00:00
Counselors: Compassion And Empathy in Action. The following video features individuals seated in an office conference room speaking to the camera about their experiences with the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind or MCB. They are each talking about the subject of “Counselors Compassion And Empathy in Action” and how MCB Vocational Rehabilitation (or VR) counselors approach their jobs. Speakers include, in order:
Brittany Taylor (MCB VR Counselor)
Kara Sittig (MCB VR Counselor)
Joe Buizon (MCB Employment Services)
Tim Leahy, (Parent Of An MCB Client)
James Leahy (MCB Client)
Katie Shannon (MCB Client)
Desiree Usebio (MCB Client)
Mayanne MacDonald-Briggs (MCB VR Counselor)
00:56
Brittany Taylor: What makes a counselor effective is meeting the client where they're at, and being able to empathize with exactly what they're going through,
01:04
Kara Sittig: I would add to it that it is someone who's willing to go a little extra mile.
01:08
Joe Buizon: Pre blindness, I wanted to be a police officer. I always thought that I wanted to help, I wanted to give. And in losing my vision, maybe that's not possible. And so I said, “What's the next best thing here? Why not work for the Commission for the Blind? Why not be a part of the process that gave so much to me?”
01:29
Katie Shannon: At MCB there's many staff members who are visually impaired themselves. So over the phone, you don't know that. But if someone shows up to your home with a driver and a white cane, you kind of watch the client or the family member just sort of be, like, “Like, I can tell that you are like me, and you're here, you know, you have a job.” So that is kind of cool.
01:52
Tim Leahy: I guess it surprised me in a way only because I wasn't, I hadn't thought about it and I wasn't expecting it. But it immediately made sense, you know, somebody who is going to help somebody who's blind, is themselves visually impaired.
02:06
Joe Buizon: I utilize that cane and that blindness now as…as a part of my identity, and really try to use that experience, and let everyone know that there's a light at the end of the tunnel.
02:19
James Leahy: Darren Black, my first VR counselor himself is visually impaired. And here he was in my hospital room in New Hampshire, and explaining to me all the resources the MCB offered, and encouraging me and helping me understand that this was the beginning of the next thing, not an end. He was a trusted individual in my recovery.
02:42
Kara Sittig: I have never met a counselor that I didn't like. And I've been there for quite a long time, so I've met quite a few. So it has evolved, I think I have more contact with them now than I ever have. But then again, you have to think my vision is a lot worse than it used to be too.
02:55
Desiree Usebio: Knowing that I did have someone like Kara and MCB to lean on and to rely on in a sense, I didn't feel so alone. They are people that are educated and understand blindness, they know what this is, and they don't want to let you feel like you have to sit in the corner and be by yourself, and oh, you're blind, you can't do nothing. It's like, “No, we're going to show you everything you need to know, and you can do this.” And that really helps.
03:23
Brittany Taylor: I think when somebody becomes blind, it's a big transition not on the consumer but also in the lives of the families. And I think it's important when you're meeting with them to acknowledge that.
03:36
Mayanne MacDonald-Briggs: Compassion and empathy are huge components to each and every one of us that work at the commission, there's no question. But I think action is the key.
03:45
Brittany Taylor: You know, we have an expectation of them. But here's what I'm going to bring to the table too: I'm always going to show up, I'm always going to provide resources, whatever you need from me, I'm always a phone call away a text message or email. I'm going to do whatever it takes.
04:00
James Leahy: Being blind is work. And helping those who are newly blind is a lot of work. I would recommend doing the work it takes to meet them halfway
04:13
Mayanne MacDonald-Briggs: The kids who have hope and want more, you know, when you see that you can't help but fall in all the way and make sure you become the best advocate for those students that you can become.
04:26
To learn more about and contact the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, find them online at mass.gov. Or call 800-392-6450.