[nabs-l] Rehab Counselors, and ignorance of blindness

[Ashley Bramlett]

Joshua,
No one gets everything they want or need. I recommend getting family help to 
purchase products or if needed turn to a charity such as lions clubs.
Its my experience that the VR system isn't too helpful. I wanted them to 
authorize computer training from an outside service provider they often use. 
Well, months later in january, I still have no training. Once authorization 
is submitted, I get only eight hours. That isn't much, but hopefully will 
get me started with the applications I need to learn.

As far as people with more experience, there are tons; just ask around in 
nfb. Fred Schroeder is one but he is in VA, but he would travel over there 
as an advocate if something serious happens. Also, contacting any number of 
civil right nonprofits to be an advocate may help as well.
Ashley

-----Original Message----- 
From: Joshua Lester
Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 11:51 AM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Rehab Counselors, and ignorance of blindness

It would be helpful, if we had people that had more experience with
us, over our DSB, in headquarters.
I take what I can get, and I'm thankful for it, but I was surprised,
when that all went down, on Monday.
Blessings, Joshua

On 1/11/12, Nicole B. Torcolini at Home <ntorcolini at wavecable.com> wrote:
> Then you need to critique the process, not the person who is a part of it.
> The fact that she did not know what a PacMate was was probably beyond her
> control. No, that is not crazy, especially if she has never worked with
> people who are blind before. The things that are part of our every day
> lives--PacMates, BrailleNotes, embossers, screen readers, etc--are
> completely new to sighted people, and the training programs for councelors
> probably do not have enough information.
>     Furthermore, Joshua, you really should consider how you state your
> feedback. I agree that you have many important and valid points, but, if
> phrased in the wrong way, certain people may start remembering your 
> slightly
> harsh comments more than your other qualities.
>
> Nicole
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Joshua Lester" <jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu>
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 8:08 AM
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Rehab Counselors, and ignorance of blindness
>
>
>>I don't know if it was a mistake.
>> She's new, and she hasn't dealt with blind people before.
>> This is her first time.
>> I'll give her the benefit of the doubt, this time, but we need to make
>> sure people know about the technology, so that Froidian slips like
>> that don't happen.
>> The Department of Social Services has taken over VR, for my state,
>> which complecates the problem, though.
>> Blessings, Joshua
>>
>> On 1/11/12, Anjelina <anjelinac26 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Joshua,
>>> I don't mean any disrespect, but could it have been a mistake by your
>>> rehab
>>> counselor?
>>> At times I mix up words or call items by different names; I don't think
>>> this
>>> is a matter of ignorance.
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Joshua Lester
>>> Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 10:26 AM
>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>> Subject: [nabs-l] Rehab Counselors, and ignorance of blindness
>>>
>>> Hi, it's Joshua Lester.
>>> I'd like to discuss a topic, that has come up, in my life.
>>> I was telling you, that I might receive a Pac Mate, from my Rehab 
>>> office.
>>> I'm not sure, if I told you, that my Rehab counselor slipped, and
>>> called it a "Packman."
>>> That's crazy, because I thought rehab counselors should, at least,
>>> have some knowledge of assistive technology, for the blind, that
>>> they're supposed to be assisting.
>>> Has anyone had trouble in the past, with Rehab counselors, in regards to
>>> this?
>>> What can we do, to stop this ignorance from spreading, within the
>>> state VR system?
>>> Thanks, Joshua
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
>>> Anjelina
>>>
>>>
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>>
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