[humanser] Challenges with VR services

Thu Oct 8 15:43:18 UTC 2015

Thank you for the verbal hug and Ashley and everyone! I wish we had this conversation about three months ago. I know my speech didn't go badly at all because I still have people coming up saying – – I remember you from and you did such a great job! They usually also thank me for teaching them something.

It may seem like I disappear but I will contact you guys! Right now I have a 25th high school reunion to pack for.

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

Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 7, 2015, at 12:08 AM, Ashley Bramlett via humanser <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi Ericka,
> 
> those are all great jobs. I'm sure you know you need higher level education than just a BA though.
> I hope you can afford grad school or get vr to pay.
> I heard others' stories here about rehab troubles. Same here in my state. You have to justify everything and if you are already employed, they don't seem interested in helping you advance to another job or change jobs. That situation is not describing me, but I know people who vr turned away as they were already employed. Sad but true.
> 
> The good news is that you can get scholarships and grants for something like studying for your TVI masters and license.
> 
> Whatever you pick, good luck. And yes, transportation is such a barrier. Even in a metro area like mine, certain places the buses do not run and without that, no way to get to jobs. If you think paratransit will go out there, nope.
> Paratransit only goes 3/4 a mile past the fixed  route bus system.
> 
> You have a lot of good ideas. I hope something works out.
> And, if you have tech questions or questions about public speaking, feel free to ask. Write me off list if you want at bookwormahb at earthlink.net.
> I have low vision but usually use braille and screen readers. But I do see a little and have central vision. So I probably can give you ideas and tips for work using low vision techniques. I usually do not use them myself since my nystagmus gets in the way of focussing, but I do understand them having used vision some.
> 
> For speeches, you can handle it. Just practice a lot and you can write a handout, you do not have to use powerpoint unless the people inviting you to do it require it. If you cannot read notecards, you can use speech. You can record your notes on a recorder such as a vr stream and listen to them and then pause the recording and then unpause to hear the next note. If you know any braille, writing short phrases in uncontracted braille on notecards should be enough to jog  your memory.
> If you really want or feel the need to use a visual aid to keep your audience's attention, you can use pictures or prepare an old fashioned poster. The poster can just have a bulleted list of facts and some pictures with captions. Since you have more vision then me, I assume you can see the pictures to identify them. Simply point to the appropriate visual as you begin to speak about it. If you cannot identify the pictures visually, then numbering them in large print should work. You just remember or write down what the numbers corespond to. Like number 1  is a cow and 2 is a lion, etc.
> 
> I've done both for classes in public speaking and other classes when I presented.
> It works fine. You really can have a captivating speech without powerpoint.
> 
> I hope you can get more training, but meanwhile, go do those speeches! You have lots of knowledge and you obviously can type out clear messages, so you should be able to do some speeches.
> 
> Ashley
> 
> 
> -----Original Message----- From: Ericka via humanser
> Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2015 8:07 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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