[nagdu] a blindconsumer's Right toChooserehabtraining(federalregs)

[Larry D. Keeler]

I have seen those counsellors who suggest you sell those pencils because 
everyone else is instead of playing with that biochemistry because you'll 
never make it!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Julie J." <julielj at neb.rr.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, November 11, 2011 4:39 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] a blindconsumer's Right 
toChooserehabtraining(federalregs)


> Yes, I'm replying to myself! LOL It's a privledge that old people get.
>
> I wanted to add that sometimes clients sell themselves short, 
> occassionally very short.  It's hard to work with a young, energetic 
> client who is well spoken, who is confident and well educated who tells 
> you they want to sell pencils on the corner.  As a counselor you want to 
> encourage them to elevate their expectations.  You know in your heart that 
> they could acomplish so much more.  There's no way to know if they want to 
> sell pencils because that's all they think they can do or is that really 
> their heart's desire?
>
> I admit to being less than 100% supportive of other blind people that I 
> thought were choosing to be a piano tuner or telemarketer because I 
> thought they were picking those careers because those are the only options 
> for blind folks.  Looking back I see it was a mistake, but at the time I 
> had no way to know.   There are ways to be supportive of someone while 
> still encouraging them to be more, but I hadn't quite figured that out 
> yet.
>
> Julie
>
>
>
>
>
> On 11/11/2011 3:24 PM, Julie J. wrote:
>> 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
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
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