[Blindtlk] Learning Daily Living Skills

[Julie J.]

Humberto,

I applaud you for being so honest with yourself.  I think the best thing 
for you would be to attend a residential center to get all the skills 
and practice in using them.   The NFB has shorter summer residential 
programs specifically for younger people, perhaps you might want to look 
into that for next summer.  Do you have a rehabilitation counselor or 
teacher from your state agency that comes to your home to teach you 
things?  Each state is a little different in how this works, but I'm 
thinking there should be some sort of teaching services available.

Also to get you started, or to help your parents see alternatives in 
action, check out:
http://www.ncbvi.ne.gov/
choose the Pathways to Independence link.  You will need Windows Media 
Player to listen/view these videos.
You can also purchase the videos from the Nebraska Commission for the 
Blind and Visually Impaired.  I'm sorry, I don't know how much they 
cost.  I watched them for free on the website.  I hope it helps you get 
a start on the things you want to learn.

all my best,
Julie


On 6/20/2011 3:18 PM, Humberto Avila wrote:
> 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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