[nabs-l] Extensive Cane Travel During the Summer

Sun Jan 26 02:24:11 UTC 2014

HI Andy.  I'm not the best at going places myself.  When I was
attending my local college, I did eventually get the routes to my
classes figured out, but it did take me a couple years.  At first I
had people pretty much take me where I needed to go.  I had to decide
for myself, that I could learn my routes to places like the library
building, or other classroom buildings on campus.  I am glad that you
want to brush up on Mobility and other skills.  I agree with what
others have already said about trying to practice a route more than
once.  Don't worry if you have to start out slow, once you figure out
the best way to get where you need to go, it will be much easier.  I
know for me, I didn't really have to do much thinking once I figured
out my routes.  I am going to attend a center in Chicago which will
hopefully help me with cooking, and doing things like mobility.  I
haven't had to do much stree crossings in quite a few years as there
weren't any streets crossing our campus.  I just had to make sure I
didn't end up in a parking lot instead of the walkway to a building.
Best of luck to you.  As for attending centers, I'd much rather go to
one of the NFB centers but Illinois is one of the worst states when it
comes to trying to get counselors to pay for the expense of sending
someone to one.  I know people from my state have gone to the NFB
center in Minnosota, but a friend of mine told me it took someone 15
months to get all the paperwork, letters and everything filled out.  I
don't want to go through all that hassel.  Andy, please let us all
know how you make out.

