[humanser] Questions
Denise Shaible
denise.shaible at att.net
Mon Jun 23 21:48:39 UTC 2014
Hello Amy,
I graduated from the Louisiana Center for the Blind in 2009. Since I have
light perception, I had to wear sleep shades. The only time I had trouble
was in the summer when it gets very hot. I agree that speaking to as many
grads as possible is a good idea. LCB is holding a luncheon on Friday, July
4, 2014 between the opening and second part of General Session. If you're
interested in attending a center, you may want to attend this luncheon and
try to speak with Pam Allen, the Director. She is always willing to speak
to people interested in what happens at a center. Her husband, Roland Allen
was my Orientation and Mobility Instructor and he can tell you all about
sleep shades.
My husband Adam is an O & M Instructor here in Sacramento. At the Society
for the Blind where he works, they call sleep shades learning shades. I
like this name better. Don't worry, whether you call them sleep shades or
learning shades, they're not that scary. They just take getting used to. I
must say the when you have a small amount of light perception left, they
really help you concentrate on cues that you'd miss because you're focusing
on that little bit of residual vision. Keep in mind, you only have to wear
the shades during training hours. We were able to take them off during
lunch and after 5:00 pm. So, you do get a break some of the time. If you
attend a training center, you'll have the time of your life and be
challenged in so many ways, some of them you don't want to know about but
when you do them and achieve your goals and graduate, you know that
everything was worth it. The best thing I can advise is to think about it,
pray on it if you pray, and speak with as many people as you can. Thad's
what I did and it worked. I really didn't want to attend the center but,
after completing a 3-day evaluation, I knew it was the place for me. I hope
this helps.
Regards,
Denise Shaible
-----Original Message-----
From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Alexander
Castillo via humanser
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2014 11:57 AM
To: Merry Schoch; Human Services Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [humanser] Questions
Hi Amy, It's great that you are reaching out to people before making such a
commitment. I graduated from the Louisiana Center for the Blind in 2011
after finishing a BA in Political Science and Psychology.
Sleep shades can be overwhelmming for some, and you should deffintely speak
to as many people as possible to get a good understanding of what to expect
while in training.
The three training centers hold expos throughout convention and it would be
a good idea to check them all out, they are even more effective if you
attend with someone who has graduated from one of those centers, as many of
us keep those connections with staff and fellow students, we have made
during our training.
You may contact me off list at AlexanderA.Castillo at gmail.com if you would
like to meet up anytime during convention. I am usually with
allot of friendly folk who have attended the training centers as
well, and I'm sure they would like to meet you too.
See you in Orlando and take care,
Alexander Castillo
On 6/24/14, Merry Schoch via humanser <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hi Amy,
>
> There will be a plethora of information regarding the training
> centers at convention. What is great is you'll see students from the
> centers walking around in sleep shades. Sleep shades can be
> overwhelming; however, besides many of the great points Ericka pointed
> out they also build confidence. As a person who is currently losing
> my usable vision, I find myself challenged on a daily basis and this
> is not a complaint. Each day I walk away knowing I am capable and can
> move forward as my vision decreases. I know that soon the usable
> vision will be no more. The experience of working under sleep shades
> is one that you can always look back at to help you remember that
> travelling with no sight is more than doable. I have never been to a
> center, but I would love to have because all the freedom from the
> skills you learn there are invaluable!
>
> I hope this convention helps you make the best decision for your
> present and future.
>
> Warm regards,
> Merry
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Amy
> Hatten via humanser
> Sent: Monday, June 23, 2014 5:30 PM
> To: Serena Cucco; Human Services Division Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [humanser] Questions
>
> I am going to the convention and I have been partially blind for 6
> years I've considered an NFB center and was suppose to start but the
> idea of the sleep shades is terrifying me and then I get overwhelmed
before I go.
> I would like to meet anyone at the convention to get as much info I
> can get.
> I became partially sighted my junior year of college. Did 6 weeks of
> some training to get back in college the following semester. Then did
> another 6 weeks of training during summer.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Jun 23, 2014, at 4:14 PM, "Serena Cucco via humanser"
> <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Amy and all,
>>
>> I received cane travel/orientation and mobility training from the
>> Commission for the Blind and technology training from a company that
>> contracted with the Commission when I was younger. I also attended
>> the Buddy and STEP probrams (Buddy for elementary and middle school
>> age and STEP for high school age) programs at the Louisiana Center
>> for the Blind, a training center the NFB runs. There are two other
>> NFB centers in Colorado and Minnesota. All three of these centers
>> have adult programs, as well. I use Jaws screen reading software and
>> Kurzweil (sp?) scanning software.
>>
>> Amy, just wondering, are you totally blind? Partially sighted? Are
>> you going to the convention?
