[nabs-l] nfb training centers

Tue Feb 4 20:56:18 UTC 2014

Fair point, Arielle.  They did not keep track of who was going in and
out.  Are the apartments at the NFB centers actually off campus or are
they still on the campus, but in a different building?  I mean, are
they similar to the on-campus apartments in college or do you actually
have to commute from the apartment to the center and back on a daily
basis?  Do the NFB centers provide anywhere to eat on campus during
the day so one doesn't have to traipse back and forth multiple times a
day?

On 2/4/14, Arielle Silverman <arielle71 at gmail.com> wrote:
> I think the ID checking is different from signing in and out. The
> purpose of the ID check is to be sure that people entering the
> building actually live there or are authorized to be there. They don't
> actually keep track of who is going in or out, at least I don't think
> they are.
>
> Arielle
>
> On 2/4/14, Ryan Silveira <ryan.l.silveira at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Ashley, are you talking about the Richmond Center?  I applied for a
>> job there in the summer of 2012 and found them to be quite
>> restrictive.  That was also when they were doing the high school
>> program, so perhaps it is different for adults.  I did like the staff
>> there--the director seems pretty good.  Arielle and Jamie, I agree
>> with you.  I would have preferred not to have dealt with a sign in/out
>> process.  Actually, since the housing desk was often unmanned, I
>> really didn't have to.  It is, as you say, contrary to the notion of
>> equality and independence. The only reason they did it was to be able
>> to keep a headcount in case of an emergency.  I had forgotten that the
>> NFB centers do have apartments.  I like that much better than living
>> on campus.  I will tell you, though, that I have experienced a sign
>> in/out process in a college dorm.  well, not exactly a sign-in/out
>> process, but you did have to show your school ID to the RA or
>> volunteer student on duty when you walked in the building.
>>
>> Ryan
>>
>> On 2/4/14, Ashley Bramlett <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
>>> Arielle,
>>> Right and I forgot to say that. For those that don't know, the
>>> apartments
>>> at
>>>
>>> nfb centers are separate from the building so you live off campus
>>> anyway.
>>>
>>> I did not find the policy at the center a problem. You have to walk
>>> right
>>> by
>>>
>>> the dorm office anyway to go out the main doors, so it did not seem
>>> inconvenient to do this.
>>> I actually felt our center in VA was more lax than some centers out
>>> there.
>>> We did not have a curphew or have to tell them when we'd come back. They
>>> did
>>>
>>> not ask any questions about our whereabouts either.
>>>
>>> I see why nfb centers do what they do though. They want to make it as
>>> independent a program as possible.
>>> I think the sad thing is people don't go off campus enough. I found this
>>> helpful to go exploring and shop for personal items. Students can go out
>>> to
>>>
>>> dinner if they wish but it seemed to me students would rather just stay
>>> on
>>> campus and eat the cafeteria food. Fortunately, I did get off once in a
>>> while to get restaurant food even if I was alone and enjoyed it.
>>> Ashley
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Arielle Silverman
>>> Sent: Tuesday, February 04, 2014 2:21 PM
>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] nfb training centers
>>>
>>> There's an important difference between WSB and NFB centers. At WSB
>>> the students, even adults, live on campus. At NFB centers you live in
>>> an apartment with another student, off campus. This is part of the
>>> reason why signing in and out wasn't practical. If someone was gone
>>> for an extended period of time, that person's roommate and the
>>> residential manager would notice and investigate the situation. But if
>>> a student is just gone for a few hours, outside class time, it isn't
>>> critical for the student's whereabouts to be known. Students living in
>>> college dorms don't have to sign in and out either, unless they are
>>> leaving for several days. NFB centers treat the students like adults
>>> just as college dorms do.
>>> I think the apartment living is a critical reason why NFB centers
>>> provide superior training. You learn how to cook and clean for
>>> yourself, how to share space with another person, and how to commute
>>> between home and school, and practice those skills on a daily basis.
>>>
>>> Arielle
>>>
>>> On 2/4/14, Kirt <kirt.crazydude at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> Ashley,
>>>> I went to a state center, one of the better ones I think, and never had
>>>> to
>>>> sign in and out when I left. I'm just thinking how inconvenient that
