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

[Jedi]

Colleagues:

I am a graduate of the Louisiana center for the Blind, one of the NFB's 
three training centers. I have partial vision. I have been trained in 
two methods of blindness. In grade school, I used a duel-media system 
that attempted to give equal time to vision and non-vision. This 
training was not intensive; it was done in chunks. After high school, I 
went to the LCB to learn non-visual skills specifically and 
intensively. These are my findings.

Low vision is hardly stable. Your eye doctor may say that your 
condition is stable, but it really isn't. At least, not in the 
functional sense. Not only does low vision change with the environment, 
but it can change over time simply via the aging process. For that 
reason, it's never a bad idea to learn non-visual techniques to prepare 
for the future and also to be ready for times when the environment 
makes it tough to use your vision efficiently. Environmental changes 
might include changes in lighting, the difusion of lighting, contrast, 
visual clutter, chromatic difference (the use of color), and the 
position of objects (are they in your field of view?). The social 
environment may also inhibit the use of your vision. for example, you 
may be able to read large print, but having a book in front of your 
nose makes giving a speech a real problem. You may be use a CCTV, but 
you can't take a CCTV everywhere with you unless you use a portable 
magnifier (which is often  more expensive than braile or asking someone 
to read something to you). Even then, portible magnification has its 
limits: the more magnification you need, the less you can see in terms 
of actual area. The same goes for monoculars and other low vision techniques.

Non-visual techniques are more likely to work in a variety of areas at 
any given time. You can read Braille in just about any environment 
(except where it's wet). A cane and orientation skills will take care 
of any changes to the visual environment as you travel. Tactile 
exploration skills can help you navigate gracefully when searching for 
something. While all of these techniques are unusual compared to how 
sighted people do things, they allow a visually impaired person to stay 
on top of things.

Let me move on to blindness agencies and training. Most blindness 
agencies prefer a vision first approach. The goal here is to maximize 
low vision and insert blindness techniques where necessary. There are 
two major issues here, and I've experienced both under this approach. 
The first is that your vision may change and you'll be forced to 
retrain. You may also find that your non-visual skills may not be 
prepared to the extent to which a situation may compromise your vision. 
In other words, you may know how to use a screen magnifier with some 
speech. But what if you encounter a web site where the visual elements 
are too hard to handle visually? A screen reader may be useful here, 
but you've not been trained in screen reader use since your training 
has focused primarily on your vision. For most of us, simply not 
completing the task won't cut it.

The opposite approach is a blindness first approach. Here, non-visual 
techniques are stressed and low vision fills in the gaps where it's 
either natural or necessary. When I say natural, I mean to say that you 
don't have to strain to see something. For example, I may be walking 
with a cane and all my blindness techniques in active use. But if I can 
see a poll, I'm certainly going to avoid it. However, if I don't see 
the poll, my active blindness techniques will certainly keep me from 
hitting it. another example. If I've dropped a paper and can see it, 
there's no rule that says I can't use my vision to pick it up. However, 
if I have to turn my head in a number of contortions just to search for 
it, it may be easier, less stressful, and more efficient to search for 
it using non-visual skills. When I say "necessary," I speak of those 
occasions where something isn't nonvisually accessible but can be if 
your vision is sufficient for the task. for example, if your computer 
isn't talking and you have no other way to figure out why, low vision 
may be useful in getting some answers.

 A blindness first approach prevents the need for retraining. In the 
case of those who ordinarily read print, there's no reason why you 
can't still do so. Learning Braille is still an option when print won't 
work for some reason. If you're worried about losing the skill, set 
aside some time each night and read your favorite book in Braille to 
maintain the skill. That way, it will be around when you really need 
it. those low vision persons who use Braille and print often say 
they're glad to have learned Braille even if they don't use it as often 
as others do.

I have been trained under both vision first and blindness first 
approaches. I personally got more out of the blindness first approach 
than the vision first approach. I consider myself to be more versitle 
now that i have the blindness approach down. The blindness first 
approach also teaches other transferable skils that have nothing to do 
with blindness specifically such as problem solving, resourcefulness, 
mapping and spacial awareness, cooking, technology, and even social 
skills. More important, I realized that blindness really isn't a 
handicap to living life. A vision first approach often misses this all 
important truth because of the higherarchy of sight (to have some sight 
is better than to have none). With a blindness first approach, we're 
confronted immediately with our misconceptions, as well as those of 
others. We are called upon to deal with them head on and are therefore 
able to surpass them.

As for training length and intensity, it is better to train all at once 
because more concentrated time is spent in each subject. This 
concentration and intensity of time means that you're more likely to 
remember what you learn because you have to use it more often. I train 
students to use computers. Those I intensively train get the material 
faster and more efficiently than those I train less often. They are 
also more likely to use and retain the skill afterward. My 
non-intensive vision first approach took me twelve years. My intensive 
blindness first approach training only took six months. I only had to 
go through intensive training once (that's six months). Those who go 
through chunked training may have to spread their training out over 
time which will definitely mean more training time in the long-run.

In general, intensive training in blindness means access to positive 
blind role models who can mentor you during off hours while you're 
having fun. Many times, these experiences prove more powerful than the 
training itself. those who go through non-intensive training (often in 
their community) don't have access to blind role models and so they 
remain isolated during this critical time.

Finally, I want to put something to rest. The blindness first approach 
doesn't force anyone to do anything. If you attend a center that uses 
sleep shades, a particular kind of cane, a particular teaching method, 
or a particular philosophy, then you have chosen to use these methods. 
You can't force the willing. The NfB centers are optional. People are 
there because they want to be, not because they are forced to be. If 
you feel like you're being forced, then you haven't exercised informed 
choice. Choose a different center that has the methods you want. Just 
choose wisely. I find it rather ironic and quite revealing that we 
never hear of centers forcing participants to use low vision, but we 
certainly hear of centers forcing students to use blindness techniques. 
Just a thought.

Respectfully,
Jedi


Original message:
> 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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