[nfb-db] HKNC

Thu May 23 13:05:24 UTC 2013

Hi all.
I’ve been debating whether to reply to this message, since it may be a
conflict of interest, or I could be accused as such, since I now work
at HKNC. However, the below comments are what I experienced as a
student, and not as someone in my current position working in 2
different departments.
I would agree with the assessment that HKNC sometimes doesn’t
challenge their students enough, and it’s really up to the individual
to push themselves. I have no problems pushing myself, so I was able
to thrive in this environment for the most part. As I was fairly
adjusted to my blindness skills, most of the focus was placed on
compensatory methods for dealing with my hearing loss. For example, a
street crossing card to facilitate the crossing of streets, a
vibrating timer to alert me to when something is done cooking, being
introduced to the vibracall system for alerts to things like the smoke
alarm going off, doorbell, etc. I also learned communication related
things as far as getting new hearing aids, methods of using my FM
system more effectively, etc. But it’s really what you make it. The
worst thing you can do is go to HKNC, without specific goals in mind.
Though I’d say it’s best to have specific goals in mind when using any
training program if at all possible.
Also with technology, I was able to try out a lot of the latest
braille displays to see what notetaker and/or display I wanted. This
was in 2006, so the tech landscape is much different than it was then,
but I was able to try out several different things currently on the
market, and figure out what I liked best. HKNC was then able to put in
a recommendation to my state to get me what I needed to help me
complete graduate school after I left here.
The other good point about HKNC is that you will get 1 on 1 time with
instructors more so than what you’d get at other training facilities.
In general, group classes are not something HKNC does. For an
individual who has both vision and hearing issues, this makes the
learning process go much more smoothly for a variety of reasons. At
least, in my observation and personal experience.
Most training facilities have their good and bad points, HKNC is not
without it’s bad points. The first is that you really need to not let
some of the people treat you like you’re not an adult. Some people,
myself included as a student, had to put certain people in their
place. Part of the reason for this is that there are some students who
have other disabilities or lack of social awareness and so they need
assistance in this area. Sometimes, certain instructors seem to forget
that there are those among us who get along in society and who can
take responsibility for ourselves. This is something I’m working with
other deaf-blind staff to try and address. Another disadvantage is
that HKNC is located in a very isolated area. No sidewalks, no
paratransit to take you from HKNC to the nearest town, etc. You can
take a cab to get to a place where paratransit will pick you up, or to
the train station a few miles away where you can go in to the city,
which is a good travel experience for those needing it. Often times
those who teach mobility need more time to do things because they have
to travel further than a facility located in a city. By far, this is a
terrible place for a rehab agency.
As for the NFB’s stance on such a place, well, I wouldn’t take any
organization’s stance on anything seriously, because they’re not you,
and so they cannot know what is best for you. Only you know that. For
example, I know lots of people who go to places like LCB, CCB, or even
some sate rehab facilities who find one environment much more suitable
than the other. The best you can do is what you are now--- ask
questions of others who have been to these various places and decide
what would be the best situation for you as a person.
I hope this post is informative, and I hope it helps give you a
balanced view of things.

