[nabs-l] Training centers not the real world

[Bridgit Pollpeter]

Ashley,

The options aren't as readily available as you present here. This is a
major obstacle for pretty much all training centers, and this includes
the NFB centers.

Bottom line, if you can't attend in-house training, or at least attend
as a day student every day for the duration of the 6 to 9 months, most
are out of luck. And finding a two-day or weekend program isn't enough
to teach the skills. These are just introductory programs to allow
people the opportunity to see what training would be like. And other
institutions aren't equipped to provide the kind of home training you
suggest or even offer day programs.

The biggest issue is funding, and a little secret, the government
doesn't want to pay for training for seniors or stay-at-home parents or
the sick because they are determined unemployable, and therefore will
not put money back into the system. This is the reality for any agency
working with people with disabilities.

Bridgit
Message: 15
Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 12:18:55 -0500
From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
To: <tyler at tysdomain.com>,	"National Association of Blind Students
	mailing list" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Training centers not the real world
Message-ID: <A6CA2458FE0047ABAFE10E060C7CA7BC at OwnerPC>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
	reply-type=response

Tyler,
No its not an issue with training centers. If people cannot go to one
due to 
circumstances, that does not invalidate the work the center does.
It just shows more options need to be available. I'd like to see more
home 
based teaching where a teacher comes to your home to teach you privately

using your own equipment and marking them if needed.

Rj, your friend should look at other options. Has she asked about
receiving 
services from her vr agency?
They may contract with itenerant O&M and rehab teaching specialists who
can 
help her at home.
Has she investigated community options such as a lighthouse? If she
lives in 
NC, there is the Metrolina Association for the blind; if in GA, there
are 
two day centers such as the Center for the visually impaired in Atlanta.
Those are just a few examples. TThere may be options. You just have to
find 
them.

Ashley