[nabs-l] rehab counselors and expectations

[Joshua Lester]

The NFB has been rather anti-rehab counselors, from the beginning.
After all, The Blind Inc song tells about how the rehab counselors'
expectations are much too low. Mine wasn't supportive at all. She
wouldn't let me go to ORU, (Oral Roberts University,) because the
state wouldn't pay for it. I wanted to be in the ministry, but my
major would have been music. Now, why wouldn't the state pay for it,
being that I was planning on going for a music major? I don't know.
All I can say is that I'm glad she's out of there, and I have someone
that cares about me, and my wishes. Blessings, Joshua

On 3/5/11, bookwormahb at earthlink.net <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> Has your vocational rehab, vr, counselor been supportive of your goals?
> I don’t feel mine is.  First I wanted to go into education, but for several
> reasons got discouraged and decided against it for now; maybe in the future
> I can go to grad school for a masters in education with emphasis on teaching
> blind/visually impaired students.  But for now, I want a job in
> communications, development, something human services, or clerical support.
> I’m pretty open.  I got several federal internships through the intern
> program WRP, but don’t want to work in the government.  I just feel I won’t
> get much work in my job and will not be able to do outreach to the community
> there.
>
> My vr counselor discouraged education or childcare.  Now I feel she is
> encouraging me and all clients for that matter, to go into the public
> sector!
> Another comment that bothered me was to look for jobs near my home, rather
> than in the more urban city area where I was looking.  Gee, why limit
> yourself!  Why not get a job near transportation as long as your commute is
> reasonable!  Why limit myself to one location?
>
> I feel as if counselors don’t have the highest expectations for clients.
> Fortunately, I know successful blind people working in many areas; I know we
> should be defined by our other strength and abilities and interests, not
> blindness.
>
> Okay just had to vent some.
> Ashley
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