn't matter. I was doing an admin job at the time and there was sufficient technology and retraining to get me through everything i needed to do.

If you really want to keep going and get them off your back long term then this option could help you. It did take some negotation and effort and emotion to get this through to them and I can remember my knees turning to jelly each time the personel officer approached but eventually everything was sorted out.

Good Luck - You know where we are when you need us.

Drew & Yates (my guide dog)

[jayuk]

Kathy

I am so surprised that within the Public sector you are experiencing this treatment! This kind of stuff really gets on my nerves! Especially when I see day in day out other employees who get away with murder whilst working in the Public sector! And then theres you..who has a genuine reason for being absent!

Dont take this lying down!...I know you must be very upset...but please dont think that YOU are the source of the problem!...The source of the problem is your immediates who are not following protocol!

J

[Kathy Hobkirk]

Thanks John

I have been in touch with occy health. I have seen them once since I have been off work and the rest has been done by phone contact. I have to ring them tomorrow to let them know I have decided to have the intacs then I am supposed to ring the obnoxious woman from HR and let her know what has been said.

I got in touch with access to work when I was diagnosed 4 years ago and they recemmended a 20" TFT monitor plus other things. Work first got me a 17" TFT monitor and I got my 20" a couple of months before I was signed off work. The rest of the recommendations have still to be but in place (lighting and blinds). I never complained about the 17" monitor cos I thought that was the norm and they couldn't get a 20". Now I know I was stupid and should have said something a long time before I did.

Kathy