I still have to receive a vision waiver, which requires me to get a DOT Medical card, even though I will just be locally driving a school bus. Then the best part hits, they have conflicting information on their system. Going back, they have documents submitted by DPS that I have 20-20L & 20/200R. That wouldn't be a big deal, except for the fact that I have no vision in my right eye due to a severed optic nerve, and the fact that I have paperwork on file and in hand showing a permanent blindness in my right eye since 99'. I dare ask them why somebody would report my vision as 20/200, and the response I was given is that is the lowest they can go, whenever somebody can't read, it's 20/200. The whole DPS issue is frustrating, but not that big of a deal. But according to the information I received, it could be several months before I see a DOT card due to the complicity of it all. It frustrates me that according to law, I am legally allowed to drive, because I have no disability, but what I get from DPS makes me feel like I have to earn that right to drive by jumping around through hoops for waivers all the time. I can't make any DL changes without getting waivers, because I "FAIL" their eye exam which is mandatory. If there's nothing majorly wrong with me, and monocular vision drivers CAN drive, why do I get denied without provided special paperwork...
I know I am overly upset, but it's frustratingly hard just to get a job. Especially since I have to go off of "don't ask, don't tell" when it comes to my eye. If I tell people upfront, I get the cold shoulder. If I do get lucky enough and they don't notice or don't ask about my vision, then I'm screwed when it comes to promotion. Main reason why I'm not going back to my old job. Pretty bad when my Captain tells me, "We don't mean to discriminate against you, and we don't intend to, but because of your special circumstances, we don't think it's a good idea to promote you to ______ position. We're not discriminating against you though, we don't want you to think that your eyes are we we're not letting you promote."
Too bad I'm not protected by ADA. I can be denied any job because of being blind in one eye, I have no protections from ADA.
Anybody else in this same boat? I'm tired of feeling beat down by it.
