Hi. I have had macular degeneration for some time. I have been going along until recently, when my vision became impaired enough that I can't drive. I was wondering if others are out there, if you have had job difficulties and what accommodations, if any, have you had? My particular job doesn't require driving though on all job discriptions valid license is required. I still have mine as my Dr has not put in writing that I can't drive. To do so would cause me to lose my license and my job. It's a sttruggle to get to work every day but I get there. I was wondering if anyone else is in a similar circumstance.

I'm not an attorney so any comments I make are based only on my experiences in life.
Is having a driver's license and being able to drive an "essential function" of your job? An employer could require, as a condition of employment, that all employees wear pink ribbons in their hair. Arbitrary and capricious? yes, but they can still require pink ribbons and will do so until someone challenges it.
Only you can answer if driving is an absolute requirement of your job. If it isn't, I wouldn't say anything. If you are wrongfully terminated because you can't drive and all the other nurses you work with only drive to and from work and driving doesn't coonstitute an "essential function" of their job then I would seek legal counsel.
Just my opinion.
I wish you the best.

That's a tricky question. For my particular job, I would say no,. I am to accompany clients on appointments, even that, not all of the time. If so, I go with staff. I do havean attorney though, in case it becomes an issue. According to all job descriptions, one must have a valid license ro work for the state. I have one however, to ask for any accommodation,( to get to meetings, etc) my doctor would have to write "cannot drive" and there would go my license. Caught between a rock and a hard place. He also said I would have a hard time getting disability because I am impaired...not legally blind!

DEAR SIR

I GUESS THIS LETTER MAY COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE SINCE WE HAD NO PREVIOUS CORRESPONDENCE WITH EACH OTHER. I AM THE CHAIRMAN TENDER BOARD OF INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC) I GOT YOUR CONTACT IN THE COURSE OF MY SEARCH FOR A RELIABLE PERSON WITH WHOM TO HANDLE A VERY CONFIDENTIAL TRANSACTION INVOLVING THE TRANSFER OF FUND VALUED THIRTY MILLION TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ($30.2M) TO A SAFE FOREIGN ACCOUNT.

THE ABOVE FUND IN QUESTION IS NOT CONNECTED WITH ARMS OR DRUGS. IT IS THE PRODUCT OF OVER INVOICE ON CONTRACT AWARDED IN 2002 BY INEC, TO A FOREIGN COMPANY FOR THE SUPPLY OF ELECTORAL MATERIALS THAT WAS USED FOR 2003 ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA. THE CONTRACT HAS LONG BEEN EXECUTED AND PAYMENT OF THE ACTUAL CONTRACT AMOUNT MADE TO THE FOREIGN CONTRACTOR LEAVING THE BALANCE OF $30.2M U.S DOLLARS IN A DORMANT ACCOUNT WHICH MY COLLEAGUES AND I NOW WANT TO TRANSFER OUT OF NIGERIA INTO A RELIABLE FOREIGN ACCOUNT FOR OUR PERSONAL USE.

AS CIVIL SERVANTS, WE DO NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY FOREIGN ACCOUNT MACHINERY TO SUCCESSFULLY HANDLE THIS TRANSACTION. THERFORE IT BECOMES NECESSARY TO SOURCE FOR A FOREIGN COMPANY/INDIVIDAUL WITH THE CAPABILITY TO ACT AS THE ORIGINAL BENEFICIARY OF THE CONTRACT.

MY DEAR, IT IS A GOOD THING THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS ENDORSED THE BILL PASSED BY THE SENATE AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY THAT ALL FOREIGN CONTRACTORS OWED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA SHOULD BE PAID, WE WILL SEIZE THIS GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO PURPORT YOU AS ONE OF THE CONTRACTORS TO BE PAID.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS PROPOSAL KINDLY MAIL ME YOUR LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE ALONG WITH YOUR DIRECT TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS, BUT IF YOU CANNOT FOR ANY REASON HANDLE THIS TRANSACTION I SHOULD BE REATEFUL IF YOU CAN LINK ME TO A RELIABLE AND TRUST WORTHY PERSON IN WHICH CASE YOUR INTEREST WILL BE PROPERLY PROTECTED.

MEANWHILE, MY COLLEAGUES AND I HAVE DECIDED TO SHARE THE MONEY IN THE FOLLOWING RATIO: 60% FOR MY COLLLEAGUES AND I, THEN 30% FOR YOU THE ACCOUNT OWNER AND 10% FOR ALL LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXPENSES THAT MAY ARISE IN THE COURSE OF THIS TRANSACTION.FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT THIS TRANSACTION WILL BE DISCUSSED IN THE SUBSEQUENT CORRESPONDENCE.

THIS TRANSACTION IS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL BUT 100% RISK FREE. NOTE ALSO THAT THE PARTICULAR NATURE OF YOUR BUSINESS DOES NOT MATTER TO THIS TRANSACTION AND THIS TRANSACTION ARE EXPECTED TO BE CONCLUDED WITHIN 5 WORKING DAYS SINCE ALL LOCAL CONTACTS AND ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN PROPERLY PERFECTED FOR A SMOOTH AND SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF THIS TRANSACTION.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,

GARUBA RUFUS
TEL: 234-80-33276024

Donna,
Do you allow this type of material on your message board?

I am offended that this individual would be so audacious as to post this type of material on a board clearly dedicated to other subject matter.

Hi Dave,
I am more than offended. I don't control what is posted, but I will check with the nurse who does my web site updates regarding how to handle this. Let's hope this is a one time posting!
Sorry,
Donna

In retrospect, perhaps we should have fallen for his "offer" and contacted the appropriate authorities and arranged a "sting".

was dx with MS 9/04 after bilateral blindness from optic neuritis. i also was paralyzed on my right side.
my vision came back after a few months (thankfully) and some plasma phoresis, but remains as if im looking through a screen door.
because of that and my mobility problem (i can walk now, but its not a pretty sight) i have been acting as an admission nurse at my local hospital. when i was certified blind by the dept of the blind, the department of health did not take my license, nor did they question it on my renewal application which was just this past august.
does anyone know where employers draw the line where disabled nurses are concerned? what options do we have to continue to work as nurses?
do they have to make any accomodations for us, even though we cant perform say floor nursing duties?
thanks
tracy

Hi, I am a school nurse at the State School for the Blind in WA State, and I am currently completing my master's in nursing education. Working with blind kids who want to be nurses has made me immensely interested about the role of blind nurses within the nursing profession. Late Summer/Fall 2006 I am planning to conduct a study of legally blind nurses and their experiences.

If you know anyone interested in participating in this sort of qualitative study in order to better understand the current role and possibilities for the future role of blind nurses, please email me at sarahbuttrell@hotmail.com.

Thank you!

Sarah Buttrell
sarahbuttrell@hotmail.com