[nfb-db] HKNC

Thu May 23 15:26:28 UTC 2013

One thing Scott didn't add.  I'm mentioning it because  Montana, I would
guess is very different than Long Island.
I  live on L.I.
The traffic here is phenomenal.   I think HKNC is in Sands Point because
it's residential and probably safer.
It is a beautiful campus.

Trish

From: nfb-db [mailto:nfb-db-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Sheila Leigland
Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2013 10:45 AM
To: NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfb-db] HKNC

thanks for the information. 
at least I'll know what to expect and the truth is here in 
great falls Montana we have a number of areas with no sidewalks and we also
have many parking lots that we cross. Thanks for your honesty, it is
appreciated.
On 5/23/2013 7:05 AM, Scott Davert wrote:
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  <mailto:kerrik2006 at gmail.com>
<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  <mailto:sleigland at bresnan.net>
<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  <mailto:sleigland at bresnan.net>
<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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