Scott

On 5/23/13, Kerri Kosten <kerrik2006 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Everyone:
>
> First, I want to say I am very disappointed by how many of you have
> been treated at conventions and such by the NFB.
> I have never had this experience of being treated rudely. I am
> saddened to learn of this, because I love the NFB, and it's positive
> philosophy, and I think everyone should be able to enjoy it and
> participate in the organization.
> I have a question. I have been selected to attend a leadership seminar
> at the National center next week. Apparently, htis seminar is for
> young, up and coming leaders. It is by invitation only, and I was
> recomended by my state president and so was invited.
> What can I do as a young leader to help combat this problem in the
> federation? It is wrong people are being treated this way and if
> someone wants to go to convention they should be able to and have full
> access to the information!! What can I do to help with this?
> The way people have been treated by federationists is wrong, and
> ridiculous!!
> Marsha and everyone, please don't give up. The more of us who become
> leaders and stand up and make our voices heard, the more the NFB will
> have to wake up and listen. We must not give up. We must make our
> voices heard.
> Marsha, as for your question, I just recently attended training. I
> decided to attend LCB because I felt they pushed their students and
> challenged them more than HKNC does. I am not against HKNC, I just
> didn't think it would push and challenge me the way LCB would. I had a
> very positive experience at LCB, and I learned many techniques for
> communicating to compensate for my hearing loss. I also learned how to
> get assistance/use a sign to get assistance in crossing streets. They
> also taught me how to mental map, use the sun, cardinal directions,
> and we worked a ton on communication.
> I also wonder what the NFB's position is on HKNC. I wish HKNC pushed
> and challenged their students the way the NFB centers do.
> Thanks,
> Kerri
>
> On 5/22/13, Sheila Leigland <sleigland at bresnan.net> wrote:
>> yes, I am exploring the posibility of going to hknc for training. My
>> blindness skills are good but mixed with hearing loss I could use some
>> training.
>> On 5/22/2013 8:37 PM, Marsha Drenth wrote:
>>>
>>> Sheila,
>>> Your exploring the option of going to HKNC for training? Just wanted to
>>> clarify.
>>>
>>> Marsha drenth
>>> Sent with my IPhone
>>>
>>> On May 22, 2013, at 1:35 PM, Sheila Leigland <sleigland at bresnan.net>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> hi marsha I am considering this also for the same reason that you are.
>>>> and we as federationists better wake up and start treating each other
>>>> with the respect that we claime to deserve and want. I hope to meet you
>>>> at comvention this year.
>>>> On 5/21/2013 8:14 PM, Marsha Drenth wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Hello Listers,
>>>>>
>>>>> For the past year I have lost a significant amount of hearing. Last
>>>>> tested I was at a 100DB loss. I have been totally blind for the last
>>>>> 10
>>>>> years. as a child I attended a school for the blind. So my blindness
>>>>> skills are good. But now with the loss of my hearing, life has
>>>>> certainly
>>>>> gotten interesting and challenging. I will be the first to say that I
>>>>> have been struggling. Currently I am a full time student at a major
>>>>> university pursuing a degree in Social Work. I have one year left.
>>>>>
>>>>> So my questions are this, Has anyone on this list been to HKNC? I know
>>>>> the NFB advocates for a blindness skills training center, but that is
>>>>> NOT what i need. my OVR came to and has recommended that I go to HKNC
>>>>> for training. If you have been, I have a whole slue of questions, that
>>>>> i'll ask at another point.
>>>>>
>>>>> What is the NFB's stance on HKNC? This by no means will impact my
>>>>> desicion to go or not to go. I am curious.
>>>>>
>>>>> I guess a better reason of why I ask the above questions, is that I
>>>>> have
>>>>> been an NFB member for my entire life, my parents, my grandparents all
>>>>> have been in the NFB. my grandparents were around when the two
>>>>> organizations split. I have grown up with the positive philosophy. I
>>>>> get
>>>>> it, I truely do. But here I have been thrust into the world of
>>>>> deafblindness. Not many people know this yet, as I am working to
>>>>> figure
>>>>> things out, I am only begining to be comfortable with expressing my
>>>>> needs to others. I know that is whole another subject on acceptance,
>>>>> but
>>>>> that is not my point for this post.
>>>>>
>>>>> I will relay an experience I had at my last national convention, last
>>>>> year in Dallas. I was in the general session, I got up to go to the
>>>>> bathroom, found my way out fine. Found the bathroom fine. But when I
>>>>> entered the big huge room, I was lost. I asked persons around me where
>>>>> I
>>>>> was. People were rude. i said I can't hear. people made fun of me. I
>>>>> walked around looking for my state for atleast 15 minutes. I was
>>>>> frustrated, I didn't know which way was to the front or the back of
>>>>> the
>>>>> room or the way to get out.
>>>>>
>>>>> I tell you all this, because I realized that my ability to hear, my
>>>>> independence was changing. There were other times that I got lost, but
>>>>> people were so rude, so mean. When I expressed that I was hard of
>>>>> hearing and totally blind, people did not understand, care, or get it.
>>>>> In other words I was shunned, looked down upon, made fun of.
>>>>>
>>>>> Why can't people in the NFB accept persons who are different? Why are
>>>>> us
>>>>> who are deafblind looked down upon? And if confirmed, its just because
>>>>> our blindness skills are lacking. That is not the case.
>>>>>
>>>>> So do the NFB people look down upon those who go to HKNC? Is there a
>>>>> difference in training philosophy? Again I said this won't change my
>>>>> desision to go for training or not. more curious than anything.
>>>>>
>>>>> Look folks I don't want to argue about this, but I do want answers.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thank you for reading, and sorry this is so long....
>>>>>
>>>>> Marsha drenth
>>>>> Sent with my IPhone
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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