[BlindTlk] What happens to people that are born blind when they become adults? I need to be this specific.

Mon May 17 20:02:11 UTC 2021

I don’t really know. Perhaps the Janesville one and the Milwaukee one. I know the chapter in Madison doesn’t do anything but we have a new president so I’m very much hoping that things will be different. We have only a few chapters in Wisconsin now which is sad. Five and three of them are in cities/counties where there’s already pretty good services or at least services.

Such a tragedy since Wisconsin was one of the states that helped begin the NFB. But then again we really don’t have any ACB chapters either so that’s why the state is in such disrepair when it comes to Blind rehabilitation. Pretty much the only fighters for the find are the advocacy day done by the Wisconsin Council of the blind and Madison. Some independent living centers have these kinds of mentoring programs but they are not designed for a blind person mentoring another blind person. And they do not do advocacy generally for us. They’re trying to help a wide variety of disabilities.

It’s pretty lonely going things alone around here. Most of the chapters I have noticed are more into socialization with each other than anything else. I think Milwaukee is the biggest and strongest chapter which is most representative of the NFB. Moving to Janesville soon so I’ll check out Janesville. Or I know Dave Hyde will email me and correct me off list. LOL yes Dave today you’re getting The opportunity to pick on Chad and I more constantly.

Ericka Nelson

> On May 17, 2021, at 2:44 PM, Judy Jones via BlindTlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi, Ericka,
> 
> Is the state affiliate involved in any type of assistance or mentoring?
> 
> Judy
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: BlindTlk <blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Ericka via BlindTlk
> Sent: Monday, May 17, 2021 12:34 PM
> To: Blind Talk Mailing List <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Ericka <dotwriter1 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [BlindTlk] What happens to people that are born blind when they become adults? I need to be this specific.
> 
> To show how diverse things are, Wisconsin only has one and it’s in the walkie. Therefore the rest of the state does not get this kind of help unless it can be done virtually. I think they are doing things virtually now but before the pandemic in mind you this place has been around for probably 100 years very few people could get help outside of the city of Milwaukee. Madison has the Wisconsin Council of the blind, but they take a very different approach. At one time they did training like travel and Braille. That’s how I got my very limited travel training as a kid but I had vision much better then. Now they have a store to sell products and pay low vision therapist, technology teacher and a couple low vision therapists who attempt to cover the other 71 counties in the state.
> 
> For a week the state school for the blind in Janesville offers a program or should I say a crash course in Braille, Kane travel, daily living check etc. It used to be six weeks but the state change that. This year they’re doing it virtually again and you can learn your ukulele, beginning music, Braille, tech, and daily living 
> 
> The skills in attitude of the teachers in the various programs are not the same. Just because you’ve gone through some teaching program does not mean you have a positive attitude towards blindness. I get along well with all the staff for the Wisconsin Council of the blind but I was flabbergasted to have one of the low vision therapists tell me that there was no point to someone morning Braille except the alphabet so you could write grocery list. They did admit that’s all they knew. What if you’re a 20-year-old who is trying to get back their life after losing vision to an accident or illness? This person would not be of any help. If they had no transportation to Milwaukee to their program which vision forward does not have classes five days a week then they’re in a predicament aren’t they? Families really don’t know what’s out there most the time and doctors don’t tell families. I know your question was about totally blind people but lots of low vision folks like my husband start out with sort of being able to read print and then lose it later in life. We both went to an Nfb training program and are glad we did so. 
> 
> Ericka Nelson
> 
>> On May 16, 2021, at 10:15 PM, Jude DaShiell via BlindTlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Something not mentioned yet are Blind Associations.  These are places 
>> blind people can go if transportation is possible and usually in cities.
>> There's lots of learning possible at those associations depending on 
>> which volunteers are there on a particular day a blind person could
>> get their first taste of algebra before they study it in school.  The
>> Association in Phoenix has a braille lending library.  There are also crafts rooms in it.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>>> On Sun, 16 May 2021, Kerry via BlindTlk wrote:
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Hi, I need to be specific on this subject because I?m wanting an idea of typical services for blind adults. What happens to people that are born blind when they become adults typically? Are there some that are just blind that are in day programs, or group homes? Even though I know the ideaeven though I know the idea for people that are blind is for employment, or community lives but is this what happens for most, or is this the exception?
>>> Trying to figure out exactly what?s going on i?ve lived in Rhode Island all my life but have very rarely seem blind people around. I am thinking it could be many things such as some blind people from Rhode Island going to Perkins, and then moving to other states once they?ve graduated, some blind people that were born blind having additional disabilities and there was additional disabilitiI am thinking it could be many things such as some blind people from Rhode Island going to Perkins, and then moving to other states once they?ve graduated, some blind people that were born blind having additional disabilities and there was additional disabilities qualifying for segregated services so they live lives in segregation away from the community There are a few blind people that I know that work for services for the blind, or Rhode Island?s only blind rehabilitatithere are a few blind people that I know that work for services for the blind, or Rhode Island?s only blind rehabilitation agency insight and one person that I know has a job with a health insurance company but it?s very rare. And when I have brought up this question to the Rhode Island NFB chapter, or a VR counselor they?ve asked theand when I have brought up this question to the Rhode Island NFB chapter, or a VR counselor they?ve asked the question why does it matter?
>>> Why don?t you want to know other people that were like yourself? Or be able to ask for support, or just know that there are others that are following the same path or a different path?
>>> Also it surprises me that a state being so close to a well renowned state for blind people has no idea how to interact where direct at times somebody that?s blind.   Sent from my iPhone
>>> 
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