[nabs-l] LWSB Little Rock Employment Training Programs

Tue Jul 17 15:24:30 UTC 2012

Good morning everyone,

    LWSB, formerly the Arkansas Enterprises for the Blind has had a long and 
checkered history concerning its treatment of the blind persons it claims to 
serve. The conditions you describe have existed there for many years. At one 
time it was accredited by the National Accreditation Council for Agencies 
Serving the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NAC.) Its former blind 
director was a key figure in NAC. NAC had a reputation for condoning 
practices that often led to blind persons being abused, mistreated, and in 
the case of sheltered workshops being paid less than the Federal minimum 
wage. NAC'S so-called "Standards of Accreditation" failed to address these 
issues. For example the standards called for the agency's grounds to be 
pleasant but did not require the sheltered workshops they accredited to pay 
all employees including the blind employees the Federal minimum wage.

    In 1985 NAC held its annual meeting in Littlerock and the NFB was there 
to "Greet" them. Both the then Arkansas Enterprises for the Blind and the 
Arkansas School for the Blind were picketed by the NFB. While at AEB a 
number of AEB clients told us that there were problems and that it needed to 
be investigated. I know because Mary and I were on that picket line.

    Judging from what I've read NAC for practical purposes is gone but 
vestiges of its evil doings remain at agencies such as LWSB. Amber here's 
hoping you will eventually attend an NFB training center. These centers are 
a big cut above anything else out there. All the best.

Peter Donahue

From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, July 16, 2012 11:33 PM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] LWSB Little Rock Employment Training Programs

Amber,
Well, my goodness. I'd have to say first that I commend your efforts in
sticking to the facts or trying to. I think you did a good job for someone
who did not have a good experience.  I've also heard bad rumors about it.
Second, with all this publicity, I'm real surprised that
LWSB continues to stay open and attracting the clients it does.
Which program were you in? Independent living? or a job program?

About rules, personally signing in and out doesn't bother me. You are in a
training setting and with this litigious society, they need to account for
everyone. What if there was an emergency? They need to know where everyone
is. People go missing everyday and are never found. Youwouldn't want your
parents or friends or family calling and them saying, oh, we do not know
where your son is;  he may be on campus or not.
The other thing about the no microwave or fridge would bother me. As a
college student, I enjoyed having my own fridge in my room.
It gave me some freedom to have a cold drink or cold snack when I wanted to.
Since the cafeteria closed early at 7:30, this was definitely nice.
That seems early to me given the fact that I eat late at home; between 7 and
8pm.

Anyway, Amber you are making a good personal decision to leave. So I wish
you luck in your next decision to find decent training or whatever you need.
I don't remember your intro to us, so I'm not sure if you are a current
college student or recent grad.
If you haven't finished school, I hope you can as it opens up more doors to
you.

Ashley
-----Original Message----- 
From: Herrin, Amber R.
Sent: Monday, July 16, 2012 10:36 PM
To: 'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] LWSB Little Rock Employment Training Programs

Ian,

I am currently at WSB, but am planning to leave on Friday.  Here is what I
have experienced.  I will do my best to give only facts and not color those
facts with my opinion, though before I begin, I will clearly state that if
you are asking for an opinion as to whether or not one should attend this
program in order to obtain a job, I would have to say no.  But I am not you
or anyone else for that matter, and what I have experienced here has colored
my opinion, and may not be very reliable.

The facts:

*Several students (including myself) have had valuables go missing.
*The food does not seem to meet health and safety codes. (just one
example-there are many-one evening we had chicken wings, and though the
outside was hot, the inside was not.  I would not mention this, except this
is not an isolated incident.)
*The showers have light bulbs  (not protected by any kind of panels) inside
the actual stall where water could be accidentally splashed.  I brought this
up as a concern, so they put a cover over mine, but mine is not the only one
that this is the case with (as confirmed by other clients.)
*Despite several complaints from many clients, the building is full of bugs.
They say that someone comes regularly to spray, but bugs were found even in
my room, and I am a very clean person. (read as, do not leave food in
uncealed containers or dishes with food still on them etc.)
*Clients are unable to have microwaves or refrigerators in their rooms, and
so are reduced to coolers full of ice or nothing at all except cafeteria
food.  There are microwaves that physically exist, but they do not work very
well.

