[nabs-l] Questions About Using Vocational Rehab's Services

Wed Aug 13 03:30:05 UTC 2014

  Self-esteem, but especially kind of knowing what you want/like, is 
very important! Just as Ariel said below, I'd have asked these 
questions, maybe have you visualize based on what you'd said, how you'd 
feel working in your case, journalism? Visualize in the options ARiel 
gave like cooking, Tutoring, and really think "ok would I really enjoy 
this? There's a blog called Tiny Buda over at 
http://feeds.feedburner.com/tinybuddha which not only is for you, but 
for the rest of you guys who like these kinds of things. Good luck! Keep 
us posted!

El 12/08/2014 10:22 p.m., Ashley Bramlett via nabs-l escribió:
> Kerri,
>
> You might do well to see a counselor with such low self esteem. 
> Insurance pays that sort of stuff and if you get medicaid, it will too.
> I think you need to be more positive and set some goals.
>
> As for rehab, I echo Arielle.
> The counselor sounds open minded.
> This is what is supposed to happen. Although as you will see in the 
> last part of my message, rehab does not help much.
> First, I think you need to look for work yourself and have a  plan. 
> Take control of it. Rehab may attempt to dictate where you apply or 
> discourage your exploration, but its your life and do what is in your 
> best interest.
>
> Second, about rehab.
> This is what is supposed to occur.
> You will meet your counselor as you are doing. You will state a 
> vocational goal. You will have an individualized plan for employment, 
> called the IPE for short.
> Your current services will be on the IPE. Ideally, you and the 
> counselor are involved and agree on the services. Then you sign your 
> IPE; so bring your signature guide.
>
> Tell him its temporary work. But make it related to your goal. For 
> instance, you mentioned earlier months back that you might want to be 
> a journalist. So if that's the case, your vr goal is journalist, but 
> your current job goal might be part time newsletter writer or being 
> some communication assistant.
>
> I know you went to a center, but if you wish to review or improve any 
> skills, request this. Your state should offer home based services for 
> training; for instance, you might want O&M or pc training.
> This is on the IPE.
>
> Next, you work on your plan.
> Next, counselors and clients do their part and keep in touch. They 
> work together to find jobs suited to the client's goal.
>
> So, your comments about the workshops should not even be  an issue.
> Your counselor legally has to follow your IPE. If they fail to do this 
> and attempt to steer you to a sheltered workshop or any other setting 
> not in your documented best interest, you have the right to complain.
>
> So, just be firm and don't let them try to take advantage of you.
>
> Now here is what happened with me.
> Rehab has been little help finding internships and jobs.
> They  tell clients to look for work themselves and do not restrict 
> where you apply to.
> They only send job leads and such leads are often irrelevant to my 
> skills and goals.
> I just ignore those.
>
> Some rehab agencies try to place clients in jobs just to close their 
> case.
> It varies significantly from one state to another.
> So you will have to get a feel for your own state and in particular 
> your counselor. I've had bad counselors, but there are actually 
> counselors who care and do their jobs.
>
> As to what you can realistically do without a degree, you can do a lot.
> Think of your interests. Do you like teaching? Do you like kids? If 
> yes, you could tutor kids or teens in subjects you are strong in. This 
> assumes you can explain the concepts well. Often agencies only hire 
> college educated people as tutors, but I see no reason why you can't 
> just tutor kids on your own; just advertise your services at a local 
> school or day care.
>
> Do you like writing? can you work in an office?
> If yes, jobs such as writer and editor come to mind.
> Many blind people without degrees work in customer service call centers.
> Do you think you can do that?
> A lady in my nfb chapter works for NIB and she used to work for Hyatt.
>
> Are you interested?
> If so, there is a center focused on call center work in NY.
> It is a great program. You hear from industry experts in the program. 
> You also learn to use common databases you'd use on the job.
> They call them contact centers; but it’s the same as call center.
>
> It is the National Statler center.
> Google it for more info.
>
> Do you like cooking? Maybe you could work in a bakery.
>
> I hope these ideas are helpful.
> I think as long as you have a goal and assert yourself, rehab will not 
> place you in a dumpy job and close your case.
>
> Ashley
> -----Original Message----- From: Kerri Kosten via nabs-l
> Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2014 10:04 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: [nabs-l] Questions About Using Vocational Rehab's Services
>
> Hey Everyone:
>
> Since I can't go back to school, I have to find a job or something to do.
> What is it like using Rehab to help you find a job?
> I'm afraid they will just place me into one of those sheltered
> workshops doing something simple like for example shredding paper or
> something like that and then when I want to go back to school my
> family and my counselor will say something like "This is your job now.
> You get paid doing this," or something like that and will mess with my
> head and they will convince me I can't go back to school or anything.
> How does using Rehab to help you find a job work?
> How do blind people end up in those sheltered workshops, particularly
> the ones that pay sub-minimum wages that the NFB has been trying so
> hard to fight?
> Does Rehab just place you in a job they want/think you should have
> just to give you a job?
> Does Rehab encourage you to do research and look for jobs on your own
> or do they just dictate to you which ones they feel you should apply
> for?
> I have to make an appointment with my rehab counselor and I am really
> really scared. The counselor I have now is one I really respect. He is
> a former football player, who actually lost his eyesight playing
> football for the team/school I am a huge fan of. Because of things
> that have happened in my past (I won't go into it here, if you want to
> know more email me off-list) I really look up to, and respect males
> like my counselor who are really really into sports. Ever since I got
> this counselor back in 2011, I have always tried to do my best for
> him. Even though I was absolutely scared to death about going to
> training at LCB, I pushed myself because I wanted to do well for him
> and for him to see me as a motivated individual. After completing
> training, when I would speak to him on the phone, he was always so
> proud of me. He really thinks I am this motivated individual.
> Now, the problem is I'm really not like that. I tried going back to
> school last semester and unintentionally failed out. My counselor does
> not know this yet, and when I have this meeting I will have to tell
> him. I myself am very ashamed and embarrassed about what happened in
> school, and don't really like talking about it with anyone,
> particularly those I really look up to such as him.
> I also really know nothing when it comes to just getting a random job
> when you have no college degree. I'm not sure what I as a blind person
> I could realistically do. This again really embarrasses me, because I
> want my counselor to see me as confident, independent, and motivated.
> Would it be best to maybe apply for a couple of jobs before I go into
> the meeting so I can tell my counselor I have done a couple of things
> on my own first? I could apply to our grocery store, or maybe Walmart
> might be looking for a greeter or something like that...
> I am just so so afraid I am going into this and will end up totally
> depending on Rehab for everything and I don't want to do that.
> Because of my lack of knologe of what I want to do and such, I'm
> afraid my counselor is just going to place me in some kind of
> sheltered workshop or something like that and since I can't go back to
> school for a year, I will get comfortable in said job and then when I
> want to go back to school or something everyone will convince me
> otherwise.
> I guess I just don't want my counselor realizing how much I have
> slipped since coming back from training. He spent a lot of money to
> send me to training, and I want to be confident and such the way we
> were taught at training. But, I'm really really afraid as the meeting
> progresses he will see through me and figure things out. I just really
> struggle horribly with self-esteem issues, and when someone says to me
> "I am so proud of you I sent you to training and now your setting the
> world on fire," that makes me feel so good and I really want to
> continue to do well for that person.
> Any answers/experiences regarding rehab and your counselor you could
> share would be great!
> Thanks,
> Kerri
>
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Gerardo J Corripio Flores Psicólogo, Terapéuta Reiki
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