[humanser] Challenges with VR services

Wed Oct 7 01:09:32 UTC 2015

Erica, 

The ADA requires full inclusion of children in all publically funded programs, including 6 to 6 before and after school programs, local recreation centers, the YMCA, Salvation Army day camps and where ever children learn and play. 

I like your idea for a mentoring program. Perhaps you can work with the grant writer to get some start-up funding. Your mentors will likely have to be volunteers.I have an older friend who is a volunteer mentor at  a near-by high school He has been assigned to at-risk students and some special education students. Not only does he mentor the students he often advocates on their behalf. On a side note he funds about twenty-five scholarships annually. One of his stipulations is that a percentage of the students need to be classified as special education studwents. The only part-time paid position is that of the program coordinator. 

With our background and knowledge of special populations and the IEP process you might consider self employment as a consultant. That is, you are paid privately and you advocate on behalf of the parents and the child. I hired a SELPA Advocate years ago. I was having personal problems and I did not know the federal and state special ed. Regulations. She charged quite a bit. She also required that I learn to advocate for my son. She engaged my son in the IEP process as he was in middle school at the time. 

Lisa Irving 

-----Original Message-----
From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ericka via humanser
Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2015 5:37 PM
To: Human Services Division Mailing List
Cc: Ericka
Subject: Re: [humanser] Challenges with VR services

I have great respect for those working in the mental health field. Without sharing too much detail, I have experience with mental health issues. I was married for 15 years and it taught me more than I wanted to know. As we all know mental health issues run in the family. Actually, my VR counselor is helping me set up an internship with the school district with the students who are visually impaired. That's moving slower than both of us want, but I have some connections that she hasn't had a chance to contact yet. I will keep you posted. Do not underestimate the power of networking! Because of being at the right place at the right time I know the school superintendent, the director of special ed, and the person who writes grants for the school district and even some of the school board members. They don't necessarily do anything for me, but I keep their students with special needs and their minds. I wanted to start a mentoring program for families and their children with special needs. Mentoring is very popular in public schools for children who need a little TLC either in learning or because of home life. We're all familiar with big Brothers big sisters, etc. when that be fantastic to have families that are thrown into writing IEP's, navigating the new world of different milestones and wondering whether their child will be able to do anything when they become an adult have a mentor that can help them through it? Each special needs child – I hate that- needs to be able to talk to someone with a disability who is a successful adult. Both students and family need encouragement whether the challenge is epilepsy,  cognitively challenged, learning disabled, or like us. I've heard from people who are TVI's that family doesn't always allow the kids to practice the home and other adaptive skills taught because they don't believe. This is a disservice to the kids as we all know. Why not have a successful adult with a disability be there to support everyone?  I don't know but this seems like a long post. I'm sorry for this. I've never seen an inclusion specialist job so your salvation army work sounds interesting. I am sorry you were not treated well. I was excepted better when I did an internship with social services. Because my boss was Hispanic I think she understood the struggle of being different and was more supportive. Does anyone think this mentoring concept could work?

Ericka Short
"Friends are like flowers in the garden of life"

Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 6, 2015, at 7:15 PM, Lisa Irving via humanser <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hello Ashley and Erica,
> 
> A while ago I worked a seasonal job with the local Salvation Army's summer day camp program. I worked full time as their Inclusion Coordinator. I felt as though I had little support. Perhaps I wasn't clear enough or, perhaps I was not very assertive. At the time I was a V. R. client. As a whole our local Blind Rehabilitation Counselors are, in my jaded opinion, mediocre and at least one of them isn't the role model I'd seek out. Needless to say, I had NO SUPPORT from the Department of Rehabilitation.
> 
> Erica, many after school programs need Inclusion Coordinators. Your experiences and your positive philosophy make you an excellent candidate for this type of position. Additionally, you may want to check with school districts and inquire about their programs and services for blind and visually impaired youth. I have a visually impaired friend who is a teacher's aide for the program that supports elementary children with vision loss. 
> 
> If you have lived experience with mental health challenges or have a family member with mental health challenges you will qualify for a number of positions in the public mental health field. This is the avenue I have embarked upon... 
> 
> From,
> Lisa Irving
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
> Ashley Bramlett via humanser
> Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2015 4:52 PM
> To: Human Services Division Mailing List
> Cc: Ashley Bramlett
> Subject: Re: [humanser] Challenges with VR services
> 
> Hi,
> Lisa, that was my reaction as I read all Erika's education background.
> A BA in social work allows you to do many jobs in the nonprofit area. You could work in some case management jobs, information and referral, or maybe some coordinator positions.
> Ericka, I think you would be a good fit for an after school program with at risk children or teens.
> 
> If you have courses in learning disabilities, you can combine the human service interest and interest with kids  by working with kids generally or disabled kids.
> Inventories are a good idea to figure out what you want to do. But I'd also add informational interviews which is where you question people in the field of interest. You might find job shadowing helpful too. I suspect you cannot shadow specific clients and their social workers due to confidentiality, but you could perhaps shadow other parts of the social work job.
> 
> The site indeed.com is pretty easily laid out. But I don't recommend monster.com.
> 
> Its sad to learn of people with  much education, so much interest, and so much potential still not finding work.
> I know how it feels though having not found employment with my BA. Like Ericka, I have several interests including working with teens and children whether they be regular kids, at-risk kids, or those with some learning challenges or blind themselves.
> 
> Even in the DC area, I've found most opportunities working with learning disabled or blind kids to be volunteer based. For instance the columbia lighthouse recruits volunteers for its camp; same with camp abilities in MD. 
> Nothing wrong with volunteering, but there comes a time when you want to be paid for your work.
> Good luck finding employment and navigating vr.
> 
> Ashley
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lisa Irving via humanser
> Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2015 4:53 PM
> To: 'Human Services Division Mailing List'
> Cc: Lisa Irving
> Subject: Re: [humanser] Challenges with VR services
> 
> Ericka,
> 
> 
> Wow! You are very well-rounded. I would think that should make you highly employable. You might consider playing around with monster.com, indeed.com (I think's right), and other job posting sites just to get a feel for careers. Consider writing your ideal job position. Consider taking job interest inventories. If you are involved in a religious organization you may wish to consider taking a gifts of the spirit inventory or class. Ask your closest friends about your strengths and growth areas.
> 
> Lisa
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
> Ericka via humanser
> Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2015 1:22 PM
> To: Human Services Division Mailing List
> Cc: Ericka
> Subject: Re: [humanser] Challenges with VR services
> 
> Let me think on this. Can you come up with some other paths for me as well? 
> I have early childhood/learning disabilities education but never really was able to teach in that capacity. I have a gerontology certificate and a BA in social work. Unlike you, most of my things I have done where volunteer unless they were part time or work-study/shadowing type. I'm certain that my seizures are not helping me in the hiring process any either. I've never disclosed until after the fact because most of the time my seizures are so under control it's not an issue.
> 
> Ericka Short
> "Friends are like flowers in the garden of life"
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Oct 6, 2015, at 3:06 PM, Lisa Irving via humanser 
>> <humanser at nfbnet.org>
>> wrote:
>> 
>> Ericka,
>> 
>> In the state of California Activity Directors are only required to 
>> complete 32 hours of training. My first two jobs were as an Activity 
>> Director; my degree was in recreation with a concentration in 
>> Therapeutic Recreation. At the time I was nationally certified.
>> 
>> I see what you're saying about an undergraduate social work position. 
>> What career suggestions can you share with me?
>> 
>> Thank you.
>> 
>> Lisa Irving
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
>> Ericka via humanser
>> Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2015 12:51 PM
>> To: Human Services Division Mailing List
>> Cc: Ericka
>> Subject: Re: [humanser] Challenges with VR services
>> 
>> Unless someone else can come up with something, I don't think there 
>> is an entry-level social work job in the field you were looking at. 
>> The only social work related job entry-level that I have been able to 
>> obtain with a bachelors in social work was an activity assistant part 
>> time at a nearby nursing home. I have a non-certification teaching 
>> degree in special ad as well. You'd think I would be employable to 
>> somebody. Here are a big portion of the problem is transportation and 
>> the second is a saturated environment
>> 
>> Ericka Short
>> "Friends are like flowers in the garden of life"
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>>> On Oct 1, 2015, at 7:54 PM, Marisol Carmona via humanser 
>>> <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Hello,
>>> 
>>> I tried applying for VR services in order to have some tuition 
>>> assistance during my master’s program, which I will start fall of 
>>> 2016. However, they denied me because by pursuing a social work 
>>> degree, it is expected that I would not be advancing in my career, 
>>> particularly in terms of salary. I am currently employed, but plan 
>>> on quitting my job to focus entirely on school work. I shared with 
>>> them this fact and they said that I would be eligible for VR 
>>> services if I am unemployed, but I possibly could be asked to show 
>>> proof that I cannot get a job with my undergraduate degree in 
>>> psychology. I explained that there are no jobs that I’m aware of 
>>> where I could work as a social worker without a master’s level 
>>> degree, to which they responded that I could probably be hired as an entry level employee.
>>> Has anyone had a similar challenge? Your input is greatly appreciated!
>>> 
>>> Marisol
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
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