[Ct-nfb] Braille Monitor

Sat Oct 20 01:44:37 UTC 2012

Brian,

Thank you for the clarification.  This is very helpful.

As I noted, this is still an issue, last I knew, for the Veterans 
Administration; I'm glad it is not for BESB.

Nathanael

-----Original Message----- 
From: Sigman, Brian
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2012 10:25 AM
To: 'NFB of Connecticut Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [Ct-nfb] Braille Monitor

Dear List Serve members,

I am truly sorry if my response at the NFB state convention last year was 
lacking in any way. I want to reaffirm what I believed I had communicated 
last year and that is the job description for Orientation and Mobility 
Instructors at BESB allows for certification from any recognized 
organization that certifies orientation and mobility instructors. 
Specifically, it reads "possession of a certificate in Orientation and 
Mobility from a recognized national, state or professional organization." 
This includes the National Orientation and Mobility Certificate issued by 
the National Blindness Professional Certification Board." Again I am sorry 
if my response left anyone with the impression that we would not recognize 
this credential as that is not the case.

Sincerely,

Brian

-----Original Message-----
From: Ct-nfb [mailto:ct-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Nathanael T. 
Wales
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 9:13 PM
To: NFB of Connecticut Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Ct-nfb] Braille Monitor

Suzanne,

I agree, especially about hiring blind mobility instructors.  I tried asking
Brian Sigman from BESB about this last year at our state convention on the
floor, but he seemed evasive with his answer.  Specifically, there are two
types of certifications that mobility instructors can get: either from
AER/the Academy or from the NBPCB (called an NOMC).  Though AER/the Academy
technically doesn't prevent blind persons from getting their certification,
all of their requirements would require the blind person to have a sighted
assistant, meaning that they can't do it independently--so most blind
mobility instructors, including all of the ones at our NFB training centers,
get the NOMC.  I asked him what certifications BESB requires of applicants
to be a mobility instructor for them, but he would only say "any national
one" when he knew or should have known what specific ones BESB could
consider.  This is certainly an issue, last I knew, for the Veterans
Administration.

Maybe you could ask this question of Brian again this year better than I
did.

Nathanael

-----Original Message----- 
From: Suzanne Westhaver
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 7:19 PM
To: NFB of Connecticut Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Ct-nfb] Braille Monitor

I won't hog the group too much but I want to say that one of the things that
struck me in this article- besides the right to live in the world- was the
mobility instructor.  I had a similar experience when I first went blind and
learned to cane travel.  I lost my sight when I was twenty and my mobility
instructor got to a street I wanted to cross and he didn't want me to cross
it.  He was very discouraging and he said, "Do you really have to cross this
street?"  I said, "I do if I want to get to the other side."

There was no way around it.

His discouragement was something I really didn't need at that time in my
life and now when I wonder if I can do something- I think about that street.
I think about the discussion that took place- alternatives and there were no
alternatives. I did cross it- I couldn't get where I wanted to go without
doing it, but that discouragement was damaging in some way because I always
crossed that street.  To be told I should question it- that was negative.

I knew I was blind but I was young and I didn't want to stop crossing
streets.

It's one of the things I like about NFB centers.  You have blind mobility
instructors.  No sighted fear involved- just support to get to the other
side of the street and the belief that it's a valid thing- that wanting to
get to the other side isn't wrong and it's possible.

State agencies should consider hiring blind mobility instructors.  I think
it's psychologically empowering to learn from someone in your shoes how to
do it.  No safety net- no eyes to call out in fear or impose their doubts on
you.

-----Original Message----- 
From: Justin Salisbury
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 6:54 PM
To: NFB of Connecticut Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Ct-nfb] Braille Monitor

Hi Suzanne,

Here's a link to the article you're referencing:

https://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm12/bm1209/bm120909.htm

It is a very good one, indeed.

Justin

Justin M. Salisbury
B.A. in Mathematics
Class of 2012
East Carolina University
president at alumni.ecu.edu

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change
the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."    -MARGARET MEAD

________________________________________
From: Ct-nfb [ct-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org] on behalf of Suzanne Westhaver
[swesthaver at comcast.net]
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 4:35 AM
To: NFB of Connecticut Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Ct-nfb] Braille Monitor

Justin, I saw your article in October's issue.  Congradulations on your
publication.  I found the following article of particular interest in the
same issue of BM. It really reached out to me and said things I needed to
hear at this time in my life.

I hope this posts as a live link. IF not, it's on www.nfb.org under
publications.

tenBroek and the Beach Blanket

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