[nabs-l] The Carroll Center for the Blind

Mon Aug 15 22:19:35 UTC 2011

Hi Chris,
I'd say there isn't one center that is across the board better than the 
others. Even though I went to a state training center which practiced the 
NFB philosophy, I feel more confident with blindness skills. Contacting the 
centers, talking to current and former students and asking directly about 
their philosophy of blindness are starters.

-----Original Message----- 
From: chris nusbaum
Sent: Sunday, August 14, 2011 9:14 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] The Carroll Center for the Blind

Hi David,

Thank you! I'm not sure I'd want to go to LCB during the summer, as I
think the weather would be way too hot... middle of July, Louissianna,
you know what I mean. I hear that Minnesota is cheaper than Colorado.
So, which is better, in all of your opinions?

Chris

On 8/14/11, David Dodge <daviddod at buffalo.edu> wrote:
> Chris,
> I have visited the Louisiana Center before and know several people that 
> have
> gone there. Generally, they describe it as one of the most extraordinary
> experiences.
>
> When I visited the staff was very kind and full of information. They are
> proud of what they do there.
>
> David
> ----------------------------------
> David Dodge
> Doctoral Degree Granting Institutions Rep.
> State University of New York Student Assembly
> English Major
> University at Buffalo
> 306 Clemens Hall
> Buffalo, NY 14260
> daviddod at buffalo.edu
>
>
> On Sun, Aug 14, 2011 at 10:50 AM, chris nusbaum
> <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> Hi everyone,
>>
>> This is an interesting discussion, and one which I was planning to
>> start in the near future. I agree with Peter's sentiments about
>> attending an NFB training center (although I wouldn't recommend
>> BISM... well, maybe they've changed as their leadership has changed,
>> from Loretta White to Amy Phelps) and I'm planning to attend a center
>> next summer. I'm trying to decide which I will go to, Minnesota,
>> Louissianna, or Colorado. So, I'd like to know what all of you thought
>> were the pros and cons of each program. What did you like about each
>> program, and what did you not like about it? What are the differences
>> in the programs, as they're all NFB training centers? I'll most likely
>> be going to the middle or high school program, I don't know which. I'm
>> going into 8th grade at the end of this month, so will be going into
>> 9th next August. So, which center would you recommend? Thanks!
>>
>> Chris
>>
>> On 8/14/11, Peter Donahue <pdonahue2 at satx.rr.com> wrote:
>> > Hello Justin and everyone,
>> >
>> >     For the reasons you point out below I wouldn't mess with the 
>> > Carroll
>> > Center under any circumstances. I'm originally from Massachusetts and
>> > saw
>> > the same kind of results you mentioned from students who went there.
>> > What
>> > can you expect from an agency whose founder viewed blindness as a
>> "Dying."
>> > If you want good blindness training go to an NFB center. Get what you
>> need
>> > once and it will last you a life time.
>> >
>> > Peter Donahue
>> >
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: "Salisbury, Justin Mark" <SALISBURYJ08 at students.ecu.edu>
>> > To: <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> > Sent: Saturday, August 13, 2011 8:57 PM
>> > Subject: [nabs-l] The Carroll Center for the Blind
>> >
>> >
>> > I attended the Carroll Center for the Blind for two consecutive summers
>> with
>> > Justin Young, and I would like to give my personal take on it.
>> >
>> > Justin and I had this joke where we started the Justin Corporation, an
>> > underground mafia meat market.  It was an amazing social experience 
>> > with
>> all
>> > of the other students involved.  If only considering the social
>> > frontier,
>> I
>> > highly recommend it.
>> >
>> > I attended the Youth in Transition (YIT) program in 2006 and then the
>> Real
>> > World Work Experience (RWWE) in 2007.  I valued every bit of the
>> experience
>> > both years, but I want to first make clear a fundamental disagreement
>> that I
>> > now have with the training that I received.  I lost my vision in 2005,
>> > so
>> I
>> > was newly blinded when I went to the Carroll Center.  They taught me to
>> use
>> > my remaining vision as much as possible and taught me ways to use my
>> > remaining vision.  I wish that they had taught me how to do everything
>> > non-visually.  I wish that they had occluded (blindfolded) me during 
>> > O&M
>> > lessons and other lessons in general.  I learned a lot of great things,
>> but
>> > blindness skills should be about knowing how to do things non-visually.
>>  I
>> > am now planning to attend an NFB training center (Louisiana Center for
>> the
