I am a cancer survivor of larynx cancer. In 2010, I was diagnosed and underwent 6 weeks of radiation therapy. Unfortunately, the cancer came back and in 2012, I had a laryngectomy and the implant of a TEP to allow me to talk. Later that year, I started having eating problems as I developed scar tissue and inflammation which narrowed my esophagus. I ended up having 2 operations in 2013 to try to correct the situation.
While I am able to eat, it is often with alot of difficulty and necessitates going for esophageal dilations every 6 weeks.
From an employment standpoint, the problem is, when my esophagus periodically narrows, it affects my voice as not enough air goes thru my TEP (trans-esophageal prosthesis). I am able to work effectively with the extensive use of e-mail and I do have a text to speech program on my laptop at work. In person, I am more understandable, but phone conversations can be difficult.
I am a Property Manager in New York City, managing a large co-op apartment complex.
I have 27 year experience in property management with a bachelors in economics and a master of public administration degree.
So, my questions are, what careers might be suitable for someone like me with a voice disability? How can I transfer my skills and experience to a different field? Or, if I stay in my profession, how can I better get out there given my difficulty in phone conversation?
FYI - I am physically strong - I can bike ride 50 miles, I play volleyball, I go out dancing every weekend, I do alot of walking, etc.
Thank you.
3 Comments
Kathy F.
Nov 4, 2014
Good Morning, Frank!
Just listening to what you do for your hobbies and to keep yourself strong shows me that you have mighty determination and stamina. In addition, you are highly educated and have put your education to use in a profession in which you have been successful for 27 years.
I can understand that the voice changes you experience, especially over the phone, seem like you may not be able to overcome them. Then, I read how successful you have been overcoming other issues in your life, over and over. It shows that if you can find a solution, you will apply it to keep on keeping on.
Your property management role has been one in which you have had to use all the skills you have acquired over the years, both financial and business acumen, and the people skills essential to build trust and keep demanding customers satisfied. This is no small feat. What you don't mention is whether you have retained that job through this latest health issue with your voice, or whether you have resigned or been put on a medical leave.
If you still have your job, I believe that there are devices that you can use that will assist with the voice issues over the phone beyond the TEP. Let me do some checking and get back to you on that one, so that I don't give the wrong advice. My thought is that some of our medical support partners will be able to share that information with me and I can pass it along to you.
In the meantime, I have a suggestion to get you started exploring other career options. I would like to ask you to start an accomplishments file. Think back over your entire career focusing on each successive step in your career path, beginning with where you are right now. List for yourself all the things you are proud of accomplishing, using this order: What was the situation, what did you do about it, and what was the result? This is the foundation material for a new resume', but more importantly, it gives you a chance to review your professional strengths, based on facts -what you actually have done that has made a difference. My guess is that you will find patterns emerging in the list...things that you see yourself doing over and over and over that make you great at your job. And, you may also see things that others come to you to do, because you are just the best there is at that particular thing. Finally, you may also see things in that list that, although you do them well, you just don't want to do them anymore. Make sense?
Then, armed with that list, you can start to see where you may be able to apply those strengths. Usually staying close to the profession one has developed over time is the easiest transition, so that is where we can start to explore together. But in the meantime, hold on for a bit until this potential phone solution is resolved... perhaps with technology that will make the other question moot.
Wishing you continued health and success.... Watch for an update soon. And, have a super day!
Kathy Flora, Career Coach
Kathy F.
Nov 5, 2014
Frank, I checked with our CancerandCareers.org staff who are very knowledgeable about resources for accommodations. Here is what they recommend: Check with the Job Accommodations Network. They have a section on their website on accommodation ideas for Speech- Language impairments. Here is the siteURL: https://askjan.org/media/spee.htm
Participants in some of the CancerandCareers.org teleconferences have used technology solutions to overcome the same issues you are describing while on the teleconferences, so it does exist, Hopefully the professionals at The Job Accommodations Network can provide you with information on how to access such technology to try it out.
Good luck on this and let me know how your explorations turn out.
Kathy, Career Coach
Frank M.
Nov 6, 2014
Kathy,
Thank you very much for your advice. To answer your question, I am still working at the same job that I have been at for 10 years. I did take medical leaves when I had each of my 3 surgeries and during most of my radiation treatments and recovery, but otherwise, I have been working continuosly. I will check out that web site that you recommended and will do the career exercise that you also suggested.
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