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[–] 61 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (17 children)

I hope they recover their vision. As someone who lost sight in one eye I can attest that going from binocular to monocular vision is life altering AND not considered a disability under the law Social Security requirements but typically is covered by ADA.

Edit: clarification.

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  • [–] 36 points 1 year ago (16 children)

    How is losing 50% of your eyesight not a disability?

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  • [–] 27 points 1 year ago (5 children)

    Because you still have eyesight in the other eye, so in social security's mind there's jobs in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (the DOT) you could still perform, and if there's three jobs you could perform despite your impairment you aren't disabled. Also, if you're under 50 you almost certainly aren't disabled for some reason. It's maddening.

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  • [–] 13 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    A lot of states don't even care if you've only got so-so vision in one eye and are completely blind in the other. No stereopsis, no problem! Here's a driver's license. Good luck.

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  • [–] 39 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    My dude, teeth are considered luxury bones in this country.

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  • [–] 19 points 1 year ago (5 children)
  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (4 children)

    It’s protected by ADA

    IOW - work from home (assuming job duties can be done remotely) due to being unable to safely operate a 2-ton vehicle. Of course you would need to actually relinquish driving altogether and not just use it to skip the commute.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (3 children)

    Unfortunately no. Not only does monocular vision not automatically disqualify you from driving but you can still get a commercial drivers license with vision in only one eye.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

    Regardless, I would still stop driving and seek ADA accommodation with assistance from a medical professional. It should be noted that my driving skills are marginal (but passable) as it is.

    Even if some can pull it off doesn't mean that I personally can. Some can run a mile under 6 minutes. I cannot.

    Edit: Incidentally, I do not find it comforting that someone with significantly impaired vision would be allowed a CDL and able to drive a semi. But then given the standards for driving in the U.S., I suppose I shouldn't find it particularly surprising. We don't take automobile safety nearly as seriously as we should.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (1 child)

    That's not how reasonable accommodation works under ADA. If you were applying for a job that required you to be in office they could just refuse to hire.

    If you tried to force working from home at a job you already had a reasonable accommodation would be adjusting your schedule so you could utilize public transportation.

    It would be nice if people could dictate the terms but that's not what ADA protects under "reasonable accommodation".

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago*

    That’s not how reasonable accommodation works under ADA. If you were applying for a job that required you to be in office they could just refuse to hire.

    It's what it is, and I would have no choice but to keep looking. Fortunately companies and employers are not a monolith, and some are more reasonable than others regarding things like this and may not challenge it. Particularly if you have in-demand skills.

    could utilize public transportation.

    This would certainly be a viable in some parts of the U.S. Indeed, loss of vision would very likely push me to relocate to somewhere with better accessibility for non-drivers.

    Despite my misgivings regarding their technological viability, this is one of many reasons why I am a big promoter of self-driving vehicles. But I still think working models available to consumers are a minimum decade or more off.

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