>> > Blind, Blind, Inc, or Colorado Center for the Blind), where I will 
>> > learn
>> all
>> > of the skills I need non-visually.  Also understand that I have a 
>> > stable
>> > visual field and acuity.
>> >
>> > I am much better off having gone to the Carroll Center than I was 
>> > before
>> I
>> > went there, but it wasn't the best possible program that I could have
>> > chosen.
>> >
>> > In the Youth in Transition program, they worked with us on our
>> > confidence
>> > and social skills.  They taught us some basic cooking skills, how to do
>> > laundry, a lot of O&M, housekeeping skills, how to use low vision
>> devices,
>> > and they had a class called "personal management," where they taught us
>> > about shaving, tying a tie, sewing a button, and things like that.  If
>> > we
>> > already knew how to do something, they would watch us do it and suggest
>> > modifications in technique if necessary.  They also had a class called
>> > adaptive technology, where they introduced me to ZoomText and other
>> students
>> > with less vision than me to Jaws.  We had a lot of great group
>> > activities
>> > and social opportunities that I will remember for a long time.  We also
>> saw
>> > a counselor while we were there on a weekly basis to make sure that we
>> were
>> > adjusting well to the environment.  Another activity, called "people
>> talk,"
>> > was a time that we all gathered to talk about certain issues that often
>> led
>> > to self-awareness and confidence building.
>> >
>> > In the Real World Work Experience program, we were evaluated on our
>> skills
>> > for a week and prepared for a month of work.  Once we started work, we
>> > worked for three days per week in volunteer positions, and we were paid
>> by
>> > the Carroll Center.  The other two days were used for field trips and
>> > training days.  Again, it was an amazing experience.  Different 
>> > students
>> > were placed in different positions in the Boston area.  We were
>> responsible
>> > for using public transportation to get to and from our work sites.  We
>> had
>> > two job coaches in charge of about 10 or 12 students in the program, so
>> they
>> > weren't with us all the time.  They were sighted people who watched us
>> > at
>> a
>> > distance while we were in the environment.
>> >
>> > At the beginning of the RWWE program, I met a few adults who were at 
>> > the
>> end
>> > of their adult program, which runs during the regular school year. 
>> > They
>> > spoke well of their program, but they told me that there wasn't an
>> > aggressive Braille standard that they had to meet in their program.
>> > They
>> > studied it a little bit, but they didn't become what an NFB training
>> center
>> > would push them to become.  Also, students at the Carroll Center live 
>> > in
>> a
>> > dorm and eat at a dining hall, which gives them a comfortable crutch,
>> > but
>> it
>> > does not push them to really be independent.  When you walk into the
>> dining
>> > hall, you are expected to put your cane in a docking station and
>> > navigate
>> > the dining hall without it by walking in either a clockwise or
>> > counter-clockwise direction.
>> >
>> > The Carroll Center is a good training center with good people in it, 
>> > but
>> it
>> > is not the very best option available.
>> >
>> > I'd be happy to answer specific questions on- or off-list.
>> >
>> > Justin
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Justin M. Salisbury
>> > Undergraduate Student
>> > The University Honors Program
>> > East Carolina University
>> > salisburyj08 at students.ecu.edu
>> >
>> > “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can
>> change
>> > the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”    —MARGARET 
>> > MEAD
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
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>> >
>> >
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>>
>>
>> --
>> Chris Nusbaum
>>
>> Sales and Advertising Coordinator
>>
>> Arianna's Art Inc. Paintings for the Blind and Sighted!!!
>>
>> Like us on Facebook! Search for Arianna Lipka Art for the Blind!
>>
>> Visit the I C.A.N. Foundation online at: www.icanfoundation.info for
>> information on our foundation and how it helps blind and visually
>> impaired children in MD say "I can!"
>>
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-- 
Chris Nusbaum

Sales and Advertising Coordinator

Arianna's Art Inc. Paintings for the Blind and Sighted!!!

Like us on Facebook! Search for Arianna Lipka Art for the Blind!

Visit the I C.A.N. Foundation online at: www.icanfoundation.info for
information on our foundation and how it helps blind and visually
impaired children in MD say "I can!"

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Anjelina 