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Disability Caucus Open Thread 6/29/16: Driver's License Required

So this afternoon I had a job interview I thought I'd be a shoo in for: An IT Technician position for the supervisor of elections that was to last from July to December. The interview was over before it even began. Why? It requires a driver's license. This has been the case with almost every job to which I've applied.

I have tried many times to acquire a driver's license. Failed every time. Every. Time. I have also had doctors inform me that driving may not be the best idea.

So what do I do? I can't move. I can't drive. I can't get a license. Any ideas?

See ya around,

Aspie

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Granma's picture

For you. Seems odd to me that IT jobs require a driver's license. If you hit a place where you're unlikely to actually need to drive, they may hire you anyway, scrap the license requirement.

Depending on how subject of license comes up, if you can get through an interview before that discussion, you may have a better chance.

Good luck!!

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WindDancer13's picture

If they said no, then you could ask what part of the job required driving. Is being able to drive in and of itself a requirement? Is there a possibility that the driving requirement only comes up in connection with a disability?

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We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.--Aristotle
If there is no struggle there is no progress.--Frederick Douglass

The Aspie Corner's picture

to work with or test the equipment and such, especially with regard to early voting.

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Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.

Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.

WindDancer13's picture

Do you have an alternate method of transportation that would be time efficient? I doubt if they would accept using buses as there would be a time factor, but if the job pays enough taking taxis could be an answer or if you have some kind of guaranteed transportation that will not cut into work time.

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We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.--Aristotle
If there is no struggle there is no progress.--Frederick Douglass

won't suffice?

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

thanatokephaloides's picture

And it doesn't necessarily relate to driving being part of the job, either.

Employers in many locales want proof of driving -- the whole monty, license, registration, and proof of car insurance -- before they'll even grant an interview, whether driving is part of the job or not. They don't want employees who are in any way dependent on others for transportation. (Of course, most employers who are this dickish are also unwilling to pay what these things really cost.)

One time I was unemployed, a friend asked me why it was that the first thing we often did when getting laid off was to purchase a motorcycle. The reason is simple: you can maintain the above three items for way less than it costs to use a passenger car for the same purposes.

As you can plainly tell, I've been there. And Aspie, I feel for you.

It sucks.

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"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides

The Aspie Corner's picture

Even if I could it would be too much work for far too little pay off with most positions I apply to. It's also why I apply to positions well below my qualifications as I explained to the staffing lady: Anything that actually requires my skills often has impossible-to-fulfill requirements, especially in the case of disabilities.

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Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.

Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.

elenacarlena's picture

interview so that they want you for your tech skills, and hopefully someone will waive that requirement.

If it's an ID requirement, check with the local office that issues drivers' licenses. Here, it's the clerk. They also issue official non-driver's IDs for the same low price. I might blame poor eyesight if you don't want to get into why you can't pass the test, it's not really their business anyway, I have no trouble fibbing to people who ask intrusive questions - "I have never been able to see all that well at a distance, even though I have always seen fine at computer distance" or "My peripheral vision stinks" or "I have terrible depth perception". Something that makes it impossible to drive, but doesn't affect computer work.

Consider alternative methods of transportation that would allow you to do the job without a car.

The most obvious alternative would be a coworker doing the driving, if more than one tech drives out to whatever locations they need IT help. Sending two is usually a good idea anyway in case someone complains that someone did something untoward in their house. The next most obvious would be logging onto computers needing service from your office. That's how I've had my computer fixed many times. I prefer it, actually, then I don't have to let a stranger into my house. I would think it would be the least intrusive method for businesses too, particularly with clients who may have most of their employees working in small cubicles, where adding an IT tech would be very, very crowded.

Other options would be the bus, and around here if I were interviewing I would tell them, "I walk or take the bus everywhere, I'm an old hand at it so don't expect it to slow me down". Also taxis and Uber. Get a really good-paying job and you can hire your own driver! Smile

Beyond that, it's just the usual numbers game I guess. Go to enough interviews, you'll find some who don't care whether or not you have a driver's license because it's not central to doing the work.

But first I'd get the non-driver's ID if you don't already have one, so they don't have to worry about your identity. They may be worried about their duty to fulfill I-9 requirements, even though alternative documents are allowed (https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-9.pdf).

Let us know ahead of time when you have interviews, we'll light candles to Ceiling Cat!

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