I need to get OUT of this role

Verizon
overthere_

Go to company page Verizon

overthere_
Mar 12, 2021 5 Comments

I have a significant hearing loss (70%) that makes navigating multiple teams, stakeholders, etc..., impossibly difficult. It's exhausting me and I'm going through some pretty severe mental health issues as a result. I have to deal with people who make assumptions about my abilities and intelligence based on what/how I hear things (not just hearing but processing). This has been a problem my entire life, despite being 3rd in my class in high school and going to college on an academic scholarship. I have no passive listening ability, so I'm not "picking up" things that are just discussed around the office. I am absolutely miserable and have had suicidal thoughts in the past. I am NOT stupid, I've been building products for 20+ years, but I've never been considered for promotion and always tasked with failing products or really shitty responsibilities.

I am tired of working SO FUCKING HARD to just "meet expectations" and watching morons fail upwards. And even though I try to explain this to others (managers, coworkers, etc...) they don't get it. So then I end up losing my job (over and over) because they think I can't keep up despite me telling them I need accommodations.

And you'll say "well that's a requirement for any business" and let me tell you, I have been let go from jobs for asking for accommodations. I'm tired of seemingly smart people in the tech space being so fucking ignorant when it comes to people with disabilities. I almost never see someone deaf in my field, and I now know why.

So WTF do I do now? I feel like a complete failure. 20+ years building cutting-edge technology and still stuck in middle management, still being hired for only failing products, or being rejected completely when they see I have hearing aids in an in-person interview. I am so sick of this ableist bullshit in this industry. Accessibility is seen as a box to be checked, whether it's for the products that are being built, or if it's working with people who are differently-abled. I just want the fuck OUT now. #pm #product #productmanager

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  • Dropbox
    EGgT53

    Go to company page Dropbox

    EGgT53
    I’m sorry. I don’t know what you’re going through. Reading your post, it sounds like your biggest problem is “hallway convos” you can’t hear. If you join a fully remote company, there won’t be any hallway convos. Have you thought about content writing out a deep focus area like data science? Focusing on just looking at things and your output is written. Good luck
    Mar 12, 2021 1
    • Cisco
      Persistant

      Go to company page Cisco

      Persistant
      This is a great suggestion. Fully remote companies encourage and enforce writing stuff down.

      OP, sorry to hear about your situation.
      Mar 13, 2021
  • New
    goodJuJuSh

    New

    goodJuJuSh
    Would you be interested in working on an innovation team in the government (if you are a citizen)? They do cool work and are great about accommodating disabilities. I might have recommendations if so
    Mar 12, 2021 1
  • CSD
    RYQV20

    CSD

    RYQV20
    I’m born deaf and have been a victim of many things including being rejected in interviews 99.99% of the time, constantly being passed over for promotions, never being given the benefit of the doubt, and being left out of crucial meetings all because I’m deaf. You’re in better shape than I am and you need to utilize your position to change people’s perspective about yourself and the deaf people. The reputation and respect of the entire deaf community fall on each and every one of us to be on same level as everyone else. If I were you, I’d take my talents to a deaf company like Communication Services for the Deaf, National Deaf Center, Convo Inc, and Scanmailboxes.
    Sep 24, 2021 0