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

Mon Feb 8 02:14:36 UTC 2016

In high school, my aid was mainly responsible for brailling math
quizzes/tests and  the words to choir music, as well as the occasional
visual material for other classes. I took all of mhy own notes, sent
all of my work to teachers through email or flash drives, received
most of my assignments and textbooks in an electronic format, and
traveled from class to class completely independently. The school
insisted I have an aid in the general area during sports practice and
competitions (though I could participate in gym class independently)
and during one particular field trip I took throughout each year of
school. I did not have an aid in most of my classes. I participated in
extra curricular activities including choir, FFA, 4H, track and field,
and National Honor Society in public school all with little to no
assistance from an aid.

Danielle

On 2/7/16, Angela  via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> My aid helped in large my work, copy stuff from the chalkboard, and would
> use sighted guide when the halls were crowded.  Somethimes she'd help me in
> Gym class.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Feb 7, 2016, at 5:51 PM, Kayla James via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Aids transcribe your work and copy stuff from the chalkboard. And
>> helped with pictures and stuff. At least that's what they did with me
>> and they follow you everywhere.
>>
>>> 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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