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

Sun Feb 7 14:49:53 UTC 2016

I agree.

On 2/7/16, Kayla James via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 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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>>>>>>
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>>>>>>
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>>>>>
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-- 
Joshua Lester
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