[nabs-l] Training centers not the real world

Tue Nov 12 18:52:51 UTC 2013

Hi all,

I think there is some confusion about what a training center is, so I
will try to more clearly define the term.  When we refer to training
centers, we are speaking specifically about either the Louisiana
Center for the Blind, the Colorado Center for the Blind, or Blind Inc.
 Other rehab agencies, like the Cleveland Sight Center, Richmond, and
Lions World, offer some of the same services but are very different.
To be rehabilitated connotates that blindness is a problem in need of
fixing, but training implies working to more effectively use skills.
The outlook of some staff at rehab agencies is not very good, but to
be trained under those who are well-versed in the positive philosophy
of the NFB is totally different.

I would encourage you to talk to one of the three training center
directors.  They're all great people, and could probably do the best
job of explaining what the training centers have to offer.  ;

On 11/12/13, RJ Sandefur <joltingjacksandefur at gmail.com> wrote:
> Is this something the NFB could look at as a possibility? RJ
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Arielle Silverman" <arielle71 at gmail.com>
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, November 11, 2013 7:33 PM
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Training centers not the real world
>
>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I think a volunteer-based in-home training program like what Bridgit
>> described would be really excellent to have in  every state. I know a
>> bunch of blind folks who are unemployed but who would make great
>> in-home teachers for other blind people. Why not set them up first as
>> volunteers, and then allow them to be hired as independent contractors
>> of the state VR once they gain enough experience? At the very least,
>> voc rehab needs to be better about matching blind mentors up with
>> menttes particularly those who cannot go to a formal center. Those of
>> us who have other disabilities or health conditions need the help most
>> and tend to get it least.
>> I will also admit that I've met several NFB center grads who remain
>> unemployed for a long time after graduating, and often settle down in
>> the town where the center is located but don't participate in school
>> or work. This can happen for many reasons. Some have barriers to
>> employment or higher education that the centers just can't address,
>> like psychiatric conditions, chronic illnesses etc. For others who
>> come to the center from out of state, they find it difficult to
>> integrate what they learn into their old environment, for instance if
>> they have over-protective families or a lack of blindness community
>> support where they live. And finally, our centers are really designed
>> to teach access and independence skills but they're not designed to
>> teach job-specific professional skills or much in the way of academic
>> skills. Perhaps our centers could improve on that, though I don't know
>> exactly how.
>>
>> Arielle
>>
>> On 11/11/13, Cindy Bennett <clb5590 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> > 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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>> >>> 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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>>
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-- 
Kaiti