[nabs-l] Training centers and their structure
Jorge Paez
jorgeapaez at mac.com
Wed Feb 9 22:35:44 UTC 2011
> Humberto:
You can also talk to your NFB chapter's President--see if you can get funding for your center that way.
On Feb 8, 2011, at 10:16 PM, humberto wrote:
> Hey, thanks for the little training lesson you have just posted here, but I am sure I will seek other alternatives. And no, I am not a US citizen. I came from Mexico just 5 years ago. That's why my State agency just cannot provide with services.
>
>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: <bookwormahb at earthlink.net
>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> Date sent: Tue, 8 Feb 2011 22:09:13 -0500
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Training centers and their structure
>
>> Humberto,
>> Curious which country? Also, why can't your state agency help?
> I think you
>> have to be a US citizen; maybe that is why you can't get
> services.
>> Many states have a lighthouse for the blind. Its not nfb
> philosophy or
>> expectations. But services from them would teach you some skills
> like
>> laundry.
>> Another idea is if you have blind friends from NFB or other
> affiliations,
>> maybe they can teach you some; get together and learn some
> things. Your
>> parents may not expect anything. Do you have siblings? Maybe
> they would
>> have more faith and belief in you. Get them to show you things.
>> Cleaning is done a lot like the sighted people do it. In fact
> that would be
>> a great discussion here.
>> Have someone take your hand and show you the cleaning motion.
> Take a
>> cleaning tool such as a sponge and go in a systematic pattern
> such as top to
>> bottom; over lap the strokes as you clean. To clean you use the
> same tools
>> and matterials as everyone else would.
>> For laundry, if you read braille, have someone help you label the
> buttons in
>> braille. Use initials such as M for medium and for temperatures:
> C for Cold,
>> H for hot. Then measure out detergent; you can feel the amount in
> the cup.
>> Then after clothes are in, just wash.
>> Do not use bleach except for white clothes. Generally to keep
> clothes from
>> fading, wash in cold water.
>> Another tip is before drying your clothes, clean out the lent
> filter!
>> Clothes generally dry for an hour. If not dried after that, put
> them in for
>> another 15 minutes and then check them.
>> Also if you have socks of different colors, you have to feel them
> to match
>> them in pairs. If you cannot feel them to match say a blue with
> its
>> coresponding blue sock, then you need another way. Safety pins
> will keep
>> your socks hooked together in pairs.
>> Also before washing pants, check the pockets to ensure you don't
> have
>> tissues or other objects in them such as coins.
>> Its easy to take off clothes and forget to remove little items
> such as
>> these.
>
>> Of the skills you mentioned, laundry is probably the easiest to
> learn.
>> I learned some about cleaning at our state center and we reviewed
> laundry
>> but I already knew most of that.
>> While a center may be the best solution, if you cannot get the
> financial
>> funding it may not be possible. So meanwhile seek out other
> sources.
>> Good luck.
>
>> Ashley
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: humberto
>> Sent: Tuesday, February 08, 2011 9:30 PM
>> To: jsorozco at gmail.com ; National Association of Blind Students
> mailing list
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Training centers and their structure
>
>> Hello all:
>
>> First of all, I think I, personally, would be benefitted from
>> going to a training center. I think the reasons why are:
>> 1. Although my parents are proud for the hard work I've put into
>> by going to school and getting great grades, and they support me
>> quite into the same matter, their blindness philosophy is not
>> mine, and it's not what I want out of my life. My Mom, as I grew
>> up, did not teach me any skills of independence, like washing my
>> own clothes, not being afraid of the stove, cleaning, and even
>> she thought, that using a knife to cut apples was not possible
>> for me. Then again, this is when I was little, and you know, the
>> belief system really sets in when you are a kid. (If you know
>> what I mean, anyways). Not until I came into this wonderful
>> country that stands for freedom for all, I discovered the NFB.
>> And, due to my parents' quite low expectations, I am now 20 years
>> old, and still don't know how to do those things I have mentioned
>> above.
>> 2. I really want to go to college. So, college experience
>> require a lot of independent experiences, So, I want to attend a
>> training center. And with the fact, that I cannot get help from
>> my state agency for the blind, it is quite a challenge to qualify
>> for a training center. But anyways, just my 40 cents.
