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

Carly Mihalakis carlymih at comcast.net
Mon Feb 8 12:37:17 UTC 2016 

Good morning, everyone,

Just curious, what do people think of the term BLIND, that is, total 
abscence of ocular input? It has been my experience that a state of 
ocular blindness suggests a complete abscence of ocular light, no partials.
Please, I wanna hear it all, the good, bad, and yes, the ugly, too.
Thank you for reading! Car
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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