[nabs-l] meeting results and what to dotogetaworkingcomputerforcollege
William Grussenmeyer
wdg31415 at gmail.com
Sat Jul 21 08:03:27 UTC 2012
You sound stressed and afraid of your future. You sound afraid to be
on your own. You can always walk away from rehab. The most they can
do is ask yyou to return any items they purchased for you. College is
certainly much less stressful than work and doesn't take as much time.
When I went blind I didn't feel ready to get a job. I ignored
department of rehab and enrolled in college as a 2nd bachelors, which
really annoyed them because I all ready had a bachelors. I took only
two or three classes each semester to get myself to become better at
jaws and living blind. I finally did get a job the summer after my
second year. But it was a job that I found for myself in the area I
was studying. I barely made their 5 year or whatever cut off point
where they close the case as a failure and ask for your things back.
I was also dealing with the trauma of losing my vision. That really
affected my rehab classes learning jaws and braille, etc. Sometimes,
I couldn't sleep all night because I was terrified and then would pass
out from exhaustion, sleep all day and miss my classes at society for
the blind.
My university I go to has been very good in providing me with
notetakers, readers, research assistance, alternative media
specialist, etc.
You don't need to be proficient at computers or work with them wel.
One of the students I know is terrible with Jaws and windows. The
school simply provides her with a research assistant to help with
downloading and looking for articles and skimming them to make sure
its what she wants.
Another student I know who goes there has bipolar but she is not
blind. She still goes to the department of rehab. Her sisters and
mother also have bipolar. Its a struggle for them. She even dropped
out of one college and is now going to the college I am at.
In the end it all comes down to finding people who will help you. I
hate asking people for help and I was jealous of other people who are
sighted and don't need help, but one day last semester when I was
stressed out the department chair told me that when she went to
graduate school things became so difficult she had to ask for a lot of
help many times from professors and other students and she has no
disability of any kind. Learning from others, getting help from
others, and so forth is what everyone does to succeed.
Department of rehab doesn't seem all that willing to help you do
what you want. You should look else where -- at colleges with high
amounts of services, FASFA loans, any friends or family, etc.
--Bill
On 7/21/12, Beth <thebluesisloose at gmail.com> wrote:
> Maybe I should probably tell the counselors that. That and the
> fact that the job assessment may not be adequate.
> I don't believe that my ex had to go through that stuff, so there
> you go. I'm thinking it would be nice if people actually did
> help me with research. Thanks for the resources.
> Beth
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Arielle Silverman <arielle71 at gmail.com
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Fri, 20 Jul 2012 23:14:08 -0600
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] meeting results and what to
> dotogetaworkingcomputerforcollege
>
> Beth,
> University libraries have accessible databases where you can
> download
> articles in PDF or HTML for free if you are a student. There are
> also
> free ways to convert a PDF doc to a Word doc, such as sending it
> to
> convert at robobraille.org
> If you decide to go back to school, I would be glad to help you
> with
> the research stuff and I'm sure others will as well. You can tell
> rehab that you will work with blind mentors to learn how to
> handle the
> research issues that caused you to have to drop out the first
> time.
> "Mentoring" is a big buzzword in rehab, I am told.
> Best,
> Arielle
>
> On 7/20/12, Joshua Lester <jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu> wrote:
> Sounds to me like you need Blio!
> Blessings, Joshua
>
> On 7/20/12, Beth <thebluesisloose at gmail.com> wrote:
> Brandon,
> I have difficulties with papers and research and stuff.
> Research and papers are harder for me to do because books
> are out off the question and articles like on JSTOR and
> other databases are in PDF format and can't be downloaded
> without a steep price. Whuaft in the world! That's all
> that got on my nerves in college.
> Beth
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Brandon Keith Biggs" <brandonkeithbiggs at gmail.com
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Fri, 20 Jul 2012 20:40:49 -0700
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] meeting results and what to
> dotogetaworkingcomputerfor college
>
> Hello,
> That's exactly the goal of rehab. To get you employed. Even if
> it's at a
> sheltered workshop. If you work for 6 months, they will close
> your case.
> Then they get refunded 75% of your cost from the federal
> government.
> That's why you have to be on top of everything, or they will
> push
> you
> around.
> May I ask, what difficulties were you having before in college?
> Thanks,
>
> Brandon Keith Biggs
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Beth
> Sent: Friday, July 20, 2012 6:54 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] meeting results and what to do
> togetaworkingcomputerfor college
>
> I could, and that's another idea. I'd go to the library and
> play
> with a Mac and do the on screen thingies with Voiceover. I
> might
> talk to Metro's access office sometime Monday. I think I'll do
> all that you suggest, and I'll probably have to do it while
> working. But the thing is that Rehab would rather tesft my
> employability skills becauase they're just interested in getting
> money out of me. I don't believe they want to see me succeed in
> the employment I dream about. They don't think I can handle it
> because of the bipolar, and if it weren't for mental issues, I'd
> have the Mac in hand and I'd be writing this email on one. I'd
> probablyget one-to-one training.
