Meet the Member: Daniel Meek, CPA

Daniel Meek, CPA, has a genetic disorder called Usher Syndrome Type 3, a rare genetic disorder that causes vision and hearing loss.

At age 14, Meek's eyesight began to deteriorate. Today, he is completely blind in one eye and can only see light and shadows in the other. His hearing began to deteriorate at age 25 and his hearing loss is now severely profound.

Through modern technology, Meek has been able to thrive throughout his journey to CPA, but that's not without the determination to face added challenges and obstacles. 

Meek was able to answer a few of our questions and share his journey as a CPA with a disability. 

Wire: What can you tell us about your journey to becoming a CPA?
Meek: I have an analytical mind and have always been drawn to numbers. Ever since I took that first accounting class in high school I have been hooked on debits and credits. Accounting at its core is logical and symmetrical; what more could a person ask for?

My first job out of college was in the finance industry. My goal at that time was to continue my education at night and earn a master’s degree; eventually obtaining a license to practice accounting. As often happens in life, that first job turned into a career I enjoyed and pursued while the accounting dream was put on hold.

As my career progressed, I had the opportunity to co-sponsor two certified business incubators. It was during that time my accounting aspirations were re-kindled. I was working with small businesses and witnessed firsthand how the accurate representation of numbers, or the lack thereof, was a significant factor in whether the business succeeded or failed.

Then, at age 40, I began to wish I had not placed my accounting career on hold. But as I have always told my children, you are never too old to accomplish your goals and dreams. So, I got off my butt and enrolled in an online accounting course. No excuses.

Wire: What challenges did you face on your journey to CPA?
Meek: Of course, I faced the same challenges that all adults face with families and life in general. Time was definitely a valuable resource that had to be managed.

I did experience a few challenges specific to having a disability. We live in a visual world, which can create unique challenges for someone with low to no vision. Fortunately, with technological advancements, a lot of these challenges are far easier to overcome than in previous years.

Some challenges were just time-consuming, such as getting permission from the publishers of textbooks to provide me with unrestricted access to their electronic textbooks/PDF files. Screen readers can be finicky things and don’t play well with restricted or secured files. Sometimes this delayed the arrival of an accessible textbook several weeks late in the semester; two weeks can seem like an eternity with eight-week semesters.

Another challenge, that was handled wonderfully by the way, was when I sat for the CPA Exam. The testing center had not yet adopted the use of a screen reader. This was a fairly significant concern for me. I used a screen reader to access written materials, computers, phones, watches, etc. throughout my day, including studying for the CPA Exam. It’s second nature for me to speed read through documents with a screen reader, or skip back and forth, just as one would do with their vision. However, since this was not a possibility for the Exam, the Oklahoma Accountancy Board (OAB) provided one of their staff to read the exams to me (best day of their life, I’m certain). Again, I am very thankful to [the OAB]; I literally could not have taken the Exam without the support of the OAB.

By the way, the testing centers now have screen readers installed for low-vision and blind exam candidates. Some of the challenges that came with having an individual reader include skimming through the material, having a person back up to specific items that you may have missed and dictating the written portion of the Exam. Ensuring correct grammar and laying out my thoughts coherently while dictating was definitely a challenge; honestly, though, that’s a challenge without having to dictate.

Wire: What do you want our readers to know?
Meek: For people with disabilities to succeed in the workplace, two things must occur. First, an employer must give the individual the opportunity to perform the job, and second, the employee must work hard to adapt and overcome any challenges to succeed in their role.

Without an employer giving someone with a disability a chance, they will never get to see their capabilities. Employers must work hard to overcome their perspectives. Admittedly, this is easier said than done. When we see someone with a disability, blindness for example, and they desire to do a task you perform primarily using your vision, it is hard to perceive how it is possible. When you can’t quite wrap your mind around the possibility, you may conclude that it simply cannot be done; nothing could be further than the truth though.

I could not ask for a more supportive employer. The owners of Stroud Safety gave me the opportunity to take on the role of accounting manager four years ago, and I have strived to perform my responsibilities to the best of my abilities. In terms of accessibility, I utilize a screen reader and a scanner to do most of my day-to-day duties. Other than an over-zealous braille labeler marking up phones and folders, well, and a guide dog, the accounting office at Stroud Safety looks and runs like any other accounting department.

As an individual with a disability, you must exert confidence and have the ‘stubborn’ will to succeed. You must also understand the challenge in front of you, overcoming perceived perceptions. These perceptions are typically not born from bias but are rather the result of limited exposure; thus, be willing to take the time to illustrate just how you can do the job at hand.

Soon employers will realize that not only can you do the job, but you have the ability to solve problems and the work ethic to stay the course and complete your tasks. In summary, expectations have been far exceeded, and the company has gained a valuable and loyal employee.