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

Mon May 17 22:54:07 UTC 2021

Chela,

You have been through so much, yet still productive and active, very awesome.

Judy

-----Original Message-----
From: BlindTlk <blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of CHELA Robles via BlindTlk
Sent: Monday, May 17, 2021 2:01 PM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: CHELA Robles <cdrobles693 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [BlindTlk] What happens to people that are born blind when they become adults? I need to be this specific.

Regarding the original question yes, it does vary from state to state at least speaking for the United States. My experience has been you go through public school or some sort of specialized blindness school which California has a school for the blind which I only went to summer sessions just for fun it wasn’t really to learn anything new even though they do learn stuff but for me it was mainly for networking at the time. Since I went to public school I didn’t have any friends my age so instead I made friends with grown-ups and that’s how it always has been unfortunately for me. In regards to skills, I did go to regular public high school as well but after that I ended up going to the orientation Center for the Blind but that didn’t last very long because of an incident that happened to me I was sexually assaulted and became pregnant I know this is heavy stuff and it’s not meant to scare anybody but I went through life just fine even though I was held back a year as for my plans for college and even that didn’t go very well because I went to a private Christian college in Santa Clarita California call masters university even though back then when I went it was called masters college but I did not succeed because there was no disabled student services program that dealt with every disability in fact I was the only blind person everybody else had developmental and cognitive Learning and motor impairments so it didn’t really help me any that I had to have late nights totally exhausted trying to be my own advocate kicking in screaming it was horrible I had a GPA of 1.5 if that tells you anything but in high school I had a 3.73 it would’ve been a 4.0 how do I not missed an important band concert due to my mom miss spelling my band directors last name according to him even though I had gone to a funeral to perform that year he bumped me down which is not OK so I’ve had my share of aches pains and struggles in life and I still get by. I’ve been dealing with the department of rehabilitation in the past jumping through hoops just to get what I need as far as my career path has gone before and I’m honestly quite tired of going back to that square again with the department of rehabilitation because it’s like trying to get the yellow tape off layer by layer and I really really terrible about taking tape off I usually cheat with rubbing alcohol but that’s beside the point…, the point is, find the help that you can and stick with it even if you feel the need to just ask around or whether or not you use services like the department of rehabilitation in Blind Field services would you have times for me was pretty stressful and honestly I could not use that stress. It took me approximately a year and a half to find and maintain a job until COVID-19 hit and school budgets cut and that job only lasted 2 1/2 years and now I’m collecting EDD along with some SSJ and I’m still at square one now finding a remote position it’s just no one really wants to hire in California right now so I’m finding out it’s either out of state or you have to relocate and I don’t wish to relocate because I have my family here myself. So I’m doing what I love to do to keep myself sane, exercise and play music. Get myself involved musically wherever I can and I’m also learning piano so that’s gonna be really fun. I do like the independence I have and yes at times I do wish I could get what I had back when I had my other job without it being that difficult to find a remote position because God only knows I will not exhaust myself by traveling three hours each way to and from work which makes for long commute very costly for modes of transportation and six hours of work in between makes for a hectic week of work that’s 12 hours a day of buildup from a lot of stress that I don’t need right now so I just take life Day by day stride by stride. This is where I’m at.
Sent from my iPhone

> On May 17, 2021, at 1:42 PM, CHELA Robles <cdrobles693 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Hey Erica sorry you had to pay that much that bites! But it could’ve 
> been worse. You could’ve been audited like my parents. Let’s hope it 
> doesn’t come to that :-)
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On May 17, 2021, at 1:12 PM, Judy Jones via BlindTlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Hi, Ericka,
>> 
>> I hope this is a good move for you guys.
>> 
>> Our county here in north Washington has zip blind people, as far as I 
>> can find out, except for a couple students.  I jokingly told Chris 
>> that trying to find another blind person is like trying to find a 
>> UFO, or sasquatch.  There are urban legends about them, other people 
>> have seen them, (not up close), but nothing verified.  😊
>> 
>> Judy
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: BlindTlk <blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Ericka via 
>> BlindTlk
>> Sent: Monday, May 17, 2021 1:02 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.
>> 
>> 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
>>>>> 
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> BlindTlk mailing list
>>>>> BlindTlk at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for BlindTlk:
>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/jdashiel%40p
>>>>> an
>>>>> i
>>>>> x.com
>>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> BlindTlk mailing list
>>>> BlindTlk at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for BlindTlk:
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/dotwriter1%40
>>>> gm
>>>> a
>>>> il.com
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> BlindTlk mailing list
>>> BlindTlk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for BlindTlk:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/sonshines59%40
>>> gm
>>> ail.com
>>> 
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> BlindTlk mailing list
>>> BlindTlk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for BlindTlk:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/dotwriter1%40g
>>> ma
>>> il.com
>> _______________________________________________
>> BlindTlk mailing list
>> BlindTlk at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for BlindTlk:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/sonshines59%40g
>> mail.com
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> BlindTlk mailing list
>> BlindTlk at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for BlindTlk:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/cdrobles693%40g
>> mail.com

_______________________________________________
BlindTlk mailing list
BlindTlk at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for BlindTlk:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/sonshines59%40gmail.com