[nabs-l] Training: As needed, or all at once?

[Jess]

Ashley and Jim.
I've attended a state run training center in Utah in 2001 and although I 
have significant usable vision to where I'm considered legally blind I did 
have to wear a blindfold in at at least one of the classes that I took. It 
was the Adaptive Daily Living Skills  because the instructor was trying to 
make it a level playing field for the totally blind people in the group. I 
also got out of doing O&M because I basically told them that I didn't need 
it during the day which was the time that it was being done. I also said to 
them I need  O&ME training more at night because that's when I have a harder 
time traveling. The only other time I was forced to use the blindfold was in 
a Braille class. Pretty much all the other classes I didn't have to use the 
blindfold. Now, a Staunchly NFB member is now in charge of running the 
training program.  I know the person who runs it now because he was one of 
the assistive technology trainers at the center.
Jessica
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, May 11, 2009 6:03 PM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Training: As needed, or all at once?


> Hi Jim,
>
> This is my opinion and  I will be in the minority and hope not to be 
> attacked.  If your vision is stable and you
> can function well with print and other visual skills, then don't do 
> training now.  Yes its a lot of time  and effort on your part to learn 
> skills you'll likely never need.
>
> Some visually impaired people I know never learn braille and they do well; 
> they are successful at work.
>
> NFB centers imerse you in nonvisual skills and you are blindfolded.  Does 
> your state offer a state rehab center?  Often state centers allow you to 
> use low vision techniques and use nonvisual ones as needed.  What state do 
> you live in?  You may consider a state center where you can choose what 
> you need rather than a nfb center first.
> So I think if your vision is stable there is no need to go for blindness 
> training now.  I commend your decission to learn to use a cane. Many high 
> partials like yourself never try it.  Learning and using a cane will not 
> only help you travel better but it will identify your visual impairment 
> and eliminate the need to explain sometimes.  I have usable vision 
> although not as much as you.  We both have tunnel vision.  So I've always 
> used visual and nonvisual techniques to function.
>
> Ashley
>
>
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