[nabs-l] Guide Dogs, Training Centers, and NFB

[Caitlin Best]

During my training at LCB from May 2014 to May 2015... At the beginning of my training, I brought my guide dog with me, but soon found out that it was very difficult to maintain a healthy working relationship with the dog while also learning proper travel skills with my cane. I was not able to use her during class times, which was 8 to 5, but was able to take her out during breaks and lunch. 

Overall, I found the whole thing a little overwhelming and ended up leaving my guide at home after convention.. This was after and extensive talk with my dog's school. 

As for training itself, I learned a lot. Technology was not the easiest and like others have said you need to prove your competence. I put in a lot of after hours work into my assignments, since the technology instructors usually had computer lab tuesday and Thursday. My last project was a little rushed when it came to using Excel,, but I did get what I needed out of it. To me, it's really what you put into it. Not every program is going to be the most awesome over one another, but you make what you make of it. I think no matter which center is considered, they all have their strengths and weaknesses.

As for the NFB, I agree with the philosophy and the civil rights aspect, but like Trevor said I also don't agree with some of the resolutions passed. That will happen anywhere you go, though.. There are always wonderful mentors, and those who are lacking as well. I think the main thing to remember is everyone is looking for a common goal.

I hope this helps. 
Cheers,
Caitlin

Sent from my iPhone

> On Sep 12, 2015, at 13:51, Nathan Clark via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> I didn't think their computer training was all that good either. I spent more time doing basic things then the advanced skills. 
> 
> 
> Nathan Clark
> 
>> On Sep 12, 2015, at 8:22 PM, Trevor Attenberg via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Hi all a all y'all,
>> 
>> I must admit, computer training was probably the least positive of my class
>> experiences at LCB way back in 2003. I came in an excellent typist, and
>> quite capable with creating documents and navigating Windows with JAWS-this
>> was before Voiceover mind you; but they had me spend weeks proving that I
>> could do these things by way of essays I had to type up and get proofread
>> within the constraints of an hour long class with multiple students. I
>> didn't have my own computer at the time and wasn't allowed to proceed to
>> other computer activities on their machines until I completed the prescribed
>> tasks. There wasn't much time left in my training stint to cover the stuff
>> that would prove really important in my future. This was not so much how it
>> worked in Braille and travel, where I was able to leap ahead to activities
>> based on my level of skill.  
>> 
>> That said, when I taught tech at BLIND, Inc. this summer, I was able to
>> customize my lessons according to what the students wanted. As I was just a
>> summer instructor, I don't know how exactly teaching varies in this regard
>> from center to center. Regarding the situation for dogs, I am not quite an
>> expert on what is demanded; but I know if you aren't teaching travel, you're
>> not going to be very mobile during the day, unless there are field trips.
>> There's not much use for a cane or pup in the kitchen, computer lab, etc. I
>> know at BLIND, Inc. students and staff with dogs were able to take their
>> dogs out during class breaks, when we are pretty much free to do what we
>> want. I don't know if they want everyone to be using canes exclusively for
>> simple things like going to the bathroom and what not, or on day trips. This
>> might vary from place to place. Judging from my experience at BLIND, Inc.
>> and Colorado, staff people are certainly permitted to use their dogs outside
>> of regular classes. If a staff person isn't allowed to use a dog during
>> classes like braille and tech, I can't exactly explain it, other than that
>> the students need to use canes, and perhaps they simply want staff to
>> conform to what the students are doing. At LCB, and probably for the most
>> part at the other centers, a student's travel between classrooms, on field
>> trips, etc. is all considered an aspect of mobility training, and thus canes
>> are required. I can't answer for the centers as to the exact reason why
>> canes are so favored; but my guess is that it has to do with the training
>> and problem solving opportunities a cane offers and a dog does not. That is
>> not to put down the utility of dogs as a travel aid. The policies are
>> certainly not some institutionalized condescension towards dogs and their
>> people. If that was the case, then there wouldn't be so many staff at these
>> centers that use dogs. I believe Pam Allen (head of LCB) did use a dog for a
>> while. In Colorado in 2000, almost all of my instructors had a dog,
>> including Melissa (now Riccobono).
>> 
>>               As per the NFB, there's really no litmus test for
>> participating in the organization. They think blindness shouldn't be a
>> factor that will stop you in pursuing what you want in life, but you need
>> not be a human drone, or some marathon-running, astrophysicist. I certainly
>> don't agree with everything that is decided upon in resolutions, elections,
>> and moves decided upon by the board members and whoever influences them.
>> Like other organizations, it is what the members make of it, and from my
>> experience, such people run the gamut from stooges that will make you gag to
>> stars that'll make you feel inadequate. In my experiences, like at the
>> conventions, I'll go to one event, where I detect nothing but a mob of dumb,
>> snobby assholes (like myself), and I'll go to another event where I'll
>> encounter some of the greatest, nicest, most inspiring people I've ever met
>> (like myself). The latter situation together with the benefits I did get
>> from the LCB are probably the biggest reasons why I'm still involved. The
>> federation unfortunately currently draws in more people from some regions of
>> the country than others, and that can mean lots of geographical and
>> cultural-based baggage-you get cliques and pear pressure, but there it is.
>> I've encountered the same thing in other big organizations. 
>> 
>> I greatly appreciate your attention!
>> 
>> Trevor          
>> 
>> P.S. Is there any way I can respond directly to a string of emails when I am
>> getting the messages in digest form?
>> 
>> PPS, In the wise words of one Bill Clinton, "can't we all just get along?"
>> Very sad that there is such a political schism in the blind world.
>> 
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