[nabs-l] problems with a TVI

Thu Mar 27 03:20:36 UTC 2014

Lillie,

This is an interesting dilemma.

While it would be very nice of you to help this student out, I think
you have a fair assessment in mind of what is reasonable for the
blindness professionals to ask of you, and what is not.

I see your point about there not being a universal need for braille
numbers.  With the exception of braille, which I will admit I strongly
advocate for, there really isn't any universal accomodation that works
for all blind students.  There are too many variables to have blanket
accomodations for everyone, especially in things like mobility where
several factors, including amount of vision, other mental or
developmental disabilities, and spatial awareness come into play.

I personally would side with you on the braille number thing; none of
my classrooms in high school except for my braillist's office had
braille on them because the building was so old.  Granted, my high
school was essentially a big square on each floor, but it didn't take
rocket science for me to remember room numbers in the first few weeks,
and then the room numbers became unimportant because I knew where I
was going.  Room numbers are really not that important once you get
past the first week or so of school and know your routes.  I too can't
speak for this other student, but at least in my experiences knowing
how to get from point A to point B is easier than knowing I have to go
from this room to that room.  Heck, my college buildings don't have
consistent braille labels on doors.

In terms of mobility, some people are pretty advanced, and can figure
most things out themselves or with minimal coaching, while others
really struggle.  While it isn't cool just to leave the mobility
stragglers in the dust, it also is not okay to expect the good
navigators to go above and beyond to help the stragglers.  I
personally think the best way to improve your skills is to practice
them, and people who are coddled can't get that practice in
independence.

You certainly have the right to refuse to come to the meeting,
especially since it would probably mean missing class for you, and as
you said you have AP exams in a few weeks.  Why should you miss class
for a problem you're not having, especially when missing would cause
problems for you?

I wouldn't take what the TVI says so personally.  Yes, it's annoying,
and he might have totally ludicrous ideas of how little blind people
can actually do, but you only have to put up with him for a limitted
time, and if he thinks you're not doing enough to help this student,
then he can think what he wants.  It sounds like you want to help when
it is reasonable, but you also have to protect your own interests and
academics.

On 3/26/14, Lillie Pennington <lilliepennington at fuse.net> wrote:
> Hello Everyone
>
> I apologize for my posts on this list being generally being negative as of
> late and my questions having a  somewhat no-brainer type of answer.
>
> I have a new TVI this year. Based on what I have heard, my parents and I
> are
> pretty sure that I am the most advanced student on his caseload in terms of
> both Braille and/or blindness skills, as well as pretty high up there
> intellectually.
>
> In terms of doing my schoolwork and other school-related things, , I would
> classify myself as pretty responsible. I do not feel that I have done
> anything major that would result in a lack of mistrust. However, the way
> that my TVI sometimes acts towards me makes me feel otherwise. The way he
> questions some of my actions or what I say as if I cannot be trusted or as
> if I am lying bothers me. For example, he was wanting to talk about lunch
> things and who I sat with. He then asked my parra when she came back in the
> room if I did do these things (referring to my lunch routine.) Another
> example in my mind that sticks out of being mistrustful is when I was
> showing my parra the final draft of a research paper because we had been
> discussing Common Core State Standards (the topic of the paper) earlier. He
> wanted to see the paper, so I gave him the printed copy. He was quite
> skeptical about whether the paper was allowed to take an argumentative
> stance. I told him that it was, and he asked my parra (who is not in that
> class with me) if it was.
>
> There was an upserge in these problems today which I had mainly put in the
> back of my mind. He and my mobility instructor brought the student that I
> am
> supposed to be mentoring next year that I have mentioned in a previous
> post.
> They were mainly looking at the building, which I will admit is weirdly
> layed out.
>
> I had previously provided both a written and oral description of the
> building to this student, and my mobility teacher has obviously seen it
> working with me.
>
> I will go off on another side tangent for a moment. After my description
> and
> noting that there were no Braille numbers on the doors, my TVI and the
> student were very upset. My TVI sent some emails and there is a meeting
> scheduled at some point to discuss getting Braille numbers installed. I
> asked if this is really necessary because my sister and I never had that
> much trouble navigating the building. My TVI asked if I thought about
> anyone
> but myself. This comment bothered me at the time but I was worrying about
> other things at the time so did not give it much thought.
>
> Today after the student left, my TVI told me that I should help this
> student
> learn the campus. He told me to create a top 10 list; things that would
> help
> the student get around. These things had to be totally blind friendly and
> for someone who could not process things as quickly as I could. There are
> two problems with this. I do not necessarily know how to see through these
> student eyes (or in this case, not see.) I have a bit of periferil vision
> that I use along with alternative techniques to navigate the building.
> Along
> with this list, I was expected to come up with things that the
> administration could do to change the school. I had trouble coming up with
> both of these lists, because I am pretty happy with the school, and
> everything basically clicked for me. I did try for about 10 minutes to come
> up with things and I did come up with something for counting the doors.
>
> When I tried to come up with these things, and when I could not and I
> explained, my TVI did not believe me. He said that it certainly took more
> time for me to learn the building. I also explained about the vision thing
> and he was quite skeptical.
>
> I am done with being called a lier. I am done with everything I do being
> questioned. I am done trying to do a job that I feel is the mobility
> instructors job (with this list.) I felt like I was thrust into this
> position. I do not want to be generalized in this crusade about Braille
> numbers about all students who are blind needing them.
>
>
>
> I want to confront him about this tomorrow. I felt like in a way he was
> bullying me today. I want to not dread my study hall every day for what he
> may say. However, I know that I have to pick and choose my battles. I am
> not
> sure if this is worth confronting him about. I am going to for sure tell
> him
> that I cannot do anymore for this student besides just helping a blind
> person mentally adjust psychologically to high school. I have an AP test in
> 6 weeks and I need to focus on preparing for that.
>
> I have lost sleep over this student. I have no real attachment to this
> person but I do have a fear that if I am not the one actively doing things
> that this student will fall into the wayside. I am also going to tell him
> that I do not want to be included in the Braille number discussions and
> that
> I am perfectly happy with the way things are, and that I do not want any of
> these arguments being made for "all blind students" because that is not
> true.
>
> However, I do not know if I have the right to do this. My parents think I
> should help because otherwise no one else will. I feel like I am being
> manipulated, but I still in a way feel guilty. I am not going to mention
> the
> skepticism and how it makes me feel, but I will bring up my unhappiness
> with
> the arrangements for this student.
>
> I will also speak to my mobility instructor on my next lesson. My TVI is
> the
> only one I am hearing these things from. I am not going to bad mouth my
> TVI,
> but I will say that I have been asked to spend time doing things and making
> lists that I do not feel that I have the authority or the experience to
> make.
>
>
>
> Is there some other way to do this? I am going to be as respectful as I
> can,
> but for me this has to end. Am I doing the right thing? I do not know what
> else to do in terms of other options. I apologize for the long post.
>
> Thank You,
>
> Lillie
>
>
>
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-- 
Kaiti