[nabs-l] nfb training centers

Mon Feb 3 03:12:11 UTC 2014

Hi Kelsey,

I would absolutely 100% recommend an NFB training center. If you have
voc rehab they will pay for all of it. Depending on what state you're
in, you may have to convince them why an NFB center is better for you
than a state center, but we can all help you with that.
I attended Louisiana Center for the Blind in 2008, and it was a great
experience. They do test your skills in each class at the beginning
and they set up your assignments according to your individual
strengths and weaknesses. For example, they may start you off in the
kitchen by practicing a lot with different types of knives and then
have you start learning to cook with the oven and stove.
I had good tech skills when I got to LCB, so for my final project I
learned basic sound editing and edited one of the LCB play recordings.
It was a ton of fun and it was great to do something useful for the
center.
For travel they give you all the basic skills so you can travel
competently in any kind of unfamiliar environment. My mobility skills
were my weak point when I got to the center. By the time I graduated I
could feel comfortable crossing parking lots and finding buildings
based on their addresses. I also found that I could learn a route to a
new place after being shown once or twice. Before I went to the
center, it would take me many rounds of practice before I would get a
route down. Although I still get lost sometimes, I find that since
graduating from the center, I can recognize when I am lost and correct
the problem a lot faster.

Best,
Arielle

On 2/2/14, Darian Smith <dsmithnfb at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello,  it sounds like you are interested in attending one of our NFB
> Training centers, and sounds like it would certainly benefit you.
>   The first question of funding can probably be answered by asking if you
> have a case  with Voc Rehab?
>  i attended a training center and have worked with rehab in order to get
> there. I would be happy to answer any questions you have and direct  you to
> folks who can answer questions for you that I can't.
>  Feel free to contact me at dsmithnfb at gmail.com  if you like, and I'll do my
> best to assist.
>   Best,
>   Darian
> On Feb 2, 2014, at 6:32 PM, Kelsey Nicolay <piano.girl0299 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Hello,
>> It seems that in so much of the Nfb's literature, people talk about nfb
>> training centers.  I recently graduated college and still live at home to
>> save money (my sister does too.) I did attend a training program in high
>> school, but it was a six week program only and they would not let us leave
>> the building alone because the hall directors felt that the area was not
>> safe for us.  The only trips we took were as a group and with the staff.
>> At times, those of us who were totally blind were allowed to go sighted
>> guide on field trips.  Therefore, I am teasing with the idea of
>> experiencing an nfb training center, but the problem is that I cannot dish
>> out $7,000 right now due to my student loans.  Is there financial aid
>> available to nfb members who want to attend a training center? I am a
>> member at large, so does that make a difference? I am pretty good in some
>> areas but others not so much.  For example, mobility is definitely not a
>> strength.  I still end up going sighted guide with family and friends
>> except for interviews.  Even then, I am still hesitant to go to unfamiliar
>> places independently.  Can a training center help with that? I have a
>> pretty solid foundation in the use of JAWS with using the Internet,
>> microsvt office, etc.  I also use a Braille note as a notetaker.  Given
>> this foundation, would I still receive technology training? If I would,
>> could it be more recreational in nature, such as learning to navigate
>> facebook using JAWS or learning to use itunes ineependently so I can
>> manage my ipod independently or learning voiceover so I could use an ipad
>> or iphone? My family all have smartphones and ipads except my grandma and
>> I who still have basic phones.  Sometimes when I'm out with my mom and her
>> phone rings and she is not availth', I can't answer her phone for her
>> because I can't see the screen? I tried voiceover once, but I could not
>> get the conang of the gestures, so I gave up.  My Braille skills are very
>> good.  I read contracted Braille as my primary Braille grade and was
>> salf-taught music Braille.  I'm not as confident in my music Braille
>> abilities though.  I can use the microwave pretty well since that's what I
>> used in my dorm at college, but all the buttons were labeled in Braille.
>> However, I am not comfortable with using the stove or oven nor do I trust
>> myself using any kind of knife, even to cut food at a meal.  I still have
>> to ask for help with this task.  Therefore, based on the information I
>> have provided, what would a training center be able to offer me? Will they
>> reteach me something I already know or are new students tested on what
>> they arl know? How is this done? Do they sit you down and ask you
>> questions or is it hands-on where you are asked to perform a given task?
>> When I attended the training program, they just sat down and asked a bunch
>> of questions that had yes or no answers, they did not test our
>> profficiency at all, it was just Do you know how to d....  Sorry for so
>> many questions, but I wadt to know as much as possible at the programs
>> offered at these training centers and how they could be of benefit to me
>> now.
>> Thanks,
>>
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>
>
> Darian Smith
> 2nd Vice President, National Association of Blind Students
> dsmithnfb at gmail.com
>
> www.nabslink.org
> Follow the National Association of Blind Students on twitter: @nabslink
>>
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>
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