On 1/25/14, Ashley Bramlett <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
> Dave,
> Who has a customer service program? Do you mean Hatlen? I did not think they
>
> did that. just clarifying.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dave Webster
> Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2014 7:52 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Extensive Cane Travel During the Summer
>
> Hi.  My name is Dave.  I wanted to chime in a bit on this.  Right now, by
> the way I'm in California but I am in a program at Junior Blind called the
> davidson program for independence.  Its an ok program but it s very very
> traditional.  I'm just there to bursh up on some cane travel skills and
> house keeping and cooking and stuff.  I actually don't really like the
> program because I'm getting bored with it.  The Hatlin center is good.  Its
> out here in California up in San Pablo.  I was gonna go but they have a
> year
> long waiting list so unfortunately dpi was the only one available.  After I
> get done with that I'm gonna be doing a customer service training progrma
> out there that they have.  its only 5 weeks.  I'll be glad when I'm done
> with dpi.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ashley Bramlett
> Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2014 4:26 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Extensive Cane Travel During the Summer
>
> Hi,
> that's a tough question! The difficulties you have are common I've noticed
> from my interactions with young blind and vi adults. We get good braille
> and
> tech skills in school, but vision teachers do not teach daily life skills
> to
> us.
> I commend you for seeking resources to rectify these deficits.
> The research I did involved transition camps for college students or teens;
> these programs involve the whole range of skills like braille, technology,
> daily living, travel skills and
> sometimes medical care instruction.
>
> I know what you mean; in college, I sought the same program since my
> technology and braille skills were good; I just wanted the housekeeping
> skills and cane travel.
> But now out of college, I realize I need to update my computer and other
> tech skills.
> I would think a local agency like a lighthouse for the blind might provide
> weekly private training; I mean they come to your home and
> give you this training and even label appliances and tools so you can use
> them. If you get O&M, they will instruct you in your neighborhood provided
> you have sidewalks and drive you to sites locally to teach you.
> I want to use their services at columbia lighthouse, but it would get so
> darn expensive. ah, maybe if I have a part time job, I can use some of this
> money to hire instructors.
> Is there a lighthouse in your area?
>
> I might know of something; which state are you in, might I ask?
> I had O&M growing up, but the teacher focussed so much on giving me routes
> to follow that she did not teach generalized skills and I feel her
> expectations were low; as an adult, I was fortunate to get more o&M by our
> dept for the blind. But they can only serve you a few times a month. I
> would
> have gone further and learned more if they provided training every week.
>
> You know, in this free wealthy country, it is sad we do not have more
> community resources to address skills for blind and vision impaired people.
> Nfb might just say come to our centers, but the reality is people do not!
> want to leave their environment for months. They would rather stay at home
> to integrate skills in their own lives and homes. They have family  to care
> for or school to attend or other commitments. If we could provide more
> community services, I think people with vision loss may be more inclined to
> partake in services. Some people just want to use  a computer as they lose
> vision or learn how they can read again with magnifiers or braille; they do
> not want the whole package of skills that NFB centers, and to much extent
> regular centers offer. They just want some part of it, and I think this
> should be respected, not have them shipped off to some centers telling them
> they have to learn braille when  they might read fine with a CCTV or other
> magnifier or more lighting, telling them they have to use a cane when they
> hate it and are not ready for a cane emotionally or maybe their vision is
> sufficient to get around but not sufficient to say read a magazine, or
> telling clients they have to take cooking for like five months when they
> already knew how to cook as a sighted person and simply need some lessons
> in
> adaptive techniques of cooking which in this case they would be fine.
>
> I hope you find a sollution! Are you seeking some regular instruction or
> structured discovery? The latter basically is based on problem solving and
> you figure out a lot on your own where as traditional instruction involves
> a
> variety of techniques such as using maps, working on mental mapping,
> teaching you traffic patterns by listening to traffic, sensory awareness,
> and sometimes use of electronic devices like GPS systems.
> Structured discovery is taught at NFB centers and nfb like centers which
> are
> centers run by federationists but are often state funded.
>
> Are you completely blind?
>
> I would suggest  these resources.
> 1. Call hadley school for the blind; they may have ideas. they are a
> distance ed school; their O&M teacher who teaches intro to O&M may be able
> to recommend an instructor; her name is Ginger Irwin. She is a
> traditionally
> certified instructor.
> but this might involve you paying for it; or your parents paying I mean.
>
> 2. Carroll center in newton MA, may have a summer program to fit your
> needs.
> You are too old for the youth in transition program, but maybe they have
> one
> for college students.
>
> 3. Cleveland sight center in Ohio has a six week program for young adults
> in
> the summer. You live in apartments and get to have a job which is a good
> resume builder. I know they individualize instruction, so if you do not
> want
> classes in braille or technology, they might honor that. I do not know how
> ridgid the young adult program is, but when I called to inquire about their
> adult program, they assured me that if you know a skill, and do not wish to
> go further in it, you do not take that class. I might add though, I do
> recommend you take computer classes because technology changes, and you
> might benefit from more pc instruction. For instance, I see many powerpoint
> questions here which means students do not know how to use that. I also
> think basic excel skills are good to learn budgeting or simply storing
> information. Sometimes people say their tech skills are great, but really
> they don't know the whole office suite, and this is needed for many office
> jobs.
> The website is www.clevelandsightcenter.org.
>
> 4. The hatlen center might have summer offerings. you also live in
> apartments there, so lots of practice cooking and cleaning.
>
> 5. Have you checked into your state rehab center? they might let you take
> certain classes. I don't know if your state has one or not.
>
> HTH,
> Ashley
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Andy
> Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2014 6:26 PM
> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [nabs-l] Extensive Cane Travel During the Summer
>
> All,
> I'm a college student (freshman) and I've been blind since birth.
> Unfortunately throughout the years, my mobility/cane travel
> instruction has been sporadic, at best.  I'm finding that I lack a lot
> of skills: I have a lot of difficulty crossing streets, for example,
> and don't really even know basic traffic patterns.  I find that I get
> lost a lot, and in general I just really need a great deal of
> instruction for mobility.  To get around now, as much as it pains me
> to say it, I get a lot of help.
>
> I'm looking to rectify this situation.  As I'm in college, I really
> would prefer to not take a semester off, so some sort of summer
> training program would be enormously helpful.  I already know braille,
> computers, etc – really all I need is mobility, and if possible, basic
> cooking, housekeeping, etc.  I did some research, but all I could find
> were camps, college prep programs, etc, which isn't what I'm looking
> for.
>
> If anyone has any suggestions on what might be out there during the
> summer for training, please let me know.
> Thanks.
>
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