[nabs-l] LWSB and Other Training Centers
Chris Nusbaum
dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com
Thu Dec 29 14:51:48 UTC 2011
The list is on teachblindstudents.org.
Chris
Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous new year!
"The real problem of blindness is not the loss of eyesight. The
real problem is the misunderstanding and lack of education that
exists. If a blind person has the proper training and
opportunity, blindness can be reduced to a mere physical
nuisance."
-- Kenneth Jernigan (President, National Federation of the Blind,
1968-1986
The I C.A.N. Foundation helps blind and visually impaired youth
in Maryland say "I can," by empowering them through providing
assistive technology and scholarships to camps and conventions
which help them be equal with their sighted peers. For more
information about the Foundation and to support our work, visit
us online at www.icanfoundation.info!
----- Original Message -----
From: Greg Aikens <gpaikens at gmail.com
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Wed, 28 Dec 2011 21:33:00 -0500
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] LWSB and Other Training Centers
Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN also has an excellent
program. Florida State, Missouri State, and Ohio State also have
programs. I think I saw a list of these programs on one of the
NFB sites but can't recall where that might have been.
-Greg
On Dec 27, 2011, at 11:15 PM, Amy Sabo wrote:
Hello hope and all,
I also want to also add 3 schools when I lived in Michigan that
have excellent programs in tvi and rehab teaching for the blind.
I will list them here for you all...
Western Michigan university-west Michigan area. This is the
best
one to offer these programs and it's also the best one in the
usa
too. As a matter of fact my father went to college there for
his
b.a.
Michigan state university
University of Michigan
As for Colorado which is where I now live there's the university
of Colorado too. I hope this answers some of your questions.
Take
care all and, I will talk to you all soon.
Hugs,
amy
-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Hope Paulos
Sent: Tuesday, December 27, 2011 1:16 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] LWSB and Other Training Centers
UMass Boston has a program for TVI's. I'm going there for VRT
but
was
originally in the TVI program.
Hope and Beignet
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joshua Lester" <jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Sent: Tuesday, December 27, 2011 3:04 PM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] LWSB and Other Training Centers
Hi, Gloria.
My instructors took classes at the Arkansas School for the
Blind,
for
their TVI training.
I'm not sure about other states, but mmy state's school for the
Blind,
had a program to train TVI's.
I'm not sure if they still do.
Blessings, Joshua
On 12/27/11, Gloria G <gloria.graves at gmail.com> wrote:
Hi,
DOes anyone know where a person might receive trainning to
become a TVI?
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Sent: Saturday, December 24, 2011 11:29 AM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] LWSB and Other Training Centers
Hi Arielle,
Nice post. I liked how you did not put down the center, but
did mention
its weaknesses. I will add a few things from talking to a few
attendees
from
LWSb.
You are correct that LWSB offers independence training, but
probably not
to
the degree NFB centers do.
Each applicant goes for a 30 day evaluation in all the rehab
skills; I
think
that is a bit long, but that is it.
They recommend what skills to work on from there. If a
applicant is ready
to
go into the vocational programs, they do so
if they meet those requirements. Things like having a certain
score on
the
Wonderlik test, a certain typing speed, computer proficiency,
and strong
writtin communication skills are some requirements.
The requirements vary from program to program.
You have to have a four year college degree for any of the
four IRS
training programs. I know the IRS really does hire applicants.
When I was
at a job fair, I ran into an IRS rep that mentioned they just
hired a
bunch of IRS trainees from lions World.
Other training options are:
. Desktop support technician- prepares students for entry
level IT
technician jobs
. Assistive technology instructor
. Microsoft office Specialist - prepares one for office
jobs, to pass
the Microsoft certification exams, and covers office suite
applications
. Microsoft certified professional developer - training to
be a
computer programmer
. Microsoft computer systems engineer - entry level help
desk training
So if you wanted to go into a technical field, LWSB might be
an option.
If
its not helpful, you can always leave. If you wanted
to work for the IRS such as a tax collection rep, then this
might be an
option. They find you a job after training.
For the living and going off campus, here is what I know.
Students generally go to the cafeteria and live in the dorm.
However, if
you already demonstrated independent living skills, they do
have off
campus apartments. I think they have a shuttle taking students
to and
from
the apartments, if I recall correctly.
Students can go off campus. They just need to sign out and in.
They can go in groups or alone. Some centers have a clearance
rule,
meaning you have to be cleared by O&M staff, but lwsb does not
say this.
I heard LWSb got a new director. So I imagine rules and
policies are
changing, hopefully for the better. So if you wanted to go
into those
vocations they train in, might be worth considering.
Then when you have a job interview, you would have more
training than
sighted people might have.
Ashley
-----Original Message-----
From: Arielle Silverman
Sent: Saturday, December 24, 2011 10:51 AM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: [nabs-l] LWSB and Other Training Centers
Hi all,
I have not attended LWSB in Arkansas, but havve heard some
things
about it from a few graduates. So, someone please correct me
if
anything I say about the center is incorrect, as I would like
to learn
more and b able to give people accurate information.
Based on what I have heard from graduates, my impression is
that
LWSB/World Services for the Blind is a center that specializes
in
technical training for some specific types of jobs, like being
an IRS
collector or a small engine repair person. This kind of
training is
important, but it is not the same thing as the kind of
comprehensive
blindness skill training provided at NFB centers. While
LWSB/World
Services does provide training in blindness skills as well, my
impression is that this general training is much less
beneficial than
the general skills training provided at NFB centers, and other
centers
that house students in apartments. While I can't comment on
LWSB's
philosophy, I do know that LWSB houses students in dormitories
and
that they dine in a cafeteria. In my opinion this kind of
living
environment is not very helpful for teaching blindness skills.
Skills
need to be practiced in order to be mastered, and apartment
living
affords opportunities to practice cooking, cleaning and other
skills
in a variety of real-world situations. Apartment living also
affords
opportunities to build confidence. Furthermore, I am not sure
how much
LWSB students are allowed or encouraged to travel off center
premises
on their own or in groups. This kind of real-world travel is
an
essential part of the training experience at NFB centers.
So, I believe that if you are looking for technical training
in a
specific job field, LWSB/World Services might be an option
worth
considering. However, if you are looking for basic training in
travel,
home management, computers and Braille, or just want to build
your
overall confidence and independent functioning, I would highly
recommend looking for a center that houses students in
apartments and
that allows students to get out and travel on their own during
free
time. If you have some vision but suspect you may eventually
need to
function with less or no sight, then picking a center that
uses
sleepshades may also be a priority. The NFB centers all meet
these
criteria, but there are also some state-run and private
centers that
do. So do your homework and ask about these things before
making your
choice.
I make these suggestions based on my own experience at an NFB
center,
LCB, and based on conversations I have had with dozens of
graduates
from various kinds of training centers. I would be happy to
talk
further by email or phone (see contact info below) if you have
more
specific questions.
Best,
Arielle Silverman, Past NABS President and Board Member
602-502-2255
arielle71 at gmail.com
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