> Beth
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Arielle Silverman <arielle71 at gmail.com
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Fri, 20 Jul 2012 17:47:07 -0600
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] meeting results and what to do to
> getaworkingcomputerfor college
>
> Beth, Can you apply for a Pell grant? I don't think you need
> rehab to do this.
> As for the "proficiency" claims, doesn't someone in rehab
> understand
> that you can become more proficient at a technology through
> practice
> and training? Proficiency isn't something like blonde hair you
> either
> have or don't have when you're born; it's something you can
> easily
> build up on.
> Since the Mac is accessible out of the box, could you possibly
> go
> to a
> library, or back to CCB, or somewhere else where there is a
> public
> Mac, and teach yourself the basics of VoiceOver using the
> on-screen
> tutorials?
> Arielle
>
> On 7/20/12, Beth <thebluesisloose at gmail.com> wrote:
> Julie won't help. They won't get me a Mac because of
> proficiency. They don't realize it's maintenance that's keeping
> me from wanting a PC so much.
> Beth
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "RJ Sandefur" <joltingjacksandefur at gmail.com
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Fri, 20 Jul 2012 17:40:33 -0400
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] meeting results and what to do to get
> aworkingcomputerfor college
>
> Beth, What were their reasons for not getting you a mac? Mabie
> you should
> talk to July Deeden. RJ
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David Andrews" <dandrews at visi.com
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Sent: Friday, July 20, 2012 5:09 PM
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] meeting results and what to do to get a
> workingcomputerfor college
>
>
>
> On 7/20/2012 12:10 PM, Ignasi Cambra wrote:
> I really don't know how the system works in the US so I'm
> sorry
> if I
> sound completely ignorant, but why do you care so much about
> what
> rehab wants you to do? If you want to go to college can't you
> apply to
> schools just like anyone else?
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jul 20, 2012, at 8:37 AM, Beth <thebluesisloose at gmail.com
> wrote:
>
> Thanks for the link even. They don't want me to have a Mac
> because I'm
> "not proficient." They are interpreting even a few keystrokes
> as "no
> proficiency." I don't know what to say or do at this point
> because I
> want to succeed in college and thi stupid work assessment
> training, but
> whaut they did to me, I don't know whether it should be
> pointed
> out or
> avenged.
> Beth
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Brandon Keith Biggs" <brandonkeithbiggs at gmail.com
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Thu, 19 Jul 2012 22:21:14 -0700
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] meeting results and what to do to get a
> workingcomputerfor college
>
> Hello,
> If you graduated high school and got excepted into college,
> you
> should
> just
> go and tell them that you're going and you need this, this and
> this in
> order
> to be independent. You need to have a technology assessment by
> a
> professional blind technology person and it's your right to
> get
> that
> assessment. If your counselor doesn't get you the meeting with
> the
> adaptive
> technology professionals, talk to their supervisor. Let the
> supervisor
> know
> that your rehab counselor is keeping you from succeeding in
> college and
> if
> they want you to pass your classes, you have got to have a
> computer.
> Because
> you aren't someone with time to worry about a technology
> failure, you
> really
> need an apple computer that will be dependable and has the
> best
> support
> in
> the world.
> http://www.apple.com/why-mac/
> This is why you need a mac, and you have not had the
> experience
> you want
> in
> college with your PC, so because you want the best, you need
> to
> have a
> Mac.
> First rule of rehab, they want you to do and show what's best
> for you.
> They
> will only guide you if you let them. you must be sure, un
> moving
> and
> firm
> that this is what you want and there is nothing better you can
> have,
> even
> though there may be things you're uncertain about. Confidence
> is
> the key
> and
> independence is the way.
> Thanks,
>
> Brandon Keith Biggs
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Beth
> Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2012 10:01 PM
> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [nabs-l] meeting results and what to do to get a
> working
> computerfor college
>
> Hi. The meeting with rehab was unsuuccessful in doing
> anything
> but made me aware of stuff. They don't want me to have a Mac
> because they don't feel I should have one. I understand they
> don't buy macs in Colorado, but my concern about third party
> apps
> fell on deaf ears. They want me to do a "situational
> assessment
> and work adjustment training." They found an agency for me to
> work at, and they're forcing me to go to mental health group
> and
> counseling therapies. Honestly, I'm getting tired of this. I
> didn't think a mental issue would cause the employment to be
> the
> top priority. But I can't exactly go along with Rehab and
> their
> plans. They pretty much coerced me into doing the work
> adjustment training, saying that I was "putting the cart
> before
> the horse" with college and all. But most sighted normal
> people
> go to college and get a major. What am I supposed to do?
> Thanks,
> Beth
>
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