[nabs-l] problems with a TVI
Lillie Pennington
lilliepennington at fuse.net
Sat Apr 19 03:28:39 UTC 2014
Hi Sandra and Everyone,
I apologize for not replying to this thread earlier. I had forgotten about
it and then ironically, the day you replied there were additional problems,
and I was angry, and did not want to write anything I may regret later. I
would also like to thank everyone who has replied to this thread.
For now the situation with this student has seemed to have cooled down. I
explained how I could not do everything for this student, and how not every
blind person traveled or did anything the same way. He listened, and
although he wasn't happy, I have to give him credit for listening. I am just
confused on why I had to explain and why he was so shocked about all blind
people wanting the same things.
I do not intend to fight against the Braille numbers, but just do not want
my name attached. I would rather spend my time and energy if I have to fight
for something on getting me my textbooks and making sure my classes are
accessible.
Ryan, you have a good point about the lying thing that I had not thought
about. Although I'm trying to think back and don't recall any major lying
incidents that stand out to me, it is totally possible that something could
have happened or he could have heard something from someone else or seen
something in a report, since I was quite a handful in elementary school.
I am trying to be open minded here without making excuses for him and
protecting myself at the same time. My dad makes a point when he says that I
am most likely an outliar for my TVI, since most of his students probably
have other challenges and disabilities related to blindness. Right now I am
at a place where I am trying to be nice, while not really trusting him with
anything.
Thank you again for all of your responses.
-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 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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