[nabs-l] Training centers not the real world

Tue Nov 12 08:08:17 UTC 2013

If you went to the training program, I don't see how you can leave it off
your resume.  

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Cindy Bennett
Sent: Monday, November 11, 2013 7:20 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Training centers not the real world

I have often told my employers about blindness training and how it made me
an effective problem solver. Use it to your advantage. I was in a quandry of
having a school year look blank on my resume or not, so I choose to list it.
I also explain how my experiences have helped me and how they will make me a
more effective employee. But that is a personal choice. I may have missed a
few interviews because of listing it, but I have also gotten some.

Cindy

On 11/11/13, RJ Sandefur <joltingjacksandefur at gmail.com> wrote:
> 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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> r%40gm
>> ail.com
>>
>>
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--
Cindy Bennett
Secretary: National Association of Blind Students

B.A. Psychology, UNC Wilmington
clb5590 at gmail.com

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