[nabs-l] problems with a TVI

Mon Apr 14 19:44:26 UTC 2014

Well said Sandra!

-----Original Message----- 
From: Sandra Gayer
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2014 7:19 AM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] problems with a TVI

Hello Lillie,
I notice you haven't replied to the thread you started. I hope this
means the situation has resolved for the better.

I would echo everyone's supportive comments and add that the teachers
have a duty of care to you as well as this new student. They should
not be making you feel as though you are in any way responsible for
this child's welfare.

Very best wishes,
Sandra.

On 3/27/14, Ashley Bramlett <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
> Lilly,
>
> What a tough situation. Your TVI does not seem too respectful.
> I agree with Ryan. On the questions he directs to your para, just step in
> and answer them. Also, tell him you are a responsible student who can take
> AP classes. Say you can do your work yourself  and if you need his help, 
> you
> will ask for it. My TVIs always put me in control, especially in high
> school. I had to advocate; I had to get my work done and if I missed
> something written on the board, my TVI expected me to ask my teachers for
> that info orally.
>
> Also, get your parents backing, and if it continues, they should have 
> words
> with him. I would not put up with this either, and I can tell its taking a
> psychological tole on you.
>
> For the mobility problems of the other blind student, I echo others
> suggestions; you can assist them
> in showing them around a few times. Besides this, it's the mobility
> instructor's job.
> You could make a list of ten things to assist someone in navigation. You 
> can
> get my ideas if needed. But, I think its unreasonable to solicit your 
> input
> in changing the school. This student needs the skills to navigate, not the
> building to change for him. If the TVI thinks the school should change for
> him, that is a red flag. My TVIs always believed I had to adapt and learn
> skills, not let the world adapt for me.
> I'd reiterate your position that you would not see that anything changed,
> but you do hope with some teaching and repetition this student can 
> navigate.
> I think braille numbers can help, especially when learning new areas; once
> you know a place, you don't need to confirm you're there with the numbers.
> But I think its helpful because you really confirm you are there; sighted
> people see the signs, and its nice to have them accessible.
> So, coming from someone with some spatial challenges, I would not fight
> against them.
>
> The student probably would benefit from tactile maps and if they have
> cognitive challenges, they could benefit from tactile cues to tell them 
> what
> is next. Basically, I've heard of this technique for those with memory or
> verbal challenges; like when someone cannot understand words.
> You have objects to represent activities and locations. You as the teacher
> hand the student the object and then go to that location. It continues 
> like
> this over lessons in a specific pattern. The student then associates the
> object with the location. For instance, toy food can represent  the
> cafeteria, a small ball can represent gym, and a small instrument like a
> chime could represent music class. Not sure how it would work for general
> classes because they all seem similar.
>
> If the mobility instructor is good and has experience with a range of 
> mental
> abilities, he/she should know this.
>
> I hope this gets resolved asap. Sorry to hear this since this is totally
> opposite of how a TVI should act.
>
> Ashley
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lillie Pennington
> Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 10:10 PM
> To: 'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'
> Subject: [nabs-l] problems with a TVI
>
> Hello Everyone
>
> I apologize for my posts on this list being generally being negative as of
> late and my questions having a  somewhat no-brainer type of answer.
>
> I have a new TVI this year. Based on what I have heard, my parents and I 
> are
> pretty sure that I am the most advanced student on his caseload in terms 
> of
> both Braille and/or blindness skills, as well as pretty high up there
> intellectually.
>
> In terms of doing my schoolwork and other school-related things, , I would
> classify myself as pretty responsible. I do not feel that I have done
> anything major that would result in a lack of mistrust. However, the way
> that my TVI sometimes acts towards me makes me feel otherwise. The way he
> questions some of my actions or what I say as if I cannot be trusted or as
> if I am lying bothers me. For example, he was wanting to talk about lunch
> things and who I sat with. He then asked my parra when she came back in 
> the
> room if I did do these things (referring to my lunch routine.) Another
> example in my mind that sticks out of being mistrustful is when I was
