Navigating a New Workplace

July 23, 2008 • Posted in blindness, radio, Uncategorized by

Chicago Public Radio logoEvery once in a while I record an essay for Chicago Public radio that, for one reason or another, sits and sits before they ever put it on the air. That was the case with the Navigating a New Workplace essay I recorded for WBEZ back in 2006. The piece was about an internship I did at Easter Seals Headquarters in Chicago.

The internship was part of a federal grant called the Technology Opportunities Project. Easter Seals teamed up with Convio, a software company in Austin, to make their web content program accessible. Translation: the program made it possible for blind people to manage and update web sites, even though we can’t see what we’re doing. That internship led to a part-time job for me – I moderate the Easter Seals autism blog now. Navigating a New Workplace finally aired on WBEZ this morning. Here’s the intro:

Starting a new job can be both exciting and intimidating. You have to learn new computer programs and protocols, get used to the office politics and figure out where the bathroom is. And sometimes there are even bigger challenges to face. Chicago writer Beth Finke recently navigated her way around a new workplace.

But oh, that’s just a tease. If you want to hear the entire essay, you’ll have to link to the story on WBEZ!

Easter Seals Canada On July 23, 2008 at 1:19 pm

Great article,

Up in Canada we have been looking at the Convio system for some time, I will have to bring up this story with Chandler who works for Convio.

Very interesting, thank you.

– A guy at easter seals in toronto!

bethfinke On July 23, 2008 at 1:38 pm

Dear guy who works for Easter Seals in Toronto –
How cool to hear from you! Chandler at Convio might already know this, but the guy who worked most extensively with the talking computer progect at Convio in Austin was named Richard, maybe Chandler can check with Richard for more details?
I also wrote a blog post about yesterday’s Chicago Public Radio essay for the Easter Seals autism blog, my supervisor at HQ should be publishing that some time this morning. Check at:

http://www.autismblog.easterseals.com/

Thanks for writing!

Sandra Murillo On July 23, 2008 at 11:54 pm

Great essay! I happened to catch it yesterday morning just by accidnt. I can’t believe it takes them that long to air your essays on radio! Waw!
Take care,
Sandra

Beth On July 24, 2008 at 4:07 am

Oh, Sandra — it doesn’t *always* take this long for radio essays to get on air! More often than not, I record an essay and it goes on WBEZ within a week. For one reason or another, though, this one got delayed…and delayed…and delayed. Glad you happen to catch it when it finally aired!

Sarah On July 28, 2008 at 1:56 am

Beth,
I’m glad things are going well for you.
I am on the home stretch here at GDF. I go home on Friday! We’re doing so well, Jim and I. I can’t awit to see what he’s like at home.
Hope to talk to you soon,
Sarah
P.S. Please send a hello to Sandra Murillo who posted above. I know her from Summer in a the City in 2003. I’ve been wondering about her for a while now. Hope she’s doing well.

Beth On July 28, 2008 at 7:53 pm

Sarah,
I emailed Sandra with your contact info — I should have guessed you two knew each other, you are both pretty swell!
Safe home with Jim — I wonder if you think this week will go quickly, or slowly?

Ashton On July 16, 2013 at 12:54 am

Read the story! Great essay!

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