[nagdu] a blind consumer's RighttoChooserehabtraining(federalregs)

[RJ Sandefur]

I was told by my councilor I could not go into ministry because I was blind 
,and I needed to eat. I'm going for my doctorate in theology and the 
councilor who told me this, no longer works in the blindness field. RJ
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jeffrey Young" <jeff.young8806 at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, November 11, 2011 4:49 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] a blind consumer's 
RighttoChooserehabtraining(federalregs)


>I should say, regarding my previous rant, that I have, like Julie, had good 
>experiences. Dealing with a counselor can be a difficult experience.
> Jeff Young
>
> Home of the world's healthiest energy drink. No Caffeine, no added sugar. 
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> On Nov 11, 2011, at 2:39 PM, Julie J. wrote:
>
>> 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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