[nagdu] a blind consumer's Right toChooserehabtraining(federalregs)

[Julie J.]

In defense of rehabilitation counselors, they are just like us, human.  
They may see potential in you that you don't see.  They may be trying to 
get you thinking outside of the box, so to speak and may suggest things 
you hadn't considered.  Sometimes it's difficult to be encouraging while 
still being realistic.  None of us can see into the future to know 
exactly what the person on the other side of the desk is capable of.

I used to work in rehabilitation and still do in a different capacity.  
I've seen folks with huge dreams, but their daily actions don't fit with 
what they are saying they want to do.   I've talked with folks who tell 
me they want to work in drug/alcohol prevention.  Yet when I make 
suggestions of things they could do now like learning Braille, joining 
local prevention organizations, checking out colleges etc. they make 
excuses and don't do any of those things.  So is it awful of the 
counselor to tell the client the agency can't support them in that goal?

Outside of the professional rehabilitation scene, I've frequently had 
email and phone calls from individuals who want to owner train their 
guide dog.  Some of them I encourage and some I try to gently suggest 
they try a different avenue for getting a guide.  Do I believe blind 
people can train their own guide dog?  Absolutely.  It is, however, an 
entirely different question to ask can this person I am talking to train 
their own guide?  Maybe yes and maybe no, but blindness isn't as big of 
a factor as commitment, ambition and resourcefulness are.

And then there are rehab counselors who do not have a very positive view 
of what blind people can truly accomplish. *sigh*  That is a whole 
different discussion.

anyway I'm just saying to try to understand where the counselor is 
coming from because it will help you know how to proceed to get yourself 
what you need.

JMHO
Julie