>>>> would
>>>> have been for those 3 AM trips to denny's that I occasionally took when
>>>> I
>>>> felt the urge. :-)
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>
>>>>> On Feb 4, 2014, at 12:02 PM, "Ashley Bramlett"
>>>>> <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Ryan,
>>>>> yes, at wsb and nfb centers you can go out after class. But at nfb
>>>>> centers, there's not a sign out policy.
>>>>> Most centers let you do anything after classes. Its your time. At our
>>>>> state center, they had you sign in and out as well. This is important
>>>>> for
>>>>> liability since the state Ii s responsibility for you. so in
>>>>> emergencies
>>>>> or fire drills, they do a head count, and they need to know who is not
>>>>> at
>>>>> campus so the sign in/out policy is there.
>>>>> Every center is different in their rules on leaving campus, so this is
>>>>> something to consider before going to one.
>>>>>
>>>>> Ashley
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message----- From: Ryan Silveira
>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, February 04, 2014 1:56 PM
>>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] nfb training centers
>>>>>
>>>>> I have not attended an NFB training center myself, but I did go to
>>>>> World Services for the Blind.  Despite their rather lax attitude
>>>>> regarding the poor residential life situation, their training is
>>>>> fairly good.  Like the NFB centers, they will evaluate your skills and
>>>>> assist you wherever you need the most work.  Kelsey, you mentioned
>>>>> going to a six-week training program in high school where you felt you
>>>>> really were not given a lot of independence.  Misty, you were
>>>>> right--they did keep you on a short leash because you were a minor.
>>>>> I'm not sure about CCB and LCB, but I believe they opperate similarly
>>>>> to World Services for the Blind in that, for the adults, once the
>>>>> official day is over, you are free to go wherever you please whenever
>>>>> you please as long as you sign out at the housing desk when you leave
>>>>> and sign in when you return.  From what I have heard, the NFB centers
>>>>> pretty much do the same thing.
>>>>>
>>>>>> On 2/4/14, melissa Green <lissa1531 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>> I agree.
>>>>>> I loved the fact that I could just read and read some more.
>>>>>> all the while increasing my speed.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Best,
>>>>>> Melissa R Green
>>>>>> Hold fast to dreams,
>>>>>> For if dreams die
>>>>>> Life is a broken-winged bird,
>>>>>> That cannot fly.
>>>>>> Langston Hughes
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>> From: "Arielle Silverman" <arielle71 at gmail.com>
>>>>>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>>>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>> Sent: Sunday, February 02, 2014 10:17 PM
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] nfb training centers
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi Lillie,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> For Braille the center instructors will measure your current reading
>>>>>> speed and will help you practice reading and learn techniques to
>>>>>> increase your speed, if that is your goal. They will also have you
>>>>>> practice writing on the slate and stylus and building up your writing
>>>>>> speed. I was a fast Braille reader already, so I mostly focused on
>>>>>> slate and stylus work.
>>>>>> Even if you are already great with Braille, it's a good opportunity
>>>>>> to read some fun Braille books!
>>>>>> Arielle
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On 2/2/14, Lillie Pennington <lilliepennington at fuse.net> wrote:
>>>>>>> I am always interested in center experiences. I am curious as to the
>>>>>>> Braille
>>>>>>> aspect. I read contracted Braille at about 140 words and hope to
>>>>>>> increase
>>>>>>> that to 175 within the next year or so. I know the nemith code code
>>>>>>> pretty
>>>>>>> much up through algebra 2 and probably then some. My  Braille music
>>>>>>> skills
>>>>>>> are fair. I am just curious as to what a Braille component could do
>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>> me.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Feb 2, 2014, at 10:12 PM, Arielle Silverman
>>>>>>>> <arielle71 at gmail.com>
>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> 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.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Ryan L. Silveira
>>>>>
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>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>>
>> --
>> Ryan L. Silveira
>>
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-- 
Ryan L. Silveira