[nabs-l] LWSB Little Rock Employment Training Programs

Tue Jul 17 17:08:39 UTC 2012

Hello Joshua and everyone,

    Let' sleet her decide if she would benefit from a complete training 
program or not. All three NFB centers have employment-related assistance and 
offer training in several specific areas. Have you been to an NFB center 
yourself?

Peter Donahue

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joshua Lester" <jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2012 11:01 AM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] LWSB Little Rock Employment Training Programs

She has the skills to take care of herself.
She needs job training.
Is there an NFB sponsored ATI program?
Thanks, Joshua

On 7/17/12, Peter Donahue <pdonahue2 at satx.rr.com> wrote:
> 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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>
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