[nabs-l] Schools For The Blind vs Public Schools

Sun Feb 7 14:44:48 UTC 2016

Right on, Angela. Let's just face it, people. Blind schools--just say
no. You'll do fine in public school, people. Just get a DHS counselor
and find a blind organization with some friends your age and make
friends with the sighted people.
They won't kill you, I promise.:)

On 2/7/16, Angela  via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> I honestly think that Blind Schools shelter students, and don't prepare them
> for the real world.  I went to public school until my 11th grade year of
> school, and I'm regretting even going to a blind school.
> The academics is way behind for high school.  Like some have said, I feel
> like blind schools baby and give students everything without questions
> asked, therefore they expect tmhe sighted world to do the same.  How can one
> develop self advocacy skills when they are handed everything without having
> to fight for it?
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Feb 6, 2016, at 11:11 PM, Kayla James via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Lol. I'm not the only one who gets irritated? Boss awesome!
>>
>>> On 2/6/16, Doug Oliver via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> Danielle I agree with you I have had people do the "your so amazing"
>>> comments too and it irritated me too I know what that's like.
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Danielle Sykora via nabs-l" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>> Cc: "Danielle Sykora" <dsykora29 at gmail.com>
>>> Sent: Saturday, February 6, 2016 9:59 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Schools For The Blind vs Public Schools
>>>
>>>
>>>> As someone who has only been to public school, I am extremely greatful
>>>> that my education was in this setting. Although it was challenging at
>>>> times, I'm glad I was in "the real world" from the beginning. Though
>>>> most of my work was available, accessibility challenges were always an
>>>> unfortunate but unavoidable part of life I learned to deal with long
>>>> ago. Most people viewed me as "that blind girl", but honestly, this is
>>>> how it usually is as a minority. A similar hierarchy exists among
>>>> blind people as it does in your average school environment. I'm not an
>>>> overly social person, so it doesn't make a huge difference to me--I
>>>> don't deal with people who have a superiority complex and I'm
>>>> perfectly happy with just a few close friends. The "your so amazing"
>>>> comments irritate me to no end and I actually tend to discredit
>>>> compliments as products of low expectations, so I'm not sure the sense
>>>> of entitlement happens all that often. Most importantly though, I
>>>> needed to be in an academically challenging environment that I'm not
>>>> sure is always available in a residential school for the blind. For
>>>> example, how many AP science classes would be available in one of
>>>> these schools?
>>>>
>>>> Danielle
>>>>
>>>>> On 2/6/16, Vejas Vasiliauskas via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>> I feel like as a public school student and you are blind, lots of
>>>>> people are amazed by you and you may get a false sense of
>>>>> entitlement.  Particularly in elementary school 'I'm sure a lot
>>>>> of people can relate to th', you get paired with friends who are
>>>>> there to help you at lunch and recess--as you get older this of
>>>>> course doesn't happen, and it can be a shock to some people.
>>>>> I can say now that as a student at LCB I am not "The Blind Kid",
>>>>> and there are groups here, but friends choose each other based on
>>>>> much more meaningful reasons.
>>>>> Vejas
>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> From: Kayla James via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>> Date sent: Sat, 6 Feb 2016 21:12:47 -0600
>>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Schools For The Blind vs Public Schools
>>>>>
>>>>> From someone who has done both, there isn't a whole lot of
>>>>> difference.
>>>>> In public school, you will be the "blind" kid, new, and people
>>>>> will be
>>>>> scared of you, but it helps you deal more with the real world
>>>>> where
>>>>> you are a minority in a sense.  Residential blind schools are
>>>>> like
>>>>> public schools, you'll be the "blind" kid there, too, and
>>>>> depending on
>>>>> the hierarchy, because let's face it there is one, that can be
>>>>> good or
>>>>> bad.
>>>>> The popular kids are usually visually impaired, athletic, pretty,
>>>>> you
>>>>> name it.  Totals are in on it, too.  The pros: you are around
>>>>> your own
>>>>> set, if you will.
>>>>>
>>>>> On 2/6/16, Christina Moore via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>> I believe both settings have thier benefits and disadvantages.
>>>>> I attended a school for the blind from 2-4 grade and was a
>>>>> residental
>>>>> student.  I did not mind in any not being at home and being at
>>>>> the
>>>>> school for the blind allowed me to be around other kids, advance
>>>>> my
>>>>> braille skills, learn some other necessary skills and gain
>>>>> self-confidence I would not otherwise have had.
>>>>> Once I entered public school in fifth grade it waws a hurtle for
>>>>> me to
>>>>> do math and to accept being in a public school because my whole
>>>>> world
>>>>> was different.  My school was learning how to help me as they
>>>>> were
>>>>> going and that was challenging at time.  It was not thier fault,
>>>>> but it
>>>>> was still challenging.  I did well though and am in college now.
>>>>> I believe both experiences have their advantages and
>>>>> disadvantages.
>>>>> For instance, there is more self-advocacy, need to prove
>>>>> yourself to
>>>>> classmates Etc.  in a school that is public versus a school that
>>>>> catters to blindness.  Everyone in my opinion should have an
>>>>> experience
>>>>> of starting out in a school for the blind in some way and then
>>>>> they
>>>>> should be transitioned into a public school where they finish
>>>>> thier
>>>>> education.
>>>>> Just my thoughts.
>>>>>
>>>>> On 2/6/16, jessica hodges via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>> I believe schools for the blind can have some benefits.  If you
>>>>> go there
>>>>> as a residential student, depending on the school, and the
>>>>> quality of
>>>>> education, you can get a lot of skills that can serve you very
>>>>> well in
>>>>> life after graduation, if you keep practicing them.  However, I
>>>>> believe
>>>>> that a student should also have some public school exposure, to
>>>>> teach
>>>>> self advicasy, as well as how to cope when things when all
>>>>> materials and
>>>>> experiences are not accessible, and optimized for blindness.
>>>>> The issue
>>>>> that I find with blind schools is that they basically hand the
>>>>> students
>>>>> the world on a silver platter.  They don't have to fight for
>>>>> anything,
>>>>> make due with anything that isn't perfectly accessible, and so
>>>>> have no
>>>>> exposure in how to deal with things in the "real world," outside
>>>>> the
>>>>> sphere of the blind school.  I went to a blind school from my
>>>>> third to
>>>>> sixth grade year, and was home schooled through seventh grade,
>>>>> so I
>>>>> struggled integrating back into the school system, particularly
>>>>> in math,
>>>>> trying to adapt to a visually taught class and things.  I also
>>>>> didn't
>>>>> stay at the school, so I did not learn half of the skills that I
>>>>> could
>>>>> have.
>>>>>       In conclusion, I believe it is good to give students
>>>>> experience in
>>>>> both public, and blind school settings.
>>>>> Hope this helps.
>>>>> Jessica
>>>>>
>>>>> On 2/6/2016 4:42 PM, Roanna Bacchus via nabs-l wrote:
>>>>> Good evening Students,
>>>>>
>>>>> I have a question for all of you.  What are the advantages and
>>>>> disadvantages of attending a residential school for the blind vs
>>>>> a
>>>>> public school? I could not handle being away from my family
>>>>> during the
>>>>> week.  As a toddler I attended the Early Intervention program at
>>>>> the
>>>>> Perkins School For The Blind.  I'd like to hear your thoughts on
>>>>> this
>>>>> topic.
>>>>>
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