[nabs-l] Training centers and volunteers

[Jedi Moerke]

It would be very difficult to establish volunteer programs like the ones you're thinking of. The rehabilitation field is filled with ego. Many in the rehabilitation Field, especially dealing with rehab teaching and orientation and mobility, feel that you need special certifications in each in order to teach the basic skills. So to step in and offer your uncertified self as a volunteer teacher would be a kind of stepping on the toes. More than likely, they will tell you that it's not safe for whatever reason. Mind you,  I'm talking about traditional rehabilitation systems which make up the majority of the country. Your better bet is to create a sort of program that is completely outside of the rehabilitation system. I have operated similar programs through my local chapter of the Federation and it works quite well. If nothing else, our volunteer services provided extra training on top of whatever the person was getting from rehabilitation. It also filled gaps for those who, for whatever reason, couldn't get rehabilitation teaching. That also includes computers and braille   & mobility.

Respectfully,
Jedi

Sent from my iPhone

> On Nov 12, 2013, at 4:04 PM, Bridgit Pollpeter <bpollpeter at hotmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 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
> Message-ID:
>    
> <CALAYQJCd3=XmSwpUof8FLgKLon6GPSvNHvjjs7821s-Zpyc9fA at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
> 
> 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
> 
> 
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