[Blindtlk] Learning Daily Living Skills

[Gary Wunder]

Hello Humberto.  Without knowing the state where you live, I can't really
answer too many of your questions, but I do want to take just a minute to
tell you how much I admire the honesty that is figuring into your
self-evaluation.  I know people who are twice as old as you who would use
their age and the fact that they should know something as an excuse to lie
about it, pretend that they do, or pretend that it really isn't important to
them.  I think the problem isn't that sometimes we are ignorant but that
sometimes we won't admit it and in our defensiveness refuse to learn.

Having said this, I'm going to my daughter's wedding.  Normally I carry a
hanging bag which means that I don't have to worry much about folding shirts
and suit coats.  Given the fact that there are four of us traveling, we are
going to try to use several larger suitcases and I'm afraid I'm going to
have to get some tips on how to make a suit fit into a regular suitcase in
such a way that it doesn't end up terribly wrinkled or, failing that, how to
get the wrinkles out once there.  Wish me luck.

If you would like to chat off list, perhaps I can help you get in touch with
resources you don't know about for attending an NFB rehabilitation center.
No promises-just a willingness to help.  

Warmly,

Gary

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Humberto Avila
Sent: Monday, June 20, 2011 3:18 PM
To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org; blindTlk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Blindtlk] Learning Daily Living Skills

Hello fellow listers:
 
As you know I've been really wanting to learn Daily Living and life skills.
I am starting college in the fall and therefore I don't want to be living at
home forever -- most college students my age are living in their dorms
(including blind students). although my community college is not located far
from home, learning daily living skills would be a plus for me and if I
actually want to get a place of my own in the future I must be able to have
life and daily living skills.
 
the only glitch I'm facing, however, is my parents, especially my Mom. I
have talked to them into teaching me how to do daily living tasks, yet when
they are actually trying to teach me it gets sort of confusing and I can't
really understand what they are teaching, and I don't really know whether
the alternatives they teach me are the safest or most accessible. Like for
example, one day my Dad and I were going to our nearby grocery store called
"Fiesta foods" walking. I was using my cane and as we were walking my dad
walked me through a bunch of gravel and rocks. was there a sidewalk I
could've used? I don't know, but he said "this is the fastest way".
 
but anyways, just like my teacher of the blind pointed out in my IEP
post-secondary plan worksheet when I graduated, MY PARENTS STILL DO A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT FOR ME AND IF I'M TAUGHT THE SKILL I CAN SUCCEED.
 
and... here I am, a 20-year-old who doesn't even know how to fold his
clothes properly or wash them, go to the store and manage money and shopping
by himself, and not knowing how to perform basic cooking tasks.
 
I know how to wash dishes (I haven't learn to use a dishwasher), and I know
how to vacuum, mop and clean the table (still * requiring lots of sighted
assistance *)
 
Unfortunately I can not afford going to an NFB training center or an
orientation and training center at my home state [feel free to email me off
list if you want to know exactly why]. 
if I want to live productively and form a new family as well as get my own
place, how would I go about explaining my parents (or even friends) to
really teach me the skills I want to learn? Do I have to adapt to how they
teach me? Are there any teacher of the blind that, for an affordable cost,
can come to my house and teach me such skills. I really want your opinions.
I don't want to end up getting my AA degree and after that move away and I
have to ask people "Can you please do this for me?" plus, that would be
embarrassing.
 
thanks,
Humberto
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