>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Joe Orozco" <jsorozco at gmail.com
>>> To: "'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'"
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> Date sent: Tue, 8 Feb 2011 14:31:02 -0500
>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Training centers and their structure
>
>>> Bridgit,
>
>>> This is one of the best cases I've seen laid out for pursuing
>> training at a
>>> Center. You're not preaching to the choir, because there are
>> some of us
>>> with a slightly dissenting view.
>
>>> I initially rejected the NFB training for two reasons. First, I
>> was more
>>> interested in continuing college, and second, I was not at all
>> interested in
>>> being forced into what other people felt was the right path to
>> independence.
>>> Now that I'm a little older, I can appreciate the stupidity of my
>> first
>>> reason. If you want something bad enough, you make it a
>> priority, but the
>>> second reason, to me, still holds a little water.
>
>>> I was not interested in condescending people looking down on me
>> for choosing
>>> not to take 6 to 9 months out of my life to fit someone else's
>> model of
>>> training. There is a very distinct culture among Center alumni
>> that makes
>>> people not part of it feel a little left out. Now, I am always
>> first in
>>> line to preach the line about doing what you need to do and never
>> mind what
>>> anyone else says, but from a marketing perspective, it makes very
>> little
>>> sense to make it appear as though NFB training is a cornerstone
>> to NFB
>>> philosophy. Yes, the NFB centers feature phenomenal
>> expectations, but no,
>>> these centers will never be able to reach everyone who needs or
>> wants
>>> training. A flexible plan ought to be exercised to catch
>> professionals who
>>> would like NFB-style training without the unreasonable
>> expectation of
>>> stopping employment for an extended period of time, especially in
>> uncertain
>>> economies.
>
>>> After all that babble, my point is this: I did not pursue
>> training and am
>>> positive I would benefit from a training program. I think people
>> like me
>>> who chose not to enroll in a program should be prepared to
>> achieve the same
>>> levels of proficiency with the disadvantage of doing it on your
>> own across a
>>> longer period of time. You have to commit to pushing yourself
>> across
>>> multiple fronts to maintain confidence. I feel I've done that,
>> though I
>>> have not found someone to teach me a thing or three about
>> woodwork. Maybe
>>> later when I have the sufficient income to pitch the idea, I'll
>> convince a
>>> Center to let me train for a summer at one of their facilities.
>> Success is
>>> possible whether you go to a Center or not. If you go to a
>> Center, you'll
>>> have to work hard. If you go at it on your own, you'll have to
>> work even
>>> harder, but, make the decision that is truly most beneficial for
>> you and
>>> commit to it 100% after you've chosen. I personally think I
>> would have been
>>> a little more swayed in favor of the training center route had I
>> read
>>> something like the post below when I graduated from high school.
>
>>> Best,
>
>>> Joe
>
>>> "Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their
>> sleeves,
>>> some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all."--Sam
>> Ewing
>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>> [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit Pollpeter
>>> Sent: Tuesday, February 08, 2011 1:41 PM
>>> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> Subject: [nabs-l] Training centers and their structure
>
>>> Dear List,
>
>>> I know I will be preaching to the choir here so forgive me, but I
>> feel
>>> it is important to stress the importance of choosing a good
>> training
>>> center to attend.
>
>>> As a blind person-- whether blind from birth, later in life or in
>> the
>>> process of losing vision-- one of the most important things you
>> can do
>>> is attend the best training center you can find. The reason NFB
>> centers
>>> and other progressive centers follow similar methods is because,
>> for
>>> years now, they have proven to be the best methods for instilling
>>> independence along with a strong functionality with the skills.
>
>>> We all learn at different paces and with different styles, but
>> these
>>> centers are structured to meet individual needs. This is why
>> people
>>> train anywhere from 6 months to a year. If you think you can
>> learn the
>>> skills in less than 6 months and use them effectively, you are
>> mistaken.
>>> Time and time again, I have seen people choose to not complete a
>>> training course and they lack the confidence and ability that
>> most gain
>>> after at least a six month stint.