> showing my parra the final draft of a research paper because we had been
> discussing Common Core State Standards (the topic of the paper) earlier. 
> He
> wanted to see the paper, so I gave him the printed copy. He was quite
> skeptical about whether the paper was allowed to take an argumentative
> stance. I told him that it was, and he asked my parra (who is not in that
> class with me) if it was.
>
> There was an upserge in these problems today which I had mainly put in the
> back of my mind. He and my mobility instructor brought the student that I 
> am
> supposed to be mentoring next year that I have mentioned in a previous 
> post.
> They were mainly looking at the building, which I will admit is weirdly
> layed out.
>
> I had previously provided both a written and oral description of the
> building to this student, and my mobility teacher has obviously seen it
> working with me.
>
> I will go off on another side tangent for a moment. After my description 
> and
> noting that there were no Braille numbers on the doors, my TVI and the
> student were very upset. My TVI sent some emails and there is a meeting
> scheduled at some point to discuss getting Braille numbers installed. I
> asked if this is really necessary because my sister and I never had that
> much trouble navigating the building. My TVI asked if I thought about 
> anyone
> but myself. This comment bothered me at the time but I was worrying about
> other things at the time so did not give it much thought.
>
> Today after the student left, my TVI told me that I should help this 
> student
> learn the campus. He told me to create a top 10 list; things that would 
> help
> the student get around. These things had to be totally blind friendly and
> for someone who could not process things as quickly as I could. There are
> two problems with this. I do not necessarily know how to see through these
> student eyes (or in this case, not see.) I have a bit of periferil vision
> that I use along with alternative techniques to navigate the building. 
> Along
> with this list, I was expected to come up with things that the
> administration could do to change the school. I had trouble coming up with
> both of these lists, because I am pretty happy with the school, and
> everything basically clicked for me. I did try for about 10 minutes to 
> come
> up with things and I did come up with something for counting the doors.
>
> When I tried to come up with these things, and when I could not and I
> explained, my TVI did not believe me. He said that it certainly took more
> time for me to learn the building. I also explained about the vision thing
> and he was quite skeptical.
>
> I am done with being called a lier. I am done with everything I do being
> questioned. I am done trying to do a job that I feel is the mobility
> instructors job (with this list.) I felt like I was thrust into this
> position. I do not want to be generalized in this crusade about Braille
> numbers about all students who are blind needing them.
>
>
>
> I want to confront him about this tomorrow. I felt like in a way he was
> bullying me today. I want to not dread my study hall every day for what he
> may say. However, I know that I have to pick and choose my battles. I am 
> not
> sure if this is worth confronting him about. I am going to for sure tell 
> him
> that I cannot do anymore for this student besides just helping a blind
> person mentally adjust psychologically to high school. I have an AP test 
> in
> 6 weeks and I need to focus on preparing for that.
>
> I have lost sleep over this student. I have no real attachment to this
> person but I do have a fear that if I am not the one actively doing things
> that this student will fall into the wayside. I am also going to tell him
> that I do not want to be included in the Braille number discussions and 
> that
> I am perfectly happy with the way things are, and that I do not want any 
> of
> these arguments being made for "all blind students" because that is not
> true.
>
> However, I do not know if I have the right to do this. My parents think I
> should help because otherwise no one else will. I feel like I am being
> manipulated, but I still in a way feel guilty. I am not going to mention 
> the
> skepticism and how it makes me feel, but I will bring up my unhappiness 
> with
> the arrangements for this student.
>
> I will also speak to my mobility instructor on my next lesson. My TVI is 
> the
> only one I am hearing these things from. I am not going to bad mouth my 
> TVI,
> but I will say that I have been asked to spend time doing things and 
> making
> lists that I do not feel that I have the authority or the experience to
> make.
>
>
>
> Is there some other way to do this? I am going to be as respectful as I 
> can,
> but for me this has to end. Am I doing the right thing? I do not know what
> else to do in terms of other options. I apologize for the long post.
>
> Thank You,
>
> Lillie
>
>
>
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