[nabs-l] Training centers and volunteers

[Bridgit Pollpeter]

Arielle,

Is there any way some initiative could be developed for such
volunteer-based programs? It seems like a huge undertaking, and I don't
even know if something like this can be done on a national level. Just
thinking out loud, so to speak, smile.

Bridgit
Message: 21
Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 17:33:02 -0700
From: Arielle Silverman <arielle71 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
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<CALAYQJCd3=XmSwpUof8FLgKLon6GPSvNHvjjs7821s-Zpyc9fA at mail.gmail.com>
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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