[nabs-l] problems with a TVI

Thu Mar 27 04:37:11 UTC 2014

Lilly,

What a tough situation. Your TVI does not seem too respectful.
I agree with Ryan. On the questions he directs to your para, just step in 
and answer them. Also, tell him you are a responsible student who can take 
AP classes. Say you can do your work yourself  and if you need his help, you 
will ask for it. My TVIs always put me in control, especially in high 
school. I had to advocate; I had to get my work done and if I missed 
something written on the board, my TVI expected me to ask my teachers for 
that info orally.

Also, get your parents backing, and if it continues, they should have words 
with him. I would not put up with this either, and I can tell its taking a 
psychological tole on you.

For the mobility problems of the other blind student, I echo others 
suggestions; you can assist them
in showing them around a few times. Besides this, it’s the mobility 
instructor's job.
You could make a list of ten things to assist someone in navigation. You can 
get my ideas if needed. But, I think its unreasonable to solicit your input 
in changing the school. This student needs the skills to navigate, not the 
building to change for him. If the TVI thinks the school should change for 
him, that is a red flag. My TVIs always believed I had to adapt and learn 
skills, not let the world adapt for me.
I'd reiterate your position that you would not see that anything changed, 
but you do hope with some teaching and repetition this student can navigate.
I think braille numbers can help, especially when learning new areas; once 
you know a place, you don't need to confirm you're there with the numbers. 
But I think its helpful because you really confirm you are there; sighted 
people see the signs, and its nice to have them accessible.
So, coming from someone with some spatial challenges, I would not fight 
against them.

The student probably would benefit from tactile maps and if they have 
cognitive challenges, they could benefit from tactile cues to tell them what 
is next. Basically, I've heard of this technique for those with memory or 
verbal challenges; like when someone cannot understand words.
You have objects to represent activities and locations. You as the teacher 
hand the student the object and then go to that location. It continues like 
this over lessons in a specific pattern. The student then associates the 
object with the location. For instance, toy food can represent  the 
cafeteria, a small ball can represent gym, and a small instrument like a 
chime could represent music class. Not sure how it would work for general 
classes because they all seem similar.

If the mobility instructor is good and has experience with a range of mental 
abilities, he/she should know this.

I hope this gets resolved asap. Sorry to hear this since this is totally 
opposite of how a TVI should act.

Ashley
-----Original Message----- 
From: Lillie Pennington
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 10:10 PM
To: 'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'
Subject: [nabs-l] problems with a TVI

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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