[nabs-l] my blog about my experiences at LCB

Fri Sep 11 17:50:17 UTC 2015

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Hello Derik,
Thanks for your response. First, I want to note that I'm not
disagreeable. I'm posting about my views. I am not working to shut
down any legislation or lawsuits the NFB is involved in and I believe
that my work with ACB should not have any impact on the fact that I
was denied by a NFB backed organization because I was unwilling to
lock my dog in a room for hours at a time as an employee. While I
really didn't expect anything different from you, I'm amazed at how
you've shifted all of this on to another organizational spat, which
has nothing to do with my comments.

As to your note about me disagreeing with Kathryn's campaign, I noted
that she did grace us with her attention over at ACBS and had not
upheld her duties. I noted that not to be disagreeable as you
mentioned, but to make the note that I didn't know how she would
handle responsibilities as a NABS board member. Unlike some, I really
don't care which organization does work as long as it is work that can
further equal access and better opportunities for blind and disabled
people. While I might disagree with philosophies, I'm not going to
attempt to derail someone's campaign in an attempt to be disagreeable,
as you put it.

Regardless of my views and my associations with ACB, No organization
and most especially an organization who claims to speak for blind
people and promote equal access should refuse someone work because
they are unwilling to give up use of their guide dog for large periods
of time. As I said, I promote equality whenever and where I can. I
personally don't think I, or anyone else has a judgement call to make
when saying whether or not someone should use a tool that will help
them be more independant. If you want to use a cane and you can live
the life you want and are independant with that cane, awesome! If you
want to use a guide dog and can also live the life you want and be
independant, again I say that's pretty awesome and we should not be
discouraging either.

Thanks,
On 9/11/2015 1:26 PM, Derek Manners via nabs-l wrote:
> Hello all, mostly Kate, Tyler, and Hope.
> 
> First,  I agree that Kate should not try to shut down negative
> opinions. However, I think Kate did a poor job of articulating what
> she meant when she expressed disapproval of Tyler's message. Her
> problem with it, I assume, is the tone. You can disagree without
> being disagreeable and unfortunately Tyler has shown a propensity
> to be disagreeable, specifically to Kate during her campaign
> announcement which he later apologized for.
> 
> Second, the NFB training centers have a certain philosophy when it
> comes to guide dogs. I think of it as being a similar philosophy as
> to why my cousin taught me how to drive a car even though I can't
> legally drive one. 1. There may come a time when I'd need to and
> there may come a time in a guide dog user's life when they need to
> use a cane over a dog and being versed in both is important if you
> are a dog user. Second, there are lessons that came travel teach
> you about mobility with regard to structured discovery that are
> important when using a cane or a dog.
> 
> As to the computer training, I know for a fact that LCB gives
> advanced instruction to those who need it. Specifically, my friends
> Kate Webster and Syed Rizvi have gotten/will be getting training on
> coding as a blind person. Talking to a trainer informally who may
> or may not know what they are talking about is quite different than
> working out a formal plan through voc rehab and the center.
> 
> Finally, Tyler, you really ought to disclose to folks when you are
> talking about your philosophical views about the NFB that you are
> on the ACB student board and that ACB routinely publicly criticizes
> NFB and our philosophy. Your opinions are not those of someone who
> normally agrees with NFB philosophy who is pointing out a minor
> difference, you are someone who, in certain instances, works
> against our legislative efforts, our philosophical message, and
> actively tries to influence state agencies that we are wrong and
> your organization is right.
> 
> You can obviously post anything you like and I think it's healthy
> to debate philosophical differences. But you should do it in an
> agreeable tone and you should fully disclose your elected position.
> 
> 
> Best regards Derek Manners
> 
> 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Sep 11, 2015, at 12:48 PM, Carlos Montas via nabs-l
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> I would say that is why you have consumer choice as to what kind
>> of rehabilitation center you would like to attend.  That is the
>> wonderful thing about America the freedom of choice.
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>>> On Sep 11, 2015, at 8:40 AM, Hope Paulos via nabs-l
>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> I have to chime in here.  I also have a dog and won't attend a
>>> training center because I can't use him. I understand not being
>>> able to use them for travel classes, that makes sense, but not
>>> being able to use him for cooking, shop, and braille classes? I
>>> am also put off by the arrogance of some of the NFB center
>>> instructors. I was working the booth as a trainer at the
>>> convention for an assistive technology company.  A center
>>> instructor came up wanting to look at some of the products we
>>> had on display. I showed them the products, and then proceeded
>>> to ask them a question. Because I have a graduate certificate
>>> in assistive technology, as well as a graduate certificate in
>>> technical support, I wanted to know if my technology classes
>>> would be tailored to my advanced needs. The instructor
>>> proceeded to laugh at me, and told me "graduate certificate or
>>> not, you will go through the same class as everyone else,
>>> starting with keyboarding." My colleague, who was sitting
>>> beside me, and I were shocked at this person's attitude… keep
>>> in mind, I am a trainer for an assistive technology company,
>>> and I have to start with keyboarding? I also have a bachelors
>>> degree in education… The first thing that you learned about
>>> teaching is that everybody learns differently, and everybody is
>>> on different levels… Education cannot be "One-size-fits-all."
>>> Unfortunately, this seems to be the philosophy of the NFB
>>> centers. Sorry for the rant! On a more positive note, I look
>>> forward to reading your blog, and hope that you have A
>>> wonderful time and learn a lot.
>>> 
>>> Hope Paulos
>>> 
>>>> On Sep 11, 2015, at 8:29 AM, Littlefield, Tyler via nabs-l
>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>> 
> I was going to ask about your experience with a dog, given the name
> of your blog. I find it rather amusing that NFB-associated centers 
> discrimenate so hard against dogs, yet they're the first to scream 
> discrimenation. I was not hired to a program last summer and it
> was mostly because I didn't answer the rather pointed questions
> about what I would do with my dog (like if he could stay in a room)
> for classes, quite the way they wanted. There I think my hope in
> the NFB, at least what remained of it shattered to pieces. We're
> the first to ask for equal access, yet equal access is not provided
> unless you have a straight white cane and drink the Cool-Aid.
>>>>>> On 9/11/2015 8:17 AM, Aleeha Dudley via nabs-l wrote: Hey
>>>>>> all, If you’d like to read about my experiences at LCB,
>>>>>> here is a link to my blog.
>>>>>> http://4pawsatmyside.wordpress.com 
>>>>>> <http://4pawsatmyside.wordpress.com/> I will be detailing
>>>>>> my experiences in class, as well as those with my guide
>>>>>> dog, Dallas, especially given the center’s policies about
>>>>>> guide dogs. I apologize if this is off topic for the
>>>>>> list. Feel free to write me off list with questions.
>>>>>> Aleeha Dudley 
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>> 
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- -- 
Take care,
Ty
twitter: @sorressean
web:http://tysdomain.com
pubkey: http://tysdomain.com/files/pubkey.asc
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