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

[wmodnl wmodnl]

What state do you live in.  Pleaes email me since I may be able to help.  I am currenttly doing something similar.  
 william.odonnell1 at yahoo.com
Please put state rehab in message subject.
Have a good evening.
 
-William O'Donnell--
 

> From: bookwormahb at earthlink.net
> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2011 22:30:16 -0400
> Subject: [nabs-l] justifying more rehab service out of state
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> I come from an overprotective family and did not learn the living skills at the same time as my peers or sighted brothers. My parents seemed to feel it was easier to do something than teach me what to do. I was supported well for academics but not living skills. I was encouraged to keep up with reading in the summer and like all kids I watched kids educational TV like Sesemee street. I still remember Elmo and Ernie; they were cute!
> 
> I grew up in a white middle class family so fortunately my parents bought me many toys and educational materials throughout my childhood/youth. The major things we got paid for via the lions club or the department for the blind and vision impaired, DBVI, when I was a teen. But they bought many supplies and talking products for me and some were daily life functional too including bold line paper, braille paper, labeling tape, labeling dots, a talking calculator, talking timer, and a braille embosser and more. 
> 
> However it wasn’t til a rehab teacher came to us as a teenager that I learned some basic kitchen stuff and how to cut food. For instance, I learned to do my laundry and make cereal and label with dymo tape at this point.
> 
> Now to my point. I mention this stuff for some context where I am as a young adult. I attended our state center and did learn some more, but it was not enough. They do not give you the core classes every day. The instruction in daily living was fine, in my opinion, but simply was not enough and besides I lack confidence. I had a cooking teacher who was not hands on enough for me. If the whole class makes one thing, that doesn’t help me learn. I need to do it to learn it meaning I need to do all steps in making a cake to understand how its done. Instead, we took turns doing the steps to make one product. The computer instruction was too basic and I asked for more intermediate skills and they said they wouldn’t cover it; not in their curriculum. The instruction was fine for a beginner though. Their lessons gave you lots of repetition and practice.
> 
> I am contemplating another center; I’ll admit I do not feel a NFB center is for me.
> I just feel the structured discovery approach would not work; I 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 lot of skills? I use them regularly in school; I’m taking writing classes next spring at community college to finish a certificate.
> I use my computer skills of word processing and research for school. I used the computer to look for work and generate cover letters. Still I need more such as learning excell though.
> I already learned braille, labeling, and organization in school and through a rehab teacher.
> I also use a cane and know some O&M although I could improve there too.
> 
> How do you convince them especially when you have some skills? What if they say, Ashley we can send a rehab teacher to your house. But the rehab teacher in my area won’t work due to her low expectations and she’s a heavy smoker.
> 
> I know home teaching will be their reaction because most skills revolve around cooking, cleaning, home maintenance, clothing care like ironing and other home tasks. 
> What if they say go back to the state center. Of course I don’t want that.
> 
> I don’t know if I want to go or not yet. Again, I’m brainstorming and preparing possible arguments while I have time so I’m ready if I decide time is right. Next semester I’ll be at Nova, community college, though; I’m finishing a certificate and taking an elective, probably public speaking, to further my business skills.
> 
> 
> 
> Even though I won’t do a NFB center, I want to go out of state, so justifying is about the same process. But if you justified it and won to go out of state at a NFB center, I figured some of the same principles can apply elsewhere to exercise informed choice.
> 
> Ashley
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