[nabs-l] STEP Program offered by Junior Blind of America

[David Andrews]

Joshua -- I wouldn't agree.  LCB teaches more than Braille.  Further, 
a good center will expand on the skills you have, not teach you what 
you already know.  When I went to a center I worked on Grade 3 
braille and Nemeth, since I was a proficient user.  I was a good 
traveler, and cook, so they had me do some teaching.  That sharpens 
your skills!

Dave

At 09:05 AM 3/14/2013, you wrote:
>Hi Miso.
>If you're proficient in Braille, the NFB trainig center wouldn't be 
>your best bet.
>Although they do independence training, you have to attend Braille 
>classes, every day.
>If you need independence training, you'd be better off getting the 
>skills from a VR rep.
>That's what I'm doing, since my VR said that LCB would be a waste of my time.
>Blessings, Joshua
>________________________________________
>From: nabs-l [nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] on behalf of Miso Kwak 
>[kwakmiso at aol.com]
>Sent: Thursday, March 14, 2013 1:20 AM
>To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>Subject: Re: [nabs-l] STEP Program offered by Junior Blind of America
>
>Thank you everyone for helpful answers.
>To clarify, I was referring to the STEP not Davidson.
>I lived in California barely 4 years, so I experienced JBA only twice.
>I personally didn't like the atmosphere and philosophy very much
>although not unbearable...
>I think at this point, after reading feedbacks, I would prefer one of
>the NFB centers over JBA. I think then the task to do is to get my
>request to attend CCB justified.
>I will contact staff at the CCB and see what I can do.
>Thank you again.
>Miso Kwak
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Hannah Chadwick <sparklylicious at gmail.com>
>To: 'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'
><nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Wed, Mar 13, 2013 10:29 pm
>Subject: Re: [nabs-l] STEP Program offered by Junior Blind of America
>
>Hi all,
>So I just wanted to clarify since I've been to the STEP programs at
>Junior
>Blind of America. There is STEP 1 and STEP 2, and they are both summer
>programs that focus on helping young adults with job interviewing
>skills,
>career research, and during STEP 2, the students are placed on a work
>site.
>They are expected to travel to and from work using public
>transportation.
>STEP 1 is 3 weeks and provides students with various info on the topics
>mentioned above. STEP 2 is 7 weeks and students have the opportunity to
>do
>an internship.
>   I would be glad to provide more info on the STEP programs, however, I
>think
>that Miso is referring to the Independent living program that Junior
>Blind
>also offers.
>The Davidson Program for Independence, DPI is a residential program for
>blind individuals who wish to learn skills such as orientation and
>mobility,
>technology, cooking, Braille, and of course independent living skills.
>I did
>not attend DPI so I don't know specifically what they do and how they
>run. I
>did have friends who attended both the STEP programs as well as DPI.
>They
>told me they learned a lot and they found it very helpful. I'm sure
>there
>are pros and cons to attending any residential program. Please don't
>hesitate to contact me off list if you have further questions.
>All the best, Hannah
>-----Original Message-----
>  From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Brandon
>Keith
>Biggs
>Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 9:48 PM
>To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>Subject: Re: [nabs-l] STEP Program offered by Junior Blind of America
>
>Hello,
>It depends where you are at in your living skills. I had been living on
>my
>own for a few months before I went to the Step 2 program and I found it
>only
>good for the few hours of work experience they provided. They aren't
>very
>inventive when it comes to giving each person a unique work
>environment, but
>you do get to do an internship. I did not like however, the step 1 folks
>were mentored by the step 2 people for both sessions and the step 2
>people
>had to sit through classes the step 1 participant's were taking.
>Step 1 is a ton of classes on how to give an interview, talk about
>yourself
>and act professionally dressing wise and so on. When I went it was very
>lecture based and very little real-time experiences, but I could tell
>some
>people really needed the learning. I could already cook, clean, do
>laundry
>and had had a summer job the year before in a much freer environment,
>so I
>found STEP oppressive, but I did learn how to deal with authority in a
>mature way and even though I won't repeat it, I am glad I went.
>The campus is also very oddly situated, so it takes for ever to go
>anywhere
>and they expect people to work around the schedule they set up, so for
>example, I had a 2 hour commute on Para transit to and from work and I
>had
>work to do at home. They were not very accommodating for those of us who
>wanted to become work junkies, working till 10, grabbing food, then
>waking
>up at 6 and leaving. They wanted you to actually be around with other
>people
>and do tasks like instruct the other students on how to use the
>computer for
>example.
>Personally, the YES2 program in Washington state is more my cup of tee
>than
>the STEP2 program, but I know plenty of other people who really loved
>it and
>or who would really like it.
>You can email me off list if you have any more questions.
>brandonkeithbiggs at gmail.com
>Thanks,
>
>Brandon Keith Biggs
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Miso Kwak
>Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 3:55 PM
>To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>Subject: [nabs-l] STEP Program offered by Junior Blind of America
>
>Hello,
>I would like to know if any of you have participated in the STEP program
>offered by Junior Blind in California.
>If you have the experience, could you comment on how it was?
>Would you recommend it?
>I am trying to select a summer program that will help me improve my
>independent living skills (mobility, home management, etc) and realize
>that
>there are a few different options available, so I just want to hear from
>someone if anyone on the list has experience with Junior Blind's STEP
>program.
>Thank you.
>Miso Kwak