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[treehugger1]

I’ve posted these questions on the Job Search Experience forum, but since this is in some sense a disability issue and hence a diversity issue, I thought I’d post here too. I hope it’s at least somewhat a propos.

A couple of years into my doctoral studies, I developed a disabling condition that was at first a serious hindrance, then, last year, a complete obstacle to my work. At that point, I decided to pursue an unusual, time-consuming and expensive course of treatment which was successful -- to my happy surprise. I was able to work again by early last spring, and by summer, I was pretty much back to normal. So much so that now I’m finishing up my dissertation and going on the job market for the first time.

I’m already running into some problems, though, not the least of which is finding good referees. Two professors on whose support I had counted, (their past letters had helped me win a number of Fellowships, including a quite prestigious one) are now at least somewhat reluctant. I know that the problem is partly one of credibility. Am I really better? Can I really do the work?  I’m discussing the matter with one professor and my adviser, who has always been very supportive, is talking with the more reluctant of the two. But, I’m also wondering if I haven't been unconsciously written off, haven't somehow lost my reputation as a serious, productive graduate student -- whether any attempts at persuasion aren’t going to be counterproductive at this point. What would you do in such a situation?

Even the best case scenario leaves me looking for a fourth referee. Since my doctoral studies have dragged on so long (I’m approaching my eight year in the program) two other professors on whom I would have relied are now unavailable. I did very well in most of my classes (I know grades don’t count ... but just for the record, I have a truncated 4.00), so I’ve pretty much decided to turn to some of my old professors (in related departments – my department is rather small) for letters of recommendation. I know this isn’t the best option, since they don’t know anything about my current work and I haven’t exactly been in touch over the last few years, but I don’t see what else I can do in the circumstances. Any ideas?

 

[gennimom]

No ideas, but if you figure it out please let me know. My husband had a disabling illness that ended up with his resignation from his previous job. He recovered, and after a long search found another job. Side effects from the previous illness caused a permanent condition that has kept him out of work for over a year now. He is going to school and plans to either get a job after graduation or get his PhD. We have no idea what his work history is going to do to his chances. His profs seem to think he is something special for persevering in spite of all the problems he's had, but we don't know what others who don't know him will think.

[takapa]

you've ran in to a very common form of disrcimination - disability discrimination.  i don't know if you read these fora or not, but i am deaf and have been open with it here.  i've had this same kind of thing.  a friend here at work didn't support me for something that required travel 'cause she thought that since i was deaf i would find it "diffult" to fly on an airplane!  can't hear those safety instructions you know.  i don't know exactly what to tell you, but if these are good profs and people go talk with them.  tell them you value them, the support they've given you, and begin a discussion about the future and what you can and will do.  then ask for support again.  good people come around.  i've found most non-disabled folks just don't know what to think or do sometimes when it comes to disability.  some of the folks in my department have - after several years of working together - finally told me that the idea of losing their hearing scares the crap out of them and that i am a reminder of that - especially when i come in to their offices and they reflexively turn off their music!  i try not to foucs on that.  my grandad came out of world war 2 without his right leg.  back then nothing was accessible and the poor guy had to have a hard time.  he worked for disability rights, but never had a frown.  engage these folks and hopefully they'll come around.  good luck.

[gennidad]

I have seizures due to scar tissue from a previous brain surgery.  Right now my profs have been really wonderful.  I have spent the last several weeks missing several days at a time as we try to adjust my meds to stop the, as my wife calls them, "falling tree imitations." I have been very open with my professors and they have been very responsive to my openess.  One did tell me that the idea of having my problem scared the cr*p out of him.  I told him it scared the cr*p out of me. 

[newontt]

Hello treegugger1,

I am sorry you're experiencing such reluctance on the part of your advisors. Maybe it would be helpful to remind them, gently, that there are no guarantees that any student will experience good health, next year, or the year after. Accidents happen, our genes catch up with us, etc. Some disability scholars discuss the temporary nature of the "able" status.

Maybe this is why so many folks encounter fear associated with their impairment? Much like mortality, people may not be too keen on the facts (as percentages) of disability.

A

[takapa]

Maybe this is why so many folks encounter fear associated with their impairment? Much like mortality, people may not be too keen on the facts (as percentages) of disability.

A

true, plus disability is one of those things everyone can get.  a racist has no way of becoming the ethnicity they hate, but anyone can become disabled at any time.  that scares people and sometimes they react badly to those of us with disabilities simply because they fear being what we are.  i'll admit, even though i have a disability, the thuoght of some scare me to death.  a few years back i started wearing glasses.  no big deal, just need them to read.  but when i started thinking about it one night in bed i really became worried.  i don't want to be deaf and blind.  of course, they're only reading glasses, but it gave me a better understanding of what non-disabled people must think of me.

[takapa]

just curious to see how things are going for you now treehugger.  hope things have gone the good way for you.  notice the lack of responses to your post?  disability stays in the background....

[treehugger1]

Thanks all for writing back! And, sorry for not responding earlier (just trying to stay afloat here...)

Gennidad and Takapa – I know what you mean about scaring others – only one person has told me about her fear directly, but I used to sense it from a lot of people.

Also, Takapa – I did notice a relative lack of responses – and I have to say disability is a diversity issue which does seem to get overlooked. This is even more the case with invisible disabilities. (I suppose deafness poses its own challenges, since it seems to me like it might both be invisible (at first) and then not (when one interacts with you.))
In fact, I was just looking through the proceedings of a recent conference on disability studies (to get some ideas for a “Statement on Diversity” – part of a job application) and was disappointed (but intrigued) to find that there was nothing on invisible disabilities, but at least two papers that discussed Representation and Disability. Apparently, it is not merely the general public that overlooks/is suspicious of the unseen.

But ... all in all things are looking up here – I finally got three enthusiastic recommenders, four would have been better, but three is definitely enough for my field. At the moment, I’m trying to decide if/how I should bring up the issue in my application letters. So far I haven't, but I'm thinking of a sentence like... Having recently recovered from an invisible disability, I am particularly sensitive to those who face similar challenges. Or something similar that would gracefully address the issue of gaps in my record (I haven't taught in five years) without sounding whiny.

Comments? Good idea? Or... not so much?

[newontt]

Good to hear things are going better for you, treehugger1!

Yes, I think disability is often overlooked for the reasons we've discussed and I think hidden disabilities suffer particularly as the people we interact with must trust us to be honest in our representation of self. (You don't look to be in constant pain)Trust isn't easy.

As for mentioning your disability in a cover letter...

I am no expert by any means, but my advisors recommend that they address positive things in their letters of recommendations. So we don't blatantly seem to be self-promoting things that may not be obvious on the CV. It would seem a good way to address and of our gaps as well. I will be interested to see what others suggest.