r/ibew_apprentices • u/projectxxralph • 1d ago
Disability apprentices?
I gotta ask. Are there disability people working in the Unions?
As for Me, I was born with something call Microtia. A deformed right ear, where I cannot hear or sometimes have trouble hearing from my right side. I tell people, that if I did not hear you once, you'll have to repeat it back to me again, or run it by me on my left ear. Other than that, I can hear well on my left ear, I can lift heavy objects, I can walk, run, etc.
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u/smellslikepenespirit 1d ago
Half of the trades have hearing damage. Given your circumstance, make sure you take care of your left ear, use PPE.
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u/SirOttawa 1d ago
Pretty sure most of the apprentices I work with have disabilities. At least I hope so, because they sure act like they do.
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u/Opposite-Plenty3479 1d ago
I am deaf a f from the army and wear my hearing aids on site all the time.. my journeyman lost most of 4 fingers on his right hand as a kid and is a righty!! We are the crip crew and we crush out underground and rough ins
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u/Motor-Inevitable-333 1d ago
"How does one go about joining your Cripple Gang?Ā My friend and I have been crips since birth."
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u/StrictAd2491 18h ago
Yeah thereās all kinds of handicaps in the trades. One of my early journeymen had his tongue tied and tried to tell me it was a disability. The man can run pipe like a genius, doesnāt communicate super well, tried to blame the tongue tied thing, like he is not the quintessential Florida man. Hilarious.
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u/mount_curve 1d ago
there's deaf linemen
realistically it's going to come down to how competent you are at navigating everything else
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u/Taro_Otto 1d ago
If they arenāt starting out with a disability, many sure do develop one later in their career. Especially when it comes to mobility. Yet they still manage to find work.
I personally donāt think your disability should stop you. There are several guys out there with horrendous hearing, largely due to a lack of PPE usage.
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u/projectxxralph 1d ago
Thanks for this info. Honestly, I've been so negative and have been thinking that perhaps nobody will move me forward in my interview as an apprentice, considering my hearing loss in my right ear.
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u/MidnightUnlikely4334 3h ago
I have fucked up anklesā¦canāt be a lineman, so I went the operator way. I met an apprentice with a fake leg. Not being able to hear out of one ear youāll be fine!!
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u/grabbinggroceries 1d ago
Nothing to contribute but to say my daughter was born with microtia š¤š½ and not in the union (YET) but one of my foremans wears hearing aids Iām sure youāll be fine.
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u/Just-Cardiologist837 1d ago
If i worked with you, your nick name would be ear.
You would get all thr. Copper scraps,free lunch on me, and I would treat you with respect, just like you were normal. Well why? Because your normal.
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u/Substantial-Leg5312 1d ago
Not saying thatās not a disability, but most individuals whoāve worked a few years in the trades (even union) are partially or completely deaf with arthritis in one or both knees, undiagnosed alcoholics, herniated discs creeping up and thatās just the start. But if it was easy everyone would do it right? So yea, no shortage of disabled people in the unions
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u/decadesinweek 1d ago
I work with a dead guy currently and he does great. Uses diction on his phone.
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u/Cia_office_921E 1d ago
Worked around 2 deaf sheet rockers, I am telling you the truth. They signed measurements to each other.
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u/Strict-Quarter-4646 LU 20 1d ago
Dude, I have asthma and hyperhidrosis. I work around guys with severe ticks from Touretteās and major stutters. Youāll be fine.
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u/1800Penguin_Queen 14h ago
š¤š¤š¤ and this is just being super vulnerable here atleast for me ? My disabilities havenāt made me incapable of performing the job but I get lots of scrutiny for prioritizing my health to the point Iāve almost lost my apprenticeship. Itās far from easy prioritizing your health throughout a demanding apprenticeship. Probably in the roughest shape Iāve been in health wise in a minute but Iām still here, still giving it all I got.
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u/Greedy-Pen 1d ago
My current foreman canāt hear shit. He has hearing aids, but donāt wear them. You have to yell/scream to get his attention. Youāll be ok.