Now I can say that there are other things I could talk about, but they
probably come down to personal preference and really are just normal
inconveniences that one would encounter on any college dorm, except they are
exaggerated because of the fact that everything is scaled down hugely.  So
while, for example, on most college campuses, you could go to a dining hall
at almost any time of day, if you do not come to meals at the times
specified, you don't eat meals.  I am sure that anyone can argue that when
in school, you have to work with a particular schedule, and while this is
true to some extent, I do take issue with the fact that we can't even have
microwaves or refrigerators in our rooms so that we may maintain the
schedules that are most comfortable for us.

The last thing I mention is a large thing and may not affect anyone, but I
feel I must mention it, because if I did not, I would be doing a great
disservice to anyone considering attending this center.

Two weeks ago this Friday, I was groped by an authority figure.  He was
picking me up from the airport, and I was approaching the baggage claim with
a female passenger from my flight.  This authority figure approached me
without announcing himself, put his arm around my waist, hugged me to
himself in a tight, possessive manner, and told the female passenger who had
offered to walk with me that he "had it under control from there, but
thanks."  After which, he looked down at me and said, "How was your trip,
Punkin?  We've missed you!  We're so glad you're home!"

This man did not announce himself to me in the beginning, should have been
treating me professionally, is old enough to be my father, and possibly even
my grandfather, has only interacted with me minimally since my arrival at
the center, I'm 24, etc etc etc.  Basically, it was wayyy wayyyy beyond what
one would call professional or even acceptable regardless of setting.

I cannot tell you whether to attend this center; only you can decide that
for yourself.  What I can tell you is that the man who did this to me was
reported by me, and, I have discovered, has been reported multiple times by
other females that he has violated in one way or another, and still holds a
job here.  I believe there is something big going on here that I am unaware
of, and am only glad to be leaving.

I have met some truly wonderful people here, but regardless of that, I could
never suggest that someone attend here.

I hope this helps you make your decision.  If it does not, please know that
I wish you all the best.

Amber R. Herrin
Mobile: (513) 593-5855
E-mail: herrinar at muohio.edu
"It doesn't matter what you've heard
Impossible is not a word
It's just a reason
For someone not to try

Everybody's scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It'll be alright

Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing"

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Anmol Bhatia
Sent: Monday, July 16, 2012 4:49 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] LWSB Little Rock Employment Training Programs

Ian,
I have never attended LWSB as a trainny, but I used to go there on to stay
during weekends in the 1990s. The only thing I can say is that LWSB has made
alot of changes last couple of years and I would think about visiting there
before deciding one way or the other. They do have an option to live off
campus and as far as I am aware that there is not a sign in and sign out
policy  after class time. Now they may have sign in and sign out policy
during class time to keep count of attendance, however, this is know
different signing in and signing out of work which everyone blind and
sighted has to do.
The IRS program is one of the best programs there and frankly since you have
to be excepted for a job at one of the IRS offices, it is a guarantied
employment after completing the program and they start at 45,000 or more.
The food was not the greatest, however, as I said above LWSB now known as
World Services for the Blind has made alot of changes under the new director
and frankly I can not tell you how the food is now. As I said earlier, I
would make a visit there before making any kind of decision.

Anmol
I seldom think about my limitations, and they never make me sad. Perhaps
there is just a touch of yearning at times; but it is vague, like a breeze
among flowers.
Hellen Keller

--- On Mon, 7/16/12, Ian Perrault <iperrault at hotmail.com> wrote:

> From: Ian Perrault <iperrault at hotmail.com>
> Subject: [nabs-l] LWSB Little Rock Employment Training Programs
> To: "National Association of Blind Students" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Date: Monday, July 16, 2012, 4:14 PM
> Hi
> I’m wondering if any of you have attended LWSB for one of their
> employment training programs, or LWSB in general?
> I’m looking into one of the IRS programs, and was reading the manual,
> and it seems like a very strict and structured environment, even
> though most of the participants are adults. For instance, you have to
> sign out if you want to go somewhere and things like that. Have any of
> you attended LWSB? I’d love to hear what your experiences were. Since
> I’ve been to college, it sounds like it’s not as independent of an
> environment.
> Ian
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