[nabs-l] justifying more rehab service out of state

[Rania Ismail CMT]

Yes BISM has a good adult program. I went and I feel that I learned so =
much
more than if I would have done what my clunselor wanted me to do wich =
was
have me attend both training centers in my state. I think I learned so =
much
more going threw the eight month program at BISM. While you can't be
prepaired for everything life puts in your way I know how to manage an
apartment as well as other tasks all at the same time. I really don't =
think
this would be possible if I had gone to both training centers in my =
state.
Rania,

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Chris Nusbaum
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2011 5:46 AM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] justifying more rehab service out of state

Amy Phelps, the programs director at BISM, is on this list. =20
Apparently, BISM is very good now.  I didn't have a very good=20
experience when I went there when I was like 7, but I'm sure that=20
has changed with the change of directors.  I have a friend who=20
went to Blind Inc, but unfortunately isn't on this list.  You can=20
contact him offlist at jaedpo96 at gmail.com, and his name is Jason. =20
Another friend of mine, Nathan Clark, who is on this list, went=20
to Colorado a few times, and I'm planning to go to Colorado next=20
year.

Chris

 ----- Original Message -----
From: Arielle Silverman <arielle71 at gmail.com
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list=20
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Sun, 23 Oct 2011 22:25:05 -0600
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] justifying more rehab service out of state

Hi Ashley,
I think the first step will be identifying a specific=20
out-of-state
center that you want to attend.  Then, once you've identified the
center you want, you can base your argument on specific things=20
they do
at the center you are choosing that are better than what is=20
provided
at the center you attended previously.  If you just tell your=20
counselor
that you want more training, they will try to steer you toward an
in-state or in-contract center.  So do your research and look for
centers that you think would cater to your specific O&M,=20
independent
living and computer skills needs.
There are some state-run centers that have good reputations and=20
are
staffed by a mix of NFB and non-NFB members.  For example, I have=20
heard
good things about the state centers in Nebraska, New Mexico and=20
Utah.
Also, I believe you attended the Carroll center, right? There is
another center in Richmond, VA that is now directed by a=20
Federationist
(Melody Lindsay I believe) but they have a mix of NFB and=20
traditional
practices.  I would suggest calling up the directors of a few=20
different
centers and asking some detailed questions about how the=20
curriculum is
set up, what students typically achieve by the time of graduation=20
etc.
so you can gauge what their expectations are and what their=20
teaching
style is.
Finally, I would recommend speaking with the director of at least=20
one
of the NFB centers before ruling them out altogether.  You may=20
have
done this already, but if you haven't, it's possible that you may=20
not
have a complete understanding of how skills are taught at the NFB
centers, so talking with either a center director or with center
graduates could be helpful.  If you would like to pose any=20
specific
questions about the NFB centers on-list, we would be happy to=20
answer
them.  One thing to keep in mind is that the NFB centers work=20
with some
students who are very poor travelers and have a lot of trouble=20
with
spatial awareness when they come in.  While these people do=20
struggle
with the structured-discovery method at first, from what I've=20
observed
they do end up being better travelers by the time they leave than=20
when
they come in, which is really the goal of any training program. =20
With
cooking at the NFB centers, students have to do the entire=20
project
themselves-from finding and retrieving ingredients at the=20
beginning to
cleanup at the end-which is different from the group cooking=20
projects
that you described.
Best,
Arielle

On 10/23/11, Ashley Bramlett <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
 Hi all,

 I come from an overprotective family and did not learn the=20
living skills at
 the same time as my peers or sighted brothers.  My parents=20
seemed to feel it
 was easier to do something than teach me what to do.  I was=20
supported well
 for academics but not living skills.  I was encouraged to keep=20
up with
 reading in the summer and like all kids I watched kids=20
educational TV like
 Sesemee street.  I still remember Elmo and Ernie; they were=20
cute!

 I grew up in a white middle class family so fortunately my=20
parents bought me
 many toys and educational materials throughout  my=20
childhood/youth.  The
 major things we got paid for via the lions club or the=20
department for the
 blind and vision impaired, DBVI, when I was a teen.  But they=20
bought many
 supplies and talking products for me and some were daily life=20
functional too
 including bold line paper, braille paper, labeling tape,=20
labeling dots, a
 talking calculator, talking timer, and a braille embosser and=20
more.

 However it wasn=92t til a rehab teacher came to us as a teenager=20
that I
 learned some basic kitchen stuff and how to cut food.  For=20
instance, I
 learned to do my laundry and make cereal and label with dymo=20
tape at this
 point.

 Now to my point.  I mention this stuff for some context where I=20
am as a young
 adult.  I attended our state center and did learn some more, but=20
it was not
 enough.  They do not give you the core classes every day.  The=20
instruction in
 daily living was fine, in my opinion, but simply was not enough=20
and besides
 I lack confidence.  I had a cooking teacher who was not hands on=20
enough for
 me.  If the whole class makes one thing, that doesn=92t help me=20
learn.  I need
 to do it to learn it meaning I need to do all steps in making a=20
cake to
 understand how its done.  Instead, we took turns doing the steps=20
to make one
 product.  The computer instruction was too basic and I asked for=20
more
 intermediate skills and they said they wouldn=92t cover it; not in=20
their
 curriculum.  The instruction was fine for a beginner though. =20
Their lessons
 gave you lots of repetition and practice.

 I am contemplating another center; I=92ll admit I do not feel a=20
NFB center is
 for me.
 I just feel the structured discovery approach would not work; I=20
want a more
 hands on and explicit approach.


 So here is the thing.
 How do you convince rehab you need training? What if you have a=20
lot of
 skills? I use them regularly in school; I=92m taking writing=20
classes next
 spring at community college to finish a certificate.
 I use my computer skills of word processing and research for=20
school.  I used
 the computer to look for work and generate cover letters.  Still=20
I need more
 such as learning excell though.
 I already learned braille, labeling, and organization in school=20
and through
 a rehab teacher.
 I also use a cane and know some O&M although I could improve=20
there too.

 How do you convince them especially when you have some skills?=20
What if they
 say, Ashley we can send a rehab teacher to your house.  But the=20
rehab teacher
 in my area won=92t work due to her low expectations and she=92s a=20
heavy smoker.

 I know home teaching will be their reaction because most skills=20
revolve
 around cooking, cleaning, home maintenance, clothing care like=20
ironing and
 other home tasks.
 What if they say go back to the state center.  Of course I don=92t=20
want that.

 I don=92t know if I want to go or not yet.  Again, I=92m=20
brainstorming and
 preparing possible arguments while I have time so I=92m ready if I=20
decide time
 is right.  Next semester I=92ll be at Nova, community college,=20
though; I=92m
 finishing a certificate and taking an elective, probably public=20
speaking, to
 further my business skills.



 Even though I won=92t do a NFB center, I want to go out of state,=20
so
 justifying is about the same process.  But if you justified it=20
and won to go
 out of state at a NFB center, I figured some of the same=20
principles can
 apply elsewhere to exercise informed choice.

 Ashley
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