[Cabs-talk] Advice on Independent Living Training in the summer of 2013?

Mon Jan 14 00:44:49 UTC 2013

I am sending part of an announcement that came out on February 3rd, 2012. A 
similar announcement might come again in February in the NFBnet listserv.

Cordially,

frida

At the Colorado Center for the Blind we offer three summer residential 
programs for students in middle school, high school and college. The 
students live with counselors in two bedroom, two bath apartments located 
near the Center and will work on all aspects of managing an apartment. 
Students are well supervised by their counselors at a ratio of 3:1. They 
will also use public transportation to travel to and from the Center each 
day. There are usually 2-3 students per apartment and they will work 
together on such things as cleaning, cooking, food storage, grocery shopping 
using shopper assistants, budgeting money, and sharing common household 
chores.

We place a big emphasis on challenge recreation activities such as white 
water rafting, rock climbing and a variety of other events like major league 
baseball games or trips to amusement parks. The students always have a great 
time tackling these challenges that are generally perceived as inaccessible 
to blind kids.

All students participate in discussion groups where they talk about what 
it's like to be a blind teenager. Topics of discussion may include dating, 
dealing with parents and teachers, ways to integrate effectively into all 
school activities, and various social situations. Students learn how to 
problem solve, self advocate and take control of their lives.

All programs share the core classes of Braille, cane travel, home 
management, technology and philosophy of blindness. As an integral part of 
our programs, students with residual vision are required to wear sleepshades 
during the day and during other center activities. This provides for all 
students to focus their attention on learning the non-visual techniques that 
we teach at the Colorado Center for the Blind. Confidence and self-belief is 
developed at a quicker rate and students can fully realize that it is okay 
to be blind and that their worth is not based upon the amount of usable 
vision but instead on their ability with or without vision.

One of the high points of the high school and college summer programs is 
traveling to the National Federation of the Blind Annual Convention. This is 
the largest gathering of blind people in the world and the students get the 
chance to meet many successful blind adults and other kids from all around 
the country. At this convention, they learn about the newest technology and 
adaptive devices and experience some of the details of staying in a 
world-class hotel. We will travel by plane giving them a good experience in 
independently traveling through unfamiliar airports, packing and checking 
luggage, etc. They will attend a formal banquet at the end of the convention 
and appropriate dress clothing is the norm at this event.

Summer for Success College Prep Program

This comprehensive eight-week residential program for high school graduates 
will prepare each student to handle all aspects of a university or 
vocational program. Participants will have instruction on using readers and 
Disabled Students Services, applying for scholarships and meeting and 
talking with blind adults who have gone through the college experience. 
Local college instructors will work with students on developing alternative 
techniques in order to take courses including math, statistics, and 
sciences. Students will learn to take effective notes as well as to manage 
time. They will also learn to navigate different college campuses by 
utilizing the structured discovery techniques that they will learn in their 
cane travel class.

Earn and Learn High School Program

This eight-week residential program serves students aged 14-18. Not only do 
these students take the core classes, but they have the opportunity to 
participate in exciting, paid work experiences. We work to match students 
with jobs they find both interesting and challenging. It is exhilarating for 
the students to get their first paycheck.

Initiation to Independence Middle School Program

This is a three-week residential program for students aged 11-14. In 
addition to the core classes, this is an opportunity for this age group to 
live in apartments with other students and a counselor, getting real world 
experiences in their home away from home. Students will meet successful, 
working adults in order to learn about various professions. These students 
are excited to have so many new experiences

----- Original Message ----- 

From: "Darian Smith" <dsmithnfb at gmail.com>
To: "California Association of Blind Students Mailing List" 
<cabs-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2013 1:18 PM
Subject: Re: [Cabs-talk] Advice on Independent Living Training in the summer 
of 2013?

Hello,
   Thanks for such an important question and the thoughtful response
that followed!
 I  Went to a summer program in colorado at the Colorado Center for
the Blind.   There I learned about reading  braille, cooking,
cleaning, travel and how to use computers.
 No matter what you know going into the expirience, you are going to
be taught these skills, as the idea is  to improve no matter what
level you are at.
 The program focuses on non-visual methods of doing everyday tasks,
which is important  when  you are operating in situations where  your
vision may not be very  reliable.
 I learned from people who were blind or had limited vision like I
did,  which made me  believe in what they were teaching me, that
blindness need not limit me, that the only person that can limit me is
me.

On 1/12/13, Latisha Lyles latisha Lyles <latisha.lyles.inc at gmail.com> wrote:
> Well, its been such a long time for me, but I did get my training at
> more than one location.  For my mobility training that began in both
> junior and senior high.  After I graduated from high school I did a
> summer program at the Foundation for the Blind, at least that was the
> name at the time.  Anyway, that consisted of learning how to use
> different kitchen appliances, how to manage money, how to shop and so
> on.  Years later, when I moved to 29 Palms, California I went to
> Braille Institute there I learned other mobility skills, my braille
> skills, discovered other much needed skills such as, sensory
> awareness.
>
> I gained my strong sense of drive and determination after a rehab
> counselor told me "You can't handle the real world".  In that I strive
> to prove those that doubt me wrong.  To you I say congratulations and
> thanks for asking for advice because there are many out there like you
> and me that won't.
>
> There are also things that you can do yourself too within your own
> home.  Now, I am not saying go overboard, but start small and work
> your way up because you don't want to get overwhelmed.  First and
> foremost, you want to keep in mind that your limitations can work in
> your favor and they can also work against you.  Take all that you do
> in stride and don't go too fast, but make things happen the way that
> you want them to you see what I mean.
>
> Final note, I hope that the things that I have told you that have done
> in my life have helped in some way.  Good luck to you when you go to
> college.
>
> Tisha
>
> On 1/12/13, kwakmiso at aol.com <kwakmiso at aol.com> wrote:
>> Hello all,
>> As the subject of this e-mail indicates I would like some advices on
>> independent living training I could get during the summer of 2013.
>> I am currently a high school senior and plan to attend college right
>> away as class of 2017.
>> I am confident on Braille skills and computer usage (in the extent I
>> need) but I would like to improve my mobility skills and housekeeping
>> skills before I go live in college dorm.
>> I know of several facilities and programs offered from there but rather
>> than just the websites' advertisments, I would like to hear from people
>> who actually experienced training from different places.
>> Location of the place does not matter much to me.
>> What I care more is curriculum, atmosphere, length of the program,
>> flexibility of the schedule (i.e. any free time to do things on the
>> weekends or evenings?) and how you felt afterward.
>> Please e-mail me either on or off the list.
>> This summer is the time to do it for me and I want to have the best
>> experience possible.
>> Thank you in advance.
>> Miso Kwak
>>
>>
>>
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>
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-- 
Darian Smith

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These sights once seen, sounds heard and emotions felt are now our
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-Darian Smith

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