[nabs-l] Training centers not the real world

[RJ Sandefur]

Ashley, the rehab center I attended did not teach any job skills or
anything. Sure they had us read a bunch of hand outs, but any one can read a
bunch of hand outs and pass a test! RJ
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, November 11, 2013 4:28 PM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Training centers not the real world


> RJ,
> They do teach job skills. just talk to  a center graduate and you'll get
the
> answer.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: RJ Sandefur
> Sent: Monday, November 11, 2013 4:18 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Training centers not the real world
>
> I could be wrong here, but I don't really see where rehabilitation centers
> are teaching both social and job skills. RJ
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bridgit Pollpeter" <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
> To: <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, November 11, 2013 11:50 AM
> Subject: [nabs-l] Training centers not the real world
>
>
> > Minh,
> >
> > You seem to have had a very fortunate experience. I lost my sight as an
> > adult, but in my experience, most blind people, especially children,
> > don't have an experience like yours. If more families adopted an
> > attitude like yours, we may not be having this discussion.
> >
> > And on a side note, I notice few people have analytical reasoning skills
> > and the ability to be self-taught regardless of disability. Some people,
> > for whatever reason, don't possess the ability to learn this way,
> > therefore requiring a more formal teaching process.
> >
> > And life skills, these can easily be taught to blind people without
> > shipping off to a specialized training center. But skills like Braille,
> > adaptive technology, cane travel, etc., these are specialized skills
> > that are not always easily picked up. It's for these skills that
> > training centers are necessary.
> >
> > I think how we comport ourselves has a lot to do with how the world
> > perceives us and our abilities. Right or wrong, when you present
> > yourself to an employer, they are immediately judging you based on
> > physical appearance. If you walk in well-groomed, confident and polite,
> > this goes a long way, sighted or blind. If you enter a room appearing to
> > not be confident and not looking polished physically and mentally, an
> > employer will automatically have red flags. This is just human nature.
> >
> > So, sadly, few blind people are provided the experience afforded you in
> > this department. They don't naturally possess confidence, and
> > regretfully, many people in their lives do not foster a spirit of
> > confidence. So without training centers, I do think fewer people would
> > be employed. This isn't to say that getting a job will be easy as a
> > blind person because you received training or carry yourself with
> > confidence, but your chances certainly are better.
> >
> > And yes, a few studies have been conducted pointing to the advantage of
> > attending a training center for the blind. Those with this background,
> > especially those not taught nonvisual skills beforehand, do better in
> > school, employment and life in general.
> >
> > Bridgit
> > Message: 3
> > Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 00:33:06 -0500
> > From: minh ha <minh.ha927 at gmail.com>
> > To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> > <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> > Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Training centers not the real world
> > Message-ID:
> >
> > <CAAJqG9hYUgmy=_M2GLmwOmdknimkhUc6Y=Fgg8fBdHC0z6RX-g at mail.gmail.com>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
> >
> > All the proponents of training centers, NFB or otherwise keep saying how
> > going to one will give blind individuals the skills they need to gain
> > employment or to be successful. I'm just wondering how these success
> > stories are measured? Do the majority of graduates gain employment
> > afterwards because of their new found independence skills and are these
> > numbers higher than those that do not attend training centers? Maybe
> > it's different for me because I had vision for the first few years of my
> > life, but all the skills that I've acquired over the years, I learned
> > from my family and friends. I remember growing up, cooking was one of
> > the activities that my best friend and I experimented together; she
> > didn't know cooking skills either so we played around in the kitchen and
> > taught ourselves how to use a stove, etc. I think we place too much
> > responsibility on others--if I want to learn something, I teach myself
> > or I ask someone who knows it to teach me. Furthermore, I can't see
> > myself taking 6-9 months to essentially remove myself from society to
> > focus on blindness skills so I can gain employment. I have had many
> > internships and opportunities in college because I actually go out there
> > and network and present myself to potential employers. My point is
> > experience is the best teacher--I can learn all the independence skills
> > I need at a center, but it's not going to do me any good without the
> > experience.
> >
> > Minh
> >
> >
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