[nabs-l] Finally done at training center

Wed Feb 18 03:49:55 UTC 2009

Hello Jen,

Thank you for your update. It sounds like the people at the Carroll Center 
were Accomodating, and even resourceful in training you. Now you have some 
of the basics of daily living, and blindness-related techniques.

You are wondering what will be your next step, and I have a few words of 
encouragement.

First, the next steps, and the general direction you give your life is 
exactly that--the direction you, the one who will live it, will decide to go 
towards. There will be challenges, and there will be nay-sayers. People will 
tell you how you can't do this or that because you are in a wheel chair, 
besides being blind, and if blindness weren't enough to limit you, you have 
to contend with not knowing where you are going, and not being able to find 
your way there. But I think you know better, and only you can prove these 
people wrong.

First it might mean you insist on serving the family brekfest on sunday 
morning. Then you might decide you want the responsibility of grocery 
shopping for the entire family. Next you can pick a cleaning chore thought 
to be impossible, and the next thing you know you have the practice, and 
your parent's confidence that you are capable, and willing to venture out on 
your own. This venturing out might happen in concert with a college 
graduation, so that you are trained and employed in your field of choice, 
and have the needed support of your parents for the things you do need help 
with.

When it comes to shopping, you can go on

www.peapod.com

a service I use in Rhode Island and would be willing to teach you. The 
peapod driver will deliver your groceries right to your kitchen counter on 
the day and time you specify. If you need to be familiar with peapod, 
contact me privately, and we can go over it on the phone, or in person. Once 
you learn, you won't want to go back for too much at a brick and morter 
store.

One thing the Carroll Center may not have worked on with you is personal 
confidence, but the NFB centers, as good as they may be, do not have a 
monopoly on confidence and encouragement. I do find that our membership is 
rich in kind encouragement, inspiration, and some times the perverbial 
well-deserved kick in the --- to jumpstart one's motivation. We 
independence-minded, empowerment-guided members have been through, and are 
going through some of the same struggles that the nauvice faces. We've been 
there, and are usually willing to share the wealth. and wealth we have, in 
information, resourcefulness, ingenuity, and more.

Don't hesitate to turn to your blind family for guidance, and your close by 
NFB friends for individualized tips and tricks.

Sincerely yours,

Antonio Guimaraes
Shop online and support the NFB of RI at no additional cost to you.
http://www.givebackamerica.com/charity.php?b=169
Givebackamerica.org, America's Online Charity Shopping Mall
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jennifer Aberdeen" <freespirit328 at gmail.com>
To: "NABS-L" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 7:37 PM
Subject: [nabs-l] Finally done at training center

> Hi all,
>
> It's Jennifer from Rhode Island. I don't write too much on the list, but I 
> thought I would send a short message about my experiences at the Carroll 
> Center.
>
> I know...it's not an NFB Center, but in my opinion, it was just as good 
> for someone in my situation. I learned a great deal of things I would have 
> never learned had I not gone at all.
>
> Cooking I think is my greatest accomplishment. While I'm still not a 
> gourmet chef, I can cook basic meals. Food has never been my best friend, 
> so I eat to live as some might say. I learned how to cook using an 
> induction unit, which is basically a portable burner that I can put on a 
> table at my level so that I don't spill or knock anything over.
>
> Mobility was somewhat of a challange because some things were just not 
> realistic for me. Learning how to go to the train station to take the 
> train somewhere just isn't a realistic or practical goal for me. I did 
> learn the layout of the area though and how to get from one building to 
> another without assistance...I know the layout of the inside of the 
> buildings like the back of my head. I even went out to eat with some 
> friends using para transit. It was very stressful for me, but I did it 
> successfully. I learn routs very quickly.
>
> I have great computer skills, and I learn things very fast. I learned how 
> to use K1000, various note takers and how to use a slate and stylis. I 
> know how to use a digital recorder and the Victor Stream as well.
>
> The best part was that I made a lot of friends, both students and staff. I 
> was very sad the day I left, but I keep in touch with everyone there, so 
> it's not too bad.
>
> Anyway, that was an  overview of my training in Boston. I wish I could do 
> it over again. Now I'm home and bored. I don't know what to do next.
>
> Jen
>
>
> Shop my AVON online store
> http://jaberdeen.avonrepresentative.com
>
> Get healthy!
> http://jaberdeen.qhealthbeauty.com
>
> Contact me:
>
> Jennifer Aberdeen
> PO Box 1184
> Woonsocket, RI 02895
> 401-762-3258 (home)
> 401-644-5607 (cell)
> freespirit328 at gmail.com
> SKYPE: J.Aberdeen
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