Prudie's advice is fine enough. But this is indeed tough. People are willing to accommodate many problems, but it's hard when they can't see the problem, and when they're not familiar with it. A "practical" solution may be to wear dark glasses... a "traditional" vision impairment may be easier to explain (dark glasses plus "I have difficulty distinguishing faces" could do the job).

I just think that having to explain your ailment to each and every person is a pain in the butt for LW.

No, don't explain to everyone, but she needs to tell her bosses, or a representative of her bosses. This is an ADA issue, but only if she self-identifies. At is, she risks being fored for incompetence. If she self-identifies herself as an individual with a disability, she has some protection, and they can make reasonable accommodation, such as, "I'm Mr. Smith. Please send me the Brown file."

marcparis:

Prudie's advice is fine enough. But this is indeed tough. People are willing to accommodate many problems, but it's hard when they can't see the problem, and when they're not familiar with it. A "practical" solution may be to wear dark glasses... a "traditional" vision impairment may be easier to explain (dark glasses plus "I have difficulty distinguishing faces" could do the job).

I just think that having to explain your ailment to each and every person is a pain in the butt for LW.

She can send a company wide email. I think her best solution would be to get a job in at a small company. Less chance for blunders.

ElleBlue:

marcparis:

She can send a company wide email. I think her best solution would be to get a job in at a small company. Less chance for blunders.

The smaller the law firm, the smaller the paycheck, as a general rule. So I don't think it's fair to suggest she limit her career or financial goals on account of her disability when she is otherwise qualified to take a higher-paying position - particularly when lawyers are - or should be - especially attuned to disability accomodation issues. I can't imagine anyone at my firm being insensitive to a condition like the writer's, once it is explained. I agree with Prudie's approach of meeting with HR first - but if HR doesn't send a memo or otherwise generally disseminate the information, I would send the company-wide email yourself. I don't necessarily agree with the glib "maybe a floater position isn't best for you" because that's frequently the only way to break into a larger firm - but if a permanent position opens I agree she should go for it!

JJ in CA:

ElleBlue:

marcparis:

She can send a company wide email. I think her best solution would be to get a job in at a small company. Less chance for blunders.

The smaller the law firm, the smaller the paycheck, as a general rule. So I don't think it's fair to suggest she limit her career or financial goals on account of her disability when she is otherwise qualified to take a higher-paying position - particularly when lawyers are - or should be - especially attuned to disability accomodation issues. I can't imagine anyone at my firm being insensitive to a condition like the writer's, once it is explained. I agree with Prudie's approach of meeting with HR first - but if HR doesn't send a memo or otherwise generally disseminate the information, I would send the company-wide email yourself. I don't necessarily agree with the glib "maybe a floater position isn't best for you" because that's frequently the only way to break into a larger firm - but if a permanent position opens I agree she should go for it!

At a law firm, it is part of your job to communicate with the proper people. If she has trouble in that area, she is less qualified than someone who recognises faces. I know a few people, who developed carpal tunnel syndrome and they had to change careers, because they could no longer use the computer as up to par as they could before.

If at least this woman got a position as a non-floating secretary it would help matters a lot.

I'm pretty sure I have prosopagnosia, and it's not a huge deal. I understand this woman's concern, but the comments that she should get a job at a small firm, or that she is incapable of doing her job, or that she should become a hermit and live in a yurt, and raise beets, are excessive.

I recognize the faces of most people I see on a daily basis. I recognize most people when I see them in context. For example, when I visit my brother at his home I recognize him when he comes to the door (even if he has other male houseguests). I'm pretty good at recognizing voices. I *remember* things about people -- as soon as I figure out (or you tell me) who you are, I'll remember our previous conversations. But if my brother walked by me at the airport, I'd probably not recognize him if I wasn't expecting him to be at the airport.

When I forget someone who I should remember, I explain, and laugh it off. Because, as mental impairments go, it's really no big deal.

The degree of the disorder is probably not as severe as hers. You said you would recogonize your brother within a housefull of guests. Apparently, the LW does not. You said you may not recognize your brother in an airport that you don't expect him to be there, but the LW is not recognizing the person sitting at the desk beside her, who she would expect to be there.

The LW said she doesn't have the usual clues. It's a lot easier finding my husband in a store now, because he uses a cane now. Before, I'd find someone with his build, and look to see if I recognized his shirt.

The LW's problem is, they all are homogenous. Same suits, same build, same race, etc. It's harder to pick out the differences. She needs to sit with two in a room sometime, and while they talk to each other, look for things like a mole that one has and not the other. Eventually, she'd figure out the bosses, if not the lower level people.

She needs to stop lumping them all together in one image. I'm sure one of them is grey. One of them is dark. One of them is tall. One of them is short. One fat. One skinny. One with glasses and one with a Kenneth Cole suit. If she really can't tell one attorney from another, she really needs to listen to their voice, before spouting off nervously, "oh Jim! I got the document you wanted on the case. You know.... the one with the murdered teacher... What? You're not Jim? Oh TOM! So sorry.... Anyway here is the file of the cold case... you know... the murdered teacher? Oh, you're not working on that case? And Jim isn't either? Then who is? Oh... Brett is... yes I remember him the man with the grey hair who sits in front of me! Yes of course! I'll get it to him right away! Oh... but Brett is not at his desk... you don't suppose I could leave it there for him do you? Because I might not recognise him later. I'm color blind too. Didn't I tell you? So sorry..."