[nabs-l] meeting results and what todotogetaworkingcomputerforcollege
Beth
thebluesisloose at gmail.com
Sat Jul 21 11:35:37 UTC 2012
Rehab's excuse for not helping with college is that they want to
take their sweet old time with seeing capabilities and
employabilities. I'm sorry, but I've been in college and in
limbo for way too long. Good stories, Bill. They might just
help.
Beth
----- Original Message -----
From: William Grussenmeyer <wdg31415 at gmail.com
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Sat, 21 Jul 2012 04:03:27 -0400
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] meeting results and what
todotogetaworkingcomputerforcollege
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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