[nabs-l] Self advocacy question

[Greg Aikens]

Para = paraprofessional.  Other terms for it include Educational Assistant, Teacher Assistant, Instructional assistant.  Basically they work in schools to assist teachers in whatever ways they need.  Often student's who are blind are assigned a para in situations where they need access to visual info but do not need direct instruction from a teacher of blind students.  If done well, it can be beneficial to everyone involved but there are many negatives associated with the way it is often done, as I'm sure you have gathered from the views expressed in this thread.  

 
Greg Aikens, M. Ed.
Teacher of students who are blind and visually impaired
Cobb County School District
gpaikens at gmail.com



On Nov 12, 2013, at 7:07 PM, "I. C. Bray" <i.c.bray at win.net> wrote:

> Can someone please tell me what is a "Para"?
> I have never heard the term used...
> 
> Ian
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Bridgit Pollpeter" <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
> To: <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 12, 2013 5:00 PM
> Subject: [nabs-l] Self advocacy question
> 
> 
> : JJ,
> :
> : Legally, you and your parents have the right to deny a para. I'm totally
> : blind and cook and bake almost daily. I do this for my family and have
> : also cooked for large groups, up to 30 people, all without sighted help.
> : Be forthright and persistent with this. Be diplomatic, but it's your
> : right to deny a full-time para.
> :
> : Bridgit
> : Message: 17
> : Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 17:11:12 -0700
> : From: johnnie Jean duran <johnniejduran at gmail.com>
> : To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> : Subject: [nabs-l] Self-Advocacy Question
> : Message-ID:
> :
> : <CAOiA0StKVyKJ1pX6e6sQJ=P33fXhv_uM8jpkMOn8hsuif8hpbA at mail.gmail.com>
> : Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
> :
> : 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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