[nabs-l] Training centers

Fri Feb 11 02:43:34 UTC 2011

We didn't really have homework. I think the only students who actually have 
"homework" at the Carroll Center are those in the Office Skills and other 
computer training classes. I already knew how to read Braille, so I guess 
that helped.

Jen
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----- Original Message ----- 
From: <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2011 8:04 PM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Training centers

> Antonio,
> I thought that was the case. Other than graduation requirements, I sensed 
> there was not a curriculum at the centers.  I suppose that's good for 
> flexibility though so you can learn what you need/want to learn.
> What did you do after you left Colorado Antonio?  Work?
>
> You all also say you have free time after 5:00 when classes end at these 
> nfb centers.
> Do you get any homework? I thought you had it in braille or technology. 
> Obviously by cooking, cleaning, shopping and more you practice the home 
> management skills so you don't have to have homework in that.
>
> Ashley
>
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Antonio M. Guimaraes Jr.
> Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2011 7:50 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Training centers
>
> Hello Kirt and all,
>
> I realize that a training center is an excellent way for a blind person to 
> gain skills and confidence. The apartment living allows any student to 
> live however they so please, leaving it wide open on whether one will 
> learn to plan and make meals, shedule their time, live well, with balance 
> and respect--or not.
>
> I attended the colorado center for about 3 months in 2003, and found a 
> general lack of direction, standards, and curriculum.
>
> These were reasons why I left, but let me turn the discussion elsewhere 
> since this is not the focus of your question.
>
> The life you lead as a center student is somewhat restricted by a social 
> environment where all students live in the same apartment complex. You 
> will make friends in this circle, hang out with your friends, ad end up 
> spending a good amount of time with your blind friends in and out of 
> center activities.
>
> The trick is to try and get out and to know the people and places in the 
> city outside a blind community. This is nearly inpossible in a place like 
> Denver. There are tuns of blind people who have come and stayed in Denver 
> as you might observe, and you might actually have to make an effort to 
> expand your horizons while at CCB.
>
> Friends of mine at the center have been able to go out and enjoy the city 
> for what it's got. They observed the cosmopolitan flavor of the place, met 
> sighted friends, and participated in activities outside center territory.
>
> Your experience wiull be what you make of it. A center philosophy of 
> training and one's drive to be integrated in work and community life may 
> be just what the doctor ordered. You decide.
>
> Antonio Guimaraes
>
>
>
>
>
> On Feb 9, 2011, at 3:37 PM, Kirt Manwaring wrote:
>
>> Dear Beth, Tara and all,
>>  Is it hard to get involved with the community outside the center?
>> Let me clarify the question, as it maybe doesn't make sense.
>>  I know a lot of blind people (and please keep in mind I'm not
>> calling anyone out or judging), who graduated from the training
>> centers and now spend their lives mostly with other blind people.
>> There's nothing wrong with that, it's just not for me.  I'm probably
>> not going to marry a blind person or seriously date a blind
>> person...simply because most of my friends aren't blind.  So, with
>> that in mind, I'm going to want to find ways to get involved in the
>> community at large, at whichever center I decide is right for me.
>> So...do you think I'll be discouraged or austricized if I choose to
>> spend lots of my free time with church groups, volunteer programs,
>> other friends I might find outside the center, etc?  Because I think
>> the worst thing that could happen to me is to get caught in a "blind
>> bubble" where I learn all the skills I need, hang out with center
>> people all the time, and miss out on whatever other opportunities I
>> might find living away from home for such a long time.  Don't get me
>> wrong, I hope to make friends at the center and have a great time.
>> But I don't want that to be my whole life while I'm out on my own like
>> this.  Thoughts, anyone?
>>  Kirt
>>
>> On 2/9/11, Beth <thebluesisloose at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> 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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>>
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>
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