[humanser] Challenges with VR services

Thu Oct 8 15:39:17 UTC 2015

Christina I worked in a nursing home or Day services program primarily. I was and activity assistant so seeing my residence was pretty easy. When I worked with the day programs I did not have to travel anywhere except to the church or county building where the program was held. I did plenty of social Service work at the nursing home though I wasn't the nursing homes social worker. I saw the residence on a more regular basis and part of our job was to bring that to attention of my boss or the social worker if it was urgent. I also saw them in programs and when someone who usually spoke up didn't you knew something was wrong. This was before the iPhones and electronics taking over recordkeeping so I can't really tell you how I did things there. I had enough vision to do the paper work with a magnifier or I filled out things like attendance on large print sheets so I could read them. My VR counselor at the time interceded and they allowed me to use the larger print forms. I've been fighting for accommodations and they wouldn't listen.  Funny how the only thing that people weren't concerned about was pushing wheelchairs! I liked working weekends and at night because I didn't have critics following my every move. Then I didn't have to explain my alternative techniques to staff. Residence got it.  Back then I didn't carry my cane. Things probably would've been worse was staff had I done so.

With the Salvation Army I was primarily working with the food pantry and doing information and referral. I didn't have much problem with anyone but the captain and the secretary but then they treated everybody with disrespect. They were it's my way or the highway kind of people. The computer was the only thing I couldn't do without low-tech adaptations. We had someone come to do a work technology assessment and we had someone who was useless. She was all worried about lighting and using magnifiers when I kept telling her I needed help with the computer. I learned since then to just ask for another assessment.

I apologize for such a long post, but through everything I have learned that you really need to know yourself, what you need, and the rules about how to work with both your bus and VR to get where you want to be. I'm still working on it all! The more connected to the NFB I am, the more I am learning the specifics and the other stuff just falls into place because you know how to handle yourself.

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

Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 6, 2015, at 8:21 PM, Christina Moore via humanser <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi Erika,
> 
> I think that is a great idea for the internship aspect.
> I have struggled with mental health issues as well and I want to use
> what I have been through to help people that are where I was and still
> am at times.
> I am currently looking in to a few internship experiences ranging from
> working in a residental program with adults or adolescents (with
> cristian organizations), to volunteering with an organisation that
> raises awareness about mental health issues to more long-term
> endeavours such as working with social services as a social worker.
> How was working for social services by the way if you do not mind my
> asking? What area of social services were you working in and how were
> home visits Etc. conducted if you had to go to them?
> I would like to work with fostercare but not with child protective (if
> that is available I would not mind that route but I believe I would
> prefer working with the fosterchildren over taking children from
> dangerous situations (if this makes sense)).
> I am sorry for all of the rambling.
> Christina
> 
>> On 10/6/15, Lisa Irving via humanser <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Erica,
>> 
>> Here's a long distance hug. Also, here's how I've tackled presentations to
>> date. I've got a decent sense of humor, have the gift of gab, toss candy as
>> a positive reinforcement, engage the audience when applicable, offer
>> interactive opportunities when applicable, use augmentative communication
>> (human sounding speech on my laptop). I could use pointers on making better
>> use of augmentative communication. During the last presentation I did I
>> introduced Samantha (human-sounding British voice) as my evil twin sister.
>> (She sometimes stops speaking). I am gaining a positive reputation in the
>> mental health community as an innovative facilitator and trainer.
>> 
>> Lisa Irving
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ericka via
>> humanser
>> Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2015 5:08 PM
>> To: Human Services Division Mailing List
>> Cc: Ericka
>> Subject: Re: [humanser] Challenges with VR services
>> 
>> I am looking at TVI, rehab teaching, or school social worker. I see these
>> three as good options to get certification in because they will allow me to
>> use my teaching and my social work skills . Besides, they can be used in a
>> multitude of settings and with a multitude of age groups. I'm not really
>> fond of teenagers but as I get older they get more interesting to me. I
>> guess I'm finally looking old compared to them! I was never that kid that
>> felt comfortable in my age group.  I like the little kids and the older
>> adults instead. I think I talk more excepted because they either didn't see
>> the disabilities or understood the disability and appreciated the fact that
>> I could relate.
>> 
>> A bit ahead of you my dear! Already done the spiritual inventory and have
>> played around with ending. The things that are out here I can't get to via
>> the transportation opportunities I have. There were some really neat things
>> I would have applied for in Illinois. I'm all about being creative to get to
>> your interviews and job but there just wasn't anything. I really neat job in
>> Racine, The county above us did not hire me though I went to the interview.
>> It was a social worker in a senior living facility that was church oriented.
>> Day today I could get up there and back, but as far as emergencies I could
>> not get from town to town as there ,are no buses and the pay was not good
>> enough to take cabs as often as probably would be needed. It's just as well
>> because I need to really beef up on braille skills and Computer/technology.
>> Let's just say I've never done a PowerPoint before and the last time I did a
>> presentation I had memorized my part because I couldn't read things even if
>> I read off the giant index cards sold.  I don't feel like I can give
>> presentations properly and confidently in this technological society.
>> Someone's just writing it down and speaking doesn't seem to have the same
>> punch. if I could refer to notes in braille it wouldn't matter if it was on
>> notecards or not. As you know our site doesn't matter but I contact with
>> people does. I have been asked to give some speeches in the last couple of
>> months and I felt so incompetent. Doing research for the presentations and
>> giving the presentations seemed more overwhelming than standing in front of
>> people, giving the speech itself.
>> 
>> Ericka Short
>> "Friends are like flowers in the garden of life"
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>>> On Oct 6, 2015, at 3:53 PM, Lisa Irving via humanser <humanser at nfbnet.org>
>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> 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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> 
> 
> -- 
> Christina
> Psychology Major, Communication and Spanish minors Class of 2016
> 
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