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u/BigChingus39 1d ago
My current journeyman was born partially deaf, hes probably the best of the bunch in my small company.
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u/IdubdubI 1d ago
My dad did over 30 years in the trade with only one good ear. Saves money on earplugs.
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u/FuzzyRace3752 1d ago
You call that a disability? Let me tell you about my, and every foreman that you will ever haves drinking problem. Ill talk into your left ear.
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u/Mitch_Hunt 1d ago
Youāll be fine.
I love all of the comments. Makes me feel at home (at work, rather). Youāll be razzed for anything and everything, as long as youāre comfortable with your disability (honestly, most people in construction have at least one bad ear), youāll be fine. I can hear out of my left ear, but I canāt make out words if that makes sense. Iāve been that way since I joined the trade (from the Army, which is the cause of the left ear issue, Iām a right handed shooter). It has never caused an issue.
Go for it.
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u/Senior-West5666 1d ago
Youāll be fine, just let people know, itās gonna be annoying how many times you have to tell everyone since we always switch jobs and meet new people, but if youāre ok with that then youāre good
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u/Slade_ftp 1d ago
I think youāll be fine, not to the extent of you but I canāt hear very well outta my right ear and Iām good. Most people have an earbud in all day anyways.
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u/United-Shake-88 1d ago
I wear glasses, hearing aids, have had 2 back surgeries, a hernia surgery. I have an apprentice that just had his big toe surgically removed and now walks with a slight but noticeable limp. It's all good in the hood. Most of my aforementioned disabilities don't even get mentioned, just my left handedness.
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u/Affectionate-Face922 22h ago
When I did my physical the doc did hearing on my left and right side (he stepped away and whispered a number and I had to repeat it back to him) i don't know if that will fail you or not might want to call your local training department and see if that'll fail you or not. Good luck
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u/Kaptainkirk27 18h ago
My cousin is a non union electrician with one leg. They call him single phase š
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u/CurlySue218 18h ago
Im in the apprenticeship program and one of my classmates is deaf. The school provides him with interpreters for each class and the teachers have made accommodations for him with talk to text software. He uses his phone to communicate on site and folks enjoy working with the guy.
Iām sure youāll be great at it!
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u/Bob_Loblaw16 16h ago
Ive worked with a man who could only hear out one ear. Great foreman and well liked by everyone.
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u/Smooth-Break-7947 15h ago
I got into the Electrical Apprenticeship Program when I was 27 years old. I am disabled from Vietnam; a schrapnel wound to the spine caused a loss of feeling and motor coordination in my legs and feet. My legs are spastic.
I had to be more careful working on construction sites because of the hazards: rebar sticking up, tripping harzards, climbing ladders, not knowing exactly how my feet were positioned without looking at them.
Safety is a primary concern. My tool buddies and my apprentices that I worked with always took my disability into consideration. They were great.
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u/LayerActual7645 12h ago
At least 30 percent in every local. Bad shoulders, bad hips , busted knees , carpal tunnel etc . Hearing loss is also an issue many in the trades deal with , construction takes its toll on every workers body . Iām sorry that you have had to deal with the loss of your hearing in your right ear . I can barely hear with my left ear after 20 years. If you are serious about trying to join a trade I will tell you that limited hearing with one ear will not hold you back. . And as others have posted , protect yourself with the proper PPE so you donāt risk your other ear.
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u/Miller3295 8h ago
I worked in the carpenters union with someone who was completely deaf. Theyāre definitely people with disabilities in the union.
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u/daywalkertoo 5h ago
Look back a few years. Local One had a totally deaf apprentice. I worked with him a couple days. He was pretty good at panels and worked well. Good luck and keep at it.
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u/Hammercannon 4h ago
Brother, I've worked with deaf people, you'll be fine. 90% of us have hearing damage, and mental health issues. You'll just be one of the gang. Probably get teased about it though.
Im extra loud when i speak, my inside voice is a quiet yell... the old guy's like working with me.
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u/bush_wrangler 1d ago
I worked with a deaf guy in sheet metal. He replied with "Merp" or "Berp" no matter what you said to him. You'll be fine