>
>>> As for sleep shades, I have always failed to understand why
>> people are
>>> against this. I initially learned with sleep shades and it made
>> sense
>>> to me. How better to gain that confidence than to know you can
>> do
>>> things in non-visual ways? Now that I can no longer use my
>> vision at
>>> all, it makes me feel like I must be less capable when people say
>> sleep
>>> shade training is wrong or not necessary. The way this comes
>> across is
>>> that vision is still vital to be truly independent, and that when
>> you
>>> have no useable vision, you can not effectively accomplish
>> things.
>
>>> Do not sell yourself short. We all have the ability to gain that
>>> freedom and independence we hear so much about. If you have
>> never tried
>>> something, how do you know you can't do it? I don't say all this
>>> because I have been brain washed, and I am one of those hard core
>> blind
>>> people; I say all this because I have experienced it and know the
>>> benefits.
>
>>> We will struggle, we will need to learn, we will not always do
>>> everything perfectly, but if we have been handed the tools and
>> methods
>>> to give us independence and confidence, we will find a way to
>> prove
>>> ourselves to the world.
>
>>> I agree that placing an untrained student into an apartment
>> scenerio may
>>> not work for everyone. I understand the reasoning behind this,
>> but I
>>> also know that before you learn skills and the confidence to use
>> those
>>> skills, living on your own may not be the best situation right
>> away.
>>> Not all training centers, good ones that is, follow this style of
>>> training. You can find centers, like the Iowa Department for the
>> Blind,
>>> where there structure is similar to the NFB centers, but housing
>> is on
>>> campus, not apartments. Regardless, challenge yourself and find
>> out
>>> what you really are able to do.
>
>>> Many of us can a test to the positive influence of a good
>> training
>>> center that teaches Structured Discovery. Sleep shades and
>> completing
>>> six to nine months is essential to these programs. Do we choose
>>> universities that truncate their programs because we don't want
>> to spend
>>> time completing a degree? No, we know we have to work for four
>> years,
>>> or longer, so we can receive the best education possible. Why do
>> we
>>> view training centers for the blind differently?
>
>>> I urge us all to take a good look inside and figure out who we
>> are and
>>> what we are capable of. We will all encounter situations in life
>> that
>>> make us nervous or scared, but does that mean we limit our lives?
>> Do we
>>> not reach our full potential because of nerves? No, of course
>> not. We
>>> should not follow an opposite line of thinking, then, when it
>> comes to
>>> choosing a training center.
>
>>> Centers that do not offer this kind of training only send a
>> message that
>>> blindness is limiting, and one is better off with some vision.
>> Yes, I
>>> have visited centers like this and it is sad to see blind people
>> not
>>> reaching their full potential or not understanding how
>> independent they
>>> can be. The reason NFB centers were created was because most
>> other
>>> agencies were not teaching and instilling this sense of
>> independence,
>>> and they were not willing to open their minds to a new way. Like
>> many
>>> other situations, we were not going to accept this so we opened
>> our own
>>> training centers. Not everyone graduating from these centers
>> leaves
>>> ready to make their mark on the world, bbut this is life. Many,
>> though,
>>> leave these centers knowing they can do anything, and they are
>> ready to
>>> face the world.
>
>>> I am one of these people. I never understood the fear of
>> training or
>>> the insistance that it was not important. When I started losing
>> my
>>> vision, I couldn't wait to train. I knew I could still do
>> things, I
>>> just had to figure out how to do them. I did not accept what
>> people
>>> told me, that I was limited and would not be able to do a lot of
>> things.
>>> I felt this way long before I trained, long before I knew of the
>> NFB or
>>> any other group. I was nervous, and at 23, leaving for training,
>> in a
>>> whole other state, was the first time I truly lived away from
>> home. I
>>> have not been back since.
>
>>> I live on my own (wel, with my husband, who, by the way, is blind
>> too).
>>> I take the bus, I go to school, I work. I do everything, and
>> more, and
>>> I owe this to a positive training center.
>
>>> I will stop. I apologize, but I feel so strongly about this
>> topic. As
>>> blind people-- as people-- I know we can do anything we put our
>> minds
>>> too. I simply don't want to see anyone stifle their own
>> potential.
>
>>> Bridgit
>
>
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>
>
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>> 5369%40netzero.net
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>
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