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

Sun Feb 7 23:50:44 UTC 2016

My aid did not help me much in high school. She mainly did a lot of
the brailling I needed for my classes.
She would be with me in math class though on days when there were very
visual concepts. Other than that, she would proctor my exams (when I
had to take them in a separate location mainly for math), transcribe
my work for my math teacher (my TVI transcribed the contracted braille
Etc. or I emailed my work).

On 2/7/16, Mikayla Gephart via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> I think that parents should try the local public school, and if that does
> not work, then try the residential school, or at least really consider the
> proes and cons. Even if you worry that public school may not be right, your
> child might thank you for sending them there because it taught them about
> the real world.
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
>> On Feb 7, 2016, at 6:17 PM, Shawn Abraham via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> wrote:
>>
>> I forgot all about aids, because I stopped having one my freshmen year.
>> And I do agree that though we can make generalizations that public school
>> is better, ultimately its about your personal situation.
>> Out of curiosity, what kinds of things do your aids help you with, since I
>> see so many high schoolers with them?
>>
>> ----- 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: Sun, 7 Feb 2016 12:33:14 -0600
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Schools For The Blind vs Public Schools
>>
>> Yes, Loren, aides can be a downfall, but they are in such short supply
>> with all of the overflow in my state, that you are out there on your
>> own.  Which is what happened my senior year.
>> Plus, there's a lot of itinerant work.  And very little time, but
>> you're right about the aides.  And with blind schools (at least mine)
>> I've gone to prom at least three times.:)
>>
>> On 2/7/16, Loren Wakefield via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> So is that why a blind student must be accompanied by an aide in the
>> public
>> schools?  I received a damn good education at Iowa Braille and Sight
>> Saving
>> School.  At the time, it was far superior to what I would have received
>> in
>> my own town.
>>
>> So in my humble opinion, it comes down to what works best for the
>> individual
>> student.  Since leaving IBSSS, I have acquired a college education, a
>> Wife,
>> kids, and grandkids, along with many other things that has made life
>> extremely interesting.
>>
>> I have yet to see kids coming out of public schools that are any closer
>> to
>> being prepared for life than I was.
>>
>> Having said this, I do believe it should be a choice.  One should not be
>> forced to attend one or the other.  If the public school setting works
>> better for you, than get in there and kick butt and get all you can.  If
>> the
>> state school works better for you, then do the same.  Just remember, no
>> school system is perfect.
>>
>> Loren
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Angela via
>> nabs-l
>> Sent: Sunday, February 07, 2016 8:32 AM
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> Cc: angelaroberts10886 at gmail.com
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Schools For The Blind vs Public Schools
>>
>> 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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