[humanser] Intro and a few questions

[Lisa Irving]

Erica awesome responses! You sound very creative and engaging.

I have done presentations to staff and mostly two school-age children the presentations I have done have been fun and interactive. Perhaps you can do something like this with your middle school students and tired in into anything games or curriculums your school uses. For example focusing on peace building that includes understanding cultural differences etc. peace building is something that the salvation army day camp program is focused on in the past. If your school has a stem program you may be able to integrate the concepts used by NFB to include or how you would include Blind youth and stem programs what I'm trying to say is perhaps you can find parallels.

From,
Lisa Irving

Sent from my iPhone

> On Sep 20, 2016, at 2:02 AM, Ericka via HumanSer <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> When you meet with the staff of the school, explain to them about your vision and why your eyes wander etc. I have Nystagmus and limited vision. Though I have never worked full-time as a teacher, I have done much work with kids and either church, volunteer work, or just in general out in the community. Kids generally appreciate you explaining things and answering questions they have. In the end, they really open up and appreciate the fact that you're different because it allows them to be different and feel comfortable themselves. Personally, I think your advisor is making a mountain out of a mole hill. Don't wear glasses. Just be yourself because that's who they're going to hire when you're done with the program. I wonder if it's really the advisor that feels uncomfortable. Maybe you can do a mock session with some adults. You'll be educating them and Ithey won't even know it! Anytime I hear a kid ask their parents what's the thing they're carrying or some blindness related question I turn an answer the kids question rather than allowing the parents to be in a pickle. A lot of adults feel much more uncomfortable about asking questions than kids do. You feel kind of weird doing it at first, but I've had many parents thank me or at least that sigh of relief that they didn't have to ask the awkward questions. Besides, in my experience kids ask better questions than adults do. I have yet to have a kid asked me how I brush my teeth or how I wash my clothes without help.  I'm honest & tell them i live with another blind petson and are independent.The best question I got from a kindergardener recently was "why do I have a boyfriend instead of a husband? "
> Now that seeing us as capable
> 
> Ericka Short
> 608-665-3170
> 
> from my iPhone 6s
> 
>> On Sep 18, 2016, at 8:01 PM, Danielle (Shives) Manke via HumanSer <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Hello all,
>> I have just joined this list and wanted to introduce myself, as well as ask a few questions. My name is Danielle Manke, and I am currently working on a graduate degree in school counseling. I have a background in education but find counseling to be a good fit for me. I have been working on my coursework for a year and should be finished my program in May. Between now and then, I am required to complete field experiences in an elementary,a middle, and a high school; I am working on the middle school experience now. I am wondering if there are any school counselors on this list that I could touch base with throughout these experiences and possibly beyond? Also, my supervisor for my current experience raised a concern about students being uncomfortable because of my eyes. I am totally blind so obviously do not make eye contact and, along with that, I have no control over my eyes and cannot focus them, and they move all over the place. My supervisor asked if I have ever considered glasses. I really haven't considered this; I raised it as an issue to some loved ones once and was told they would rather see my eyes. My supervisor suggested I simply ask students if my eyes are an issue for them, which I will do, but I'm wondering if anyone has any thoughts or experiences they can share about something like this? Has anyone dealt with a similar situation? Finally, I know that some people in my field have ways that people can report things anonymously to them, and this is sometimes done in writing. Though technology may replace the written part, I am wondering if anyone would have any suggestions in the event someone wanted to report something to me? Thank you so much in advance for any responses/help.
>> Danielle Manke 
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