[nabs-l] learning independent living

[Adrianne Dempsey]

I didn't have training at a training center, I think their wonderful, but 
have never been to one except for a week to  complete  an assessment, but 
was given know training.To answer your questions; I have been cooking since 
I was about ten because I didn't have a chois.  I had to cook for my family 
or we didn't eat.  It sounds harsh but I just got throne in to it and it was 
either sink or swim.  I also liked to experiment and began developing my own 
recepies, some turned out amazing, some failed miserably, but most turned 
out pretty good. I actually did more then my sister, because she was lazy. 
She is sighted and just as capable as I am.  Their was a chore list for my 
sister and I but I was the only one who did what was on the list.  I cleaned 
the house, did dishes,swept, mopped, vacuumed, and did yard work.  I never 
used a lon mower, but I cleared brush, trimmed hedges, layed brick, and tore 
out out door walls.  I think the only thing I would want my pairence to do 
differently is perhaps to have shown me how to do things better.  But at the 
same time by throwing me at a task and just telling me to do it with out 
direction gave me allot of independence.  I believe the centers are grate 
but it is like languages, you can take classes and gain a substantial amount 
of knowledge about that language, but once you are in the culture speaking 
the language with know cheat sheet or text book to refer to you learn it 
much quicker.  You learn it when you have to.  If you have the opportunity 
to go to a center it will probably be a grate help but also know that you 
can do all of that stuff.  It is not really that daunting just take little 
steps.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, May 24, 2009 7:26 PM
Subject: [nabs-l] learning independent living


> Hi all,
>
> I know we can attend centers to learn life skills as adults.  But I think 
> its better to learn skills growing up at age appropriate times. 
> Unfortunately, while I recieved great academic services like braille 
> handouts and alternative formats for texts, I did not get much independent 
> living training. I plan to do something about that of course.
> I think parents should take an active role in teaching skills so you're 
> not catching up later on and learning skills you could have learned at age 
> 9.
>
> For me, my mom did not want us kids in the kitchen with her.  She wanted 
> to do things her way on her own.  So this isn't a totally blindness thing. 
> My brothers were older.  The extent of their cooking was microwaving food 
> or preparing cereal.
> My brothers didn't do many house chores probably for the same reasons. 
> They did more than me though.
>
> I learned braille and had some O/M in school.  I learned computers and my 
> technology through tutors at the department for the blind and reading the 
> mannual.
>
> I was sent a rehab teacher as a teen after school at home.  I had two. 
> They taught me some basics.  They labeled the appliances, showed me how to 
> do laundry and labeled it and more.  They showed me dimo tape and how to 
> label.
> We did some cooking  and cleaning.
> This was helpful.
> I'd like to hear what you learned at home since I shared mine.
> So my questions are:
> 1. Did you do cooking at the age appropriate times?
> Were you able to do as much as your siblings if you have them?
> 2.  Did you participate in doing chores or other tasks as part of the 
> family?  I actually met a blind teen who did house work and recieved 
> allowance.  So I know some parents do this.  This girl, Amanda, was not a 
> federationist but her family raised her with nfb philosophy.
>
> 3. What do you wish your parents or family had done differently.
> For me I wish I had more opportunity and a patient mom to help me learn 
> and then I would help her fix dinner.
> I met a few blind peers at camp who said their mothers let them make a 
> dish for dinner such as a salad or dessert.  I wish I had done that. 
> Unfortunately many of us are  protected and in reality we were pretty 
> capable.  I guess most of you went to centers to rectify any deficits or 
> learned on your own.
>
> Ashley
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