[nabs-l] A question about something my rehab counselor said

Thu Jul 28 19:10:24 UTC 2016

Hello Sami, Your counsellor is probably thinking about some of the
extra time you'll have to spend which sighted students don't need. For
example, sourcing books in the correct format, obtaining information
from lecturers when they plan things without sending them off to be
scanned or Brailled. That six spare hours will disappear fast.

Having said that, I agree with what has already been said; how many
classes you take is entirely your own decision.

Very best wishes,
Sandra.

On 7/28/16, Jameyanne Fuller via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Most people at my college only took 4 classes a semester, but they were
> generally really intense classes. My very first semester, I took only three
> classes following my faculty advisor's advice. She made it clear to me that
> she gave this advice to all her first year advisees, because starting
> college is a difficult transition, and it had nothing to do with my
> blindness. One of my three classes was an intensive intro language course,
> which was worth more than the standard credits and which met every day plus
> additional required sessions with an assistant teacher in the evening. I
> took my advisors advice and took only the three academic courses. I also
> joined the Wind Ensemble, which also counts for credits, so I was still
> considered to be taking a full course load, but only having the three
> academic courses was really helpful for me during that transition,
> especially since I hadn't realized until I started college and gained a
> social life that I didn't know how to manage my time. And doing it like
> this
> was also really helpful for my friends (all sighted) who did it this way
> too. My second semester, I added an additional course to take the standard
> four, plus continuing with music, and I was able to do it confidently and
> without stress. I didn't make this decision because I'm blind and thought I
> couldn't handle the work because I'm blind, and I didn't even make the
> decision because I wanted to slack off. I have very high standards for
> myself; I'm one of those triple A high achiever personalities. I made the
> decision because I knew I would be dealing with all new things--making new
> friends, living far from home, extracurricular activities, etc.
> This worked really well for me. I probably could have handled four courses,
> looking back, but I didn't know that then, and starting with three let me
> be
> a little more relaxed about all these huge changes.  So it's all about
> knowing yourself and knowing what works for you. It also depends how your
> college works with classes and credits and everything. I'd recommend
> starting with a little less than standard, if you can, while still
> maintaining a fulltime status. I would recommend this to anyone I knew
> about
> to start college, blind or sighted. But if you're confident that you can
> handle five courses and you're comfortable with how your schedule is set
> up,
> go for it. Whatever you decide, it is entirely your decision and not your
> VR
> counselor's.
> Hope this is helpful.
> Jameyanne
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NABS-L [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Vejas
> Vasiliauskas via NABS-L
> Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2016 2:08 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Vejas Vasiliauskas <alpineimagination at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] A question about something my rehab counselor said
>
> Hi Sami,
> I think that it's great that you want to take this many clastses.
> I start school next month and will be taking 5 classes, 4 of
> which are worth 4 credits, 1 of which, a leadership seminar, is 1
> credit.  Scheduling for these classes was a bit difficult,
> because the computer system, not the professor, decides full
> capacity for a class.
> With schfuling being so difficult, it is much easier to drop than
> add classes at my school.  I can't add classes until Septemaer 2,
> so when I had to change a course, it had to be taken all the way
> to one of the administrators.
> In my school, dropping classes is much easier.  I can drop any
> class the first week with reimburesment and no mark, and if I
> drop in the next couple of weeks there will be a W on my record
> that doesn't actually mean anything.
> I am not planning to drop, nor do I encourage you to do so.
> However, you should see if maybe your school has a similar
> system, and if your counselor gives you a hard time you can
> mention that, that it's easier to drop than add.
> Hope this helps,
> Vejas
>
>
>  ----- Original Message -----
> From: Sami Osborne via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Thu, 28 Jul 2016 13:42:14 -0400
> Subject: [nabs-l] A question about something my rehab counselor
> said
>
> Hi all,
>
> I'd really like to get your opinions on something that my rehab
> counselor said just today.  I'll be starting college in
> September, and we were discussing the possibility of him funding
> me for the different bills that need to be paid per semester or
> year.
>
>  He said something that I found really strange, although some of
> you may disagree with me.  Even though I'm already registered for
> classes and have a full schedule for the semester (five classes
> during the week,) he suggested that maybe I should drop a fouple
> of them and take a reduced amount of credits, at least this first
> semester.  His reasoning is that he thinks it might be too much
> for me, and apparently, other blind college students whom he has
> worked with have done this.  Although my counselor is generally a
> very accommmdating man, I personally disagree with him on this.
> Numer one, I don't find five classes to be too much at all,
> because that's the average of most college students, whether
> blind or sighted, and number two, I have many breaks in between
> my classes, especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays, where I have
> one class in the morning and don't have another one for 6 and a
> half hours! I'm also a person who really enjoys learning new
> things, and also, I believe that this is not something that a
> rehab counselor should be telling their clients, although you
> guys can tell me what you think.  This is very strange in my
> opinion.
>
> I hope that you guys can give me some advice as to what your
> opinions are on this matter.  Oh, and one more thing, what would
> you suggest I do if I tell him that I don't want to drop anything
> and he keeps on insisting?
>
> I really hope you guys can help me, and have a happy end of July!
> :(
>
> Thanks so much,
>
> Sami
>
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