[nabs-l] international students

Wed Dec 3 02:13:08 UTC 2014

Elif and all,

Way to go for bringing this important topic to the forefront!

Chris mentioned that he did not see the need for an international
student division at this time, but what about an international
division of some sort that falls under the NFB in general?  I'm sure
there are plenty of general members of the NFB who are already
degree-qualified, who probably struggle with some of the same issues
such as learning the culture, finding where and how to get groceries,
learning the currency system, etc.  Though I am not an international
student, I have talked to Elif a fair amount as we're from the same
state student division, and I would imaging those cultural things have
an added component of complexity for all who are blind.  I see two
separate issues here rather than one; the first is learning how to
access accommodations in the U.S, which can be tricky depending on
individual circumstances and the home country in question, and the
cultural stuff.  Maybe some blind adults from other countries have
advice for current students based on their experiences?  I think it
would be more beneficial to reach out not just to international
students, but international people in the NFB in general.  I see this
as yielding the most information for all involved.

Just my two cents worth.

On 12/2/14, Darian via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> All:
> I believe this is a fabulous thing that is being discussed.
> I am personally glad to hear that there is such an interest in
> issues/Concerns having to do with international students.
> If there's any way that I might be of assistance in this regard, please feel
> free to let me know.
> Best of luck in connecting, learning, and sharing.
> Darian
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Dec 2, 2014, at 2:34 PM, Elif Emir Öksüz via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Getting together and talking is my priority right now.
>> Then we can decide for further steps.
>> I'm so glad that more people responded this e-mail.
>> NABSboard, thanks for your interest.
>> Guys, when do you have time, when can we talk?
>> we are not much, we can do a Skype call.
>> or let me know your suggestions.
>> Elif
>>
>>
>> 2014-11-29 22:39 GMT-05:00, Cindy Bennett via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>:
>>> Hi Chris et al,
>>>
>>> First, I am CCing Candice Chapman on this message. She is the
>>> treasurer of NABS and the membership chair.
>>>
>>> I think that this is an excellent discussion (although I have not
>>> followed it thoroughly). One thing we do to engage membership is
>>> through membership calls. If a call would interest students, I am sure
>>> that Candice and the NABS board would love to hear about this directly
>>> and am also sure that something could be organized. I am excited to
>>> learn that students are interested in this topic as it is one that I
>>> am vastly unaware about. I for one would have no idea how to advise an
>>> international student, or international blind student for that matter,
>>> as I am completely ignorant of the rights one has if they are an
>>> international student regarding accommodations. I think that a call
>>> led by some international students who are well versed in
>>> international student rights and experienced with advocating for
>>> themselves would be excellent. I am also on the Slate committee, and I
>>> think that publishing an article about some of the unique challenges
>>> experienced by international students would be a great addition to our
>>> newsletter. So, if you fall into the Slate category and want to share
>>> your story, please email me or the chair of the Slate committee, Cody
>>> Bair at codyjbair at yahoo.com.
>>>
>>> Candice is CC-ed, but you can email her directly at
>>> chapman.candicel at gmail.com.
>>>
>>> Cindy
>>>
>>>> On 11/29/14, Chris Nusbaum via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>> All,
>>>>
>>>> An initial conference call for this might be a great place to start.
>>>> Perhaps
>>>> this can also expand to a meeting at national convention for
>>>> international
>>>> students and those who are interested in issues which are of concern to
>>>> them. While I don't see the need for a new NFB division being formed for
>>>> international students, as this (in my opinion) falls under the NABS
>>>> umbrella, the potential could be there for a subgroup within NABS and/or
>>>> and
>>>> informal discussion group which has its meetings via conference call and
>>>> at
>>>> national convention. Just throwing out some ideas.
>>>>
>>>> Chris Nusbaum, Vice President
>>>> Maryland Association of Blind Students
>>>> Coordinator of Social Media, National Federation of the Blind of
>>>> Maryland
>>>> Twitter: @Chrisn98, @MDMDABS and @NFBMD
>>>>
>>>> "Together, with love, hope and determination, we transform dreams into
>>>> reality."
>>>>
>>>>> On Nov 29, 2014, at 8:03 PM, siddhi desai via nabs-l
>>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Dear Elif and all,
>>>>>
>>>>> This seems to be a great idea! I am from India too and faced many
>>>>> challenges post-arrival in USA. We could  surely plan a conference!
>>>>> Sincerely
>>>>> Siddhi
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> On 11/30/14, Miso Kwak via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>>> Hi Elif and all,
>>>>>> Joining the party a bit late, but I am also interested in advocating
>>>>>> for and helping out international students in the U.S.
>>>>>> I am Miso, a sophomore attending University of California Los Angeles,
>>>>>> majoring in psychology and minoring in disability studies and
>>>>>> education. I am originally from South Korea and have been in the U.S.
>>>>>> for about 7 years now.
>>>>>> Please feel free to email me off list and I agree with Kartik that
>>>>>> conference may be a good idea.
>>>>>> Best,
>>>>>> Miso
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>> From: Kartik Sawhney via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>> To: Elif Emir <filerime at gmail.com>; National Association of Blind
>>>>>> Students mailing list <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>> Sent: Tue, Nov 11, 2014 8:11 pm
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] international students