>>
>> Serena
>>
>>> On 6/23/14, Ericka Short via humanser <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> Amy, welcome first of all.
>>>
>>> Justin is right that having a masters opens the job choices
>>> considerably.
>>> He's also right that you can't get off SSDI without the masters.
>>> Marrying
>>>
>>> rich is about the only other way and that doesn't always work out.
>>> Not that I married rich and would know.It depends on what your
>>> dreams are and many other life situations. My degree is in social
>>> work. I'm in about the same boat as you but have some experience
>>> behind me and am finally certified
>>>
>>> in my state for social work. First I suggest you see if you can be
>>> licensed
>>>
>>> in your state for social work even though you have the psych degree.
>>> I took
>>>
>>> the NASW exam and the state statutes exam for WI and am just
>>> awaiting my license. It isn't impossible to work without licensing
>>> or a masters, but you
>>>
>>> are limited that is for sure. I don't know what age you want to
>>> work
> with.
>>>
>>> I worked as an activity aide at a nearby nursing home for six years
>>> part time to get experience. I could walk so it took the transit
>>> issue out of the equation and we didn't have to drive residents
>>> anywhere most of the time
>>>
>>> so it wasn't in the essential requirements of the job. The only
>>> thing I drove was wheelchairs! Look into what your state has for
>>> licensing and that will help direct you. Don't hesitate to talk to
>>> the campus career center. They have given me lots of help even
>>> though I graduated 15 years ago. They know more about your own
>>> state and what the needs are for certain jobs. If you have a focus
>>> they can help you more on some answers than we can. we are
>>> allover, but they
> can help for state specific things.
>>>
>>> Transit is a toughie and it also depends on where you live. There
>>> are some
>>>
>>> low cost county services here in my WI county that I have used
>>> which are reliable and I have help at times from church members I
>>> am close to. Not everyone has that kind of connection. You might
>>> be able to carpool with a coworker later, but you have to find a way
>>> to get there in
> the beginning.
>>> IF you are SSDI some states have rules that you can keep your
>>> assistance while working because work expenses are subtracted from
>>> the real amount leaving you with lower earnings in the end. I
>>> don't know much about how the state rules and federal rules differ
>>> so that is something someone else can post here. IF you can swing
>>> it, take the part time job that suits you
>>>
>>> and keep the benefits for a while until you have the masters and
>>> other things researched and planned. Any experience out of school
>>> right away will help you down the road.
>>>
>>> My job I am awaiting either a rejection or offer for is in another
>>> city/county and it is part time. Make sure you know their
>>> definition of part time. For this job it is 25 /week. I had to
>>> talk to the benefits specialist to see what it would do if I took
>>> it. I think I will work for me and I have transit figured out.
>>> Again this is a job that doesn't require
>>>
>>> a license to do the job and if there are situations where it would
>>> be nice
>>>
>>> I have some ideas around it. Not having the job I can't really
>>> comment because the plans I think will work night not. The job is a
>>> social service
>>>
>>> coordinator position at a HUD apartment building for the disabled
>>> and elderly. Some of my activity plans like getting to attend a
>>> church festival might be a little work because of liability,
>>> insurance and other important things. The building doesn't have a
>>> van so we'd have to work with
>>>
>>> the churches to find a way for them to attend. Fireworks is nether
>>> community opportunity for them to enjoy and it would be great if we
>>> could work with the city to get them there and back. As you can
>>> see, whether I'm
>>>
>>> blind or sighted this transit issue would be a problem if I were
>>> planning an
>>>
>>> off-site activity.
>>>
>>> For other issues, write me offline. Hope I've been of some help and
>>> if not,
>>>
>>> at least interesting. Good luck with your efforts and don't give up
>>> the hunt. There is something for you whether you are a partial like
>>> me or total.
>>>
>>> Ericka J. Short
>>>
>>> "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". Philippians
>>> 4:13
>>>
>>> "No hand is too small or too big to do good in this world." EJ.
>>> Short
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> humanser mailing list
>>> humanser at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/humanser_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>> for
>>> humanser:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/humanser_nfbnet.org/serena.c.cucco
>>> %
>>> 40gmail.com
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> humanser mailing list
>> humanser at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/humanser_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> humanser:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/humanser_nfbnet.org/amykhatten%40ho
>> t
>> mail.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> humanser mailing list
> humanser at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/humanser_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> humanser:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/humanser_nfbnet.org/merrys%40verizon
> .net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> humanser mailing list
> humanser at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/humanser_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> humanser:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/humanser_nfbnet.org/alexandera.casti
> llo%40gmail.com
>
_______________________________________________
humanser mailing list
humanser at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/humanser_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
humanser:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/humanser_nfbnet.org/denise.shaible%40att.n
et
More information about the HumanSer
mailing list