[nabs-l] Training centers

[Beth]

Training centers are a good way for blind people to learn the 
skills, but the CCB staff being blind makes it easier.  Tara, I 
agree with you on all points.  At a center in Daytona Beach, 
Florida, there were nurses, old creeps,, and lots of rules such 
as the lights out rule.  Sexes were separated by wing, and there 
was no question about dating.  At CCB, blind people are treated 
like people.
Beth

 ----- Original Message -----
From: Tara Annis <TAnnis at afb.net
To: "nabs-l at nfbnet.org" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Wed, 9 Feb 2011 14:38:09 -0500
Subject: [nabs-l] Training centers

I attended the Colorado Center program between semesters at 
college.    I attended the school for the blind and also took 
some classes at a local association of the blind, so would like 
to provide some insight.
I do agree that blind people can be successful and have above 
average skills, even though they do  not go to the NFB center, 
but this is really rare from my observations.
Before I went to CCB, I did not know that blind people could walk 
long distances using a cane, as in m five or ten miles.  I 
thought people could only walk routes that the O&M instructor had 
taught them, and the route would be a mile or less.  I thought  
blind  people needed sighted  guide for any new place they 
visited, and couldn't use the cane to follow someone.
I didn't know that blind people could use a charcoal grill.
Some observations:
1. There were no nurses at CCB that had control of the medication 
you took.  If you are supposed to be living in the real world, 
why have someone keep track of your meds?

2. There were no lights out at CCB.  As long as you showed up to 
class on time, who cares what you do at night, as long as you 
aren't breaking the law.  You're adults, so you should be treated   
like them.
Go to bed when you feel like it.

3. There was no hassle at CCB when you wanted to go for lunch.  
You just  walked out the door.  You didn't need to make sure  
people had a sighted guide before beginning.  You didn't need to 
have a sighted person to come along to help out.


4. Instructors were blind at CCB, and not ashamed of it. At other 
training centers, the instructors would never be caught using a 
cane or reading braille.  Sighted people wore dark glasses when 
traveling with blind people, so the public couldn't look into 
their eyes.  They did  not like being stared at by the  public.  
Yet, they never told blind people this fact.

5. Colorado staff did not hide the fact that the public can 
sometimes be cruel, and many do not understand blindness.  I have 
witnessed at  other centers staff outright lying to blind people 
telling them that no one can tell they are blind and that they 
don't need a cane, since they get around  so well.  Yet, the 
people they tell this to have disfigured eyes, and run into 
obstacles.  The instructors do not want the blind person to feel 
bad so that is why they make up these lies.


6. I hate how at other centers they always assume a blind person 
has low self  esteem, and needs counseling.
CCB  knew that some of their students are at an intermediate 
level, already past the adjustment phase of blidnness, and just 
came to CCB for advanced skills training.







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