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hey Elif,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I'm Kartik. I'm a sophomore at Stanford University studying Computer
>>>>>> Science. I'm from India. I've been thinking on similar lines for quite
>>>>>> sometime now, and I think it'll be awesome to chat more about it to
>>>>>> see what we can do together. Same goes for anyone (international or
>>>>>> not) who is interested. Let's plan a conference to discuss this
>>>>>> further.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> In the meanwhile, Elif, feel free to reach out, or share your contact
>>>>>> details.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Best,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On 11/11/14, Elif Emir via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>>>> Well I admit that I got more accommodation's here than I had back in
>>>>>>> Turkey in terms of the accessible course materials. This is
>>>>>>> wonderful.
>>>>>>> The problem is being lack of social support which can be a back up
>>>>>>> when there is no accommodation.
>>>>>>> Plus this is a huge culture shock.
>>>>>>> In this situation it is very hard to locate in a new country, lern
>>>>>>> how
>>>>>>> and where to do shopping, find a way for transportation, how to call
>>>>>>> for a cab, learn the naberhood and campus to navegate independently,
>>>>>>> discover the food, brands, health system, learn how to recognize
>>>>>>> dollar bills and coin, write a check, so and so.
>>>>>>> an international student has to figure all these out very shortly in
>>>>>>> order to survive. Blindness and language make this harder. So some
>>>>>>> daily living assistance at the beginning would be very cool.
>>>>>>> Anyway, if there is any international students here please reach me.
>>>>>>> We can advocate for future generations together.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 2014-11-11 0:29 GMT-05:00, Kaiti Shelton via nabs-l
>>>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>:
>>>>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> This is definitely dialog which should happen.  I think that
>>>>>>>> domestic
>>>>>>>> students also have a lot to learn from international students, and
>>>>>>>> we
>>>>>>>> could all benefit from more open communication.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> So, do tell us what you think we could do to help, but also remember
>>>>>>>> to speak up.  I was totally unaware of the lack of accommodations
>>>>>>>> available to students who are not U.S citizens until very recently,
>>>>>>>> and I doubt I'm the only one who isn't very knowledgeable on this.
>>>>>> If
>>>>>>>> you have ideas based on what you did for accommodations in your home
>>>>>>>> country that you think could help students in the U.S, share those
>>>>>>>> too.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I think If we're all open and provide helpful suggestions, everyone
>>>>>>>> will benefit.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On 11/10/14, zeynep sule yilmaz via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Elif, that's a great topic to talk about here too. I'm asking all
>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>> NABS members. How NABS can support international students better?
>>>>>>>>> Is
>>>>>>>>> there any idea? Most of us had or still have some problems because
>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>>> being international student. This may be lack of the information
>>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>>> resources that are available to American sitizens with
>>>>>> disabilities. I
>>>>>>>>> know that being a strong self-advocate is always what we would
>>>>>>>>> like,
>>>>>>>>> however, we need support from native students sometimes.  I would
>>>>>> like
>>>>>>>>> to know, if any of the NABS members have any idea on that.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Thanks
>>>>>>>>> Zeynep
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> 2014-11-10 13:02 GMT-06:00, Darian Smith via nabs-l
>>>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>:
>>>>>>>>>> Hello,
>>>>>>>>>> We have an "International Students" E-mail list that can be found
>>>>>>>>>> among
>>>>>>>>>> the  collection of list serves  of the NFB at www.nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>>> <http://www.nfbnet.org/>.
>>>>>>>>>> I'm sure there are international students on the NABS list, but I
>>>>>>>>>> suspect
>>>>>>>>>> there are more of them on the International  Students List.
>>>>>>>>>>  Hope this is helpful to you.
>>>>>>>>>> Best,
>>>>>>>>>> Darian
>>>>>>>>>>> On Nov 10, 2014, at 10:05 AM, Elif Emir via nabs-l
>>>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>>>>>>> My name is Elif.
>>>>>>>>>>> I'm a graduate student from Turkey.
>>>>>>>>>>> I'm wondering how many international students are we in this
>>>>>> group?
>>>>>>>>>>> Or is there anyone who knows about an international blind student
>>>>>> who
>>>>>>>>>>> is not a member of this e-mail group?
>>>>>>>>>>> Could you contact me from here my personal e-mail to discuss
>>>>>> about the
>>>>>>>>>>> accommodation's we have, problems spessific to international
>>>>>> students
>>>>>>>>>>> and adjustment issues.
>>>>>>>>>>> I want to get together online, and talk to each other and support
>>>>>> each
>>>>>>>>>>> other about these internationally spessific issues.
>>>>>>>>>>> Best
>>>>>>>>>>> Elif Emir Oksuz
>>>>>>>>>>> filerime at gmail.com
>>>>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>> Kaiti
>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> -Kartik Sawhney,
>>>>>> Cell: +1-(650) 492-3220 (US), +91-9958499435 (India)
>>>>>> E-mail ID: sawhney.kartik at gmail.com, kartiks2 at stanford.edu
>>>>>> linkedin.com/in/kartiksawhney/
>>>>>>
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>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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>>>>>
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>>>
>>> --
>>> Cindy Bennett
>>> 1st Year Ph.D. Student, University of Washington
>>> Human Centered Design and Engineering
>>>
>>> Treasurer of the Greater Seattle Chapter and of the National
>>> Federation of the Blind of Washington
>>> Affiliates of the National Federation of the Blind
>>>
>>> clb5590 at gmail.com
>>>
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-- 
Kaiti