[nabs-l] Self-Advocacy Question

Tue Nov 12 03:08:17 UTC 2013

That's a good point Greg, although I'm concerned that the TVI wants
the para to be in class with JJ. Most paraprofessionals don't know
anything about how blind people do things, and I'm not sure how much
the average sighted TVI learns about nonvisual cooking techniques,
since their main focus is teaching Braille and assistive tech (some
TVI's don't even know that much). Perhaps a compromise could be for
the TVI to be in class with JJ some of the time, but it sounds like
the TVI isn't volunteering to be there herself; she's delegating it to
the para who is there to be a pair of eyes, not to teach nonvisual
skills.

Arielle

On 11/11/13, Greg Aikens <gpaikens at gmail.com> wrote:
> I'm not saying I agree with the idea that you need a TVI or para by your
> side at all times in such a class, but taking a cooking class would be a
> wonderful opportunity to master non visual techniques related to cooking.
> If you are going to go through the process of taking the class and doing the
> work, you might as well get the most out of the experience.  If that means
> having a TVI come in a couple times a week to support your teacher and
> demonstrate non visual techniques, I think that would be an ideal solution.
> Whatever you do, make sure you have access to people who can help you learn
> non visual ways to complete the same cooking tasks as your peers.
>
> Best of luck.
>
> -Greg
>
>
>
>
> On Nov 11, 2013, at 9:37 PM, Arielle Silverman <arielle71 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi JJ,
>>
>> I am glad that your mother is willing to help you. Teachers do tend to
>> listen to parents, at least they are legally supposed to when it comes
>> to your disability accommodations. Perhaps you can start the class
>> without the para and once your teacher gets to know you she will
>> realize the para is not necessary. Or, you and your mother could meet
>> with her to explain how you cook at home and how you can be involved.
>> I can conference call on that meeting if you think that would help.
>>
>> Best,
>> Arielle
>>
>> On 11/11/13, Josh Gregory <joshkart12 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> You could've done without the language, but a para is somebody who helps
>>> a
>>> student one on one.
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>>> On Nov 11, 2013, at 8:43 PM, Carly Mihalakis <carlymih at comcast.net>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Hi, jJ,
>>>>
>>>>       What the hell is a para?
>>>> for today, Car
>>>> 408-209-3239At 04:41 PM 11/11/2013, johnnie Jean duran wrote:
>>>>> Arielle:
>>>>> Thank you, I definitely appreciate your willing to help with this
>>>>> situation. The Cooking class will begin tomorrow, and i am not
>>>>> required to have a para, but my tvi is implying that it'd be best for
>>>>> me. However, I definitely disagree, and am totally capable of
>>>>> participating within the class on my own. I have honestly never even
>>>>> met the teacher before today, and the confidence that she had in me
>>>>> was very low. I have talked to my mother, and she has left voicemails
>>>>> in both of their mailboxes, so hopefully something gets done! However,
>>>>> I will let you know, because in my opinion, if they were to see
>>>>> another blind individual, who independently cooks explain things to
>>>>> them, it might change their mind.
>>>>> Thank you so much Arielle!
>>>>> JJ
>>>>>
>>>>> On 11/11/13, Arielle Silverman <arielle71 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>> Hi JJ,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I don't think you need a para, especially if you already have a lot
>>>>>> of
>>>>>> experience cooking. Are your parents willing to stand up for you?
>>>>>> Ultimately it's their decision, so if your parents say that you
>>>>>> should
>>>>>> participate equally in the class without somebody standing by your
>>>>>> side, then that is what should happen. You could also try contacting
>>>>>> Scott LaBarre, Brent Batron or someone else in CO who could advocate
>>>>>> for you. I live in Colorado and would  be happy to talk with your TVI
>>>>>> as a blind person who cooks independently. If your parents are
>>>>>> supporting you and on your side, they can write a letter to the TVI
>>>>>> and teacher requesting you participate fully in the class without a
>>>>>> para, and can perhaps set up a special meeting to discuss this
>>>>>> arrangement. Even if your teachers require a para to be there, you
>>>>>> can
>>>>>> still request the para stand back and let you participate fully in
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> class. You will get much more out of the class that way. When does
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> class start?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Arielle
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 11/11/13, johnnie Jean duran <johnniejduran at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>> Dear National Association of Blind Students,
>>>>>>> As some of you may know, I am currently an 8th grade student
>>>>>>> attending
>>>>>>> O'Connell Middle School, and every trimester, every student is
>>>>>>> allowed
>>>>>>> to switch electives and pick a new one. I decided to choose cooking
>>>>>>> (family and consumer science) as my selection, however my TVI and
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> cooking teacher are both implying that I will need a para with me in
>>>>>>> there at all times. I chose cooking because it is something I am
>>>>>>> good
>>>>>>> at, and I do it all the time. But, both teachers are persisting that
>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>> need a para. What should I tell them, because they aren't listening?
>>>>>>> Do I need an advocate?
>>>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>>> JJ
>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Ms. Johnnie Jean Duran
>>>>> 8th Grade Student
>>>>> O'Connell Middle School - An IB World School
>>>>> Member Of The National Federation Of The Blind Of Colorado, The
>>>>> Colorado Association Of Blind Students, and the North Metro Chapter of
>>>>> the NFB.
>>>>> Facebook: facebook.com/johnniejean.duran
>>>>> Instagram: jj_duran13
>>>>> Skype: jj.duran13
>>>>> Kik: jjd_13
>>>>>
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