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

Mon Feb 8 13:19:54 UTC 2016

I honestly don't care for the word.  I say that I'm partially sighted, but that's because I still have vision no matter how little.

Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 8, 2016, at 6:37 AM, Carly Mihalakis via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> 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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