[nfb-db] My thoughts on training centers blind, and deaf blind.

[Scott Davert]

Hi  Maurice.
Every training program has its advantages and disadvantages-- the NFB
centers are not without either of those. I think that anyone who is in
this field for a paycheck really must be clueless, because the pay is
not good no matter where you go. Unless you talk about the VA, in
which case, I'm sure they have a few that are there for this reason.
While it is certainly possible that a training facility may work best
for one person, it will never work best for everyone. With respect to
CCB specifically, I know that at least 5 people with a combined vision
and hearing loss who have come away from the experience with good
blindness training, but all reported that no one knew how to
appropriately take the hearing loss in to account when combined with
the vision. These are not things I am saying, but that former students
with combined vision and hearing loss are saying. I cannot deny or
confirm any of it, just passing what I've heard along.
On the other hand, some people, I know particularly from LCB, have had
some positive experiences, so I suppose we're back to the same old
conclusion about how no one center or program is right for everyone. I
know from spending time as a student at the Michigan Commision for the
Blind Training Center, which is run very similarly to an NFB center,
that one of the struggles is the social aspect. Not even so much
isolation, though that is an issue, but of other blind people's
terrible attitude toward those who also have a vision loss. That's not
to say all blind people treat those with hearing impairments
differently, but socially, in a place where everyone relies on their
hearing, and you don't have enough to do this, it makes for a tough
time. But if you can manage that environment, and if professionals
actually understand how to compensate  properly for both losses, I'm
sure deaf-blind people would find it enjoyable.

Scott

On 11/4/13, maurice mines <kd0iko at icloud.com> wrote:
> Good afternoon, I have been thinking for quite some time as I’ve read emails
> on this list recently, that it might be of some benefit to talk about the
> benefits of attending an NFB training center. Of course the question that
> many on this list will ask why are you even discussing this? Because I’ve
> heard a lot recently a.k.a. read a lot recently that the feeling seems to be
> that HK in C is apparently be only game in town. But I believe that if my
> past experience at the Colorado Center for the blind is any indication of
> how and if the training centers handle death blindness, one need not have
> very much worry about. Remember that the training is very individualized. So
> what may work for you and what level of deaf blindness you have, it may not
> reflect how they deal with your neighbor at all. Also as far as I understand
> the training centers do reach out to resources to help that training happen
> appropriately. So you’re not going into the great void of the unknown. Also
> it is good to know that based on my experience we found alternative
> techniques not only to blindness but the issues surrounding the lack of
> hearing. And of course we discuss the options should one’s hearing get
> worse. I guess one getting at here is that if you are considering going to a
> training center I think that’s the first part, the second part is actually
> figuring out which one you should go to and the reasons why you want to go
> to it? I think that based on everything I’ve read and people I’ve talked to
> that all three of our centers can handle this well. I think a comment by a
> current staff member made when I was a student at the Colorado Center for
> the blind came out of it conversation regarding the disabilities that is
> neither deaf blindness were just great blindness. It surrounds my at that
> time anyway great fear of writing anything. The staff member said quote you
> can’t just not right. The translation that I took away from that and have
> come to realize in the years since I graduated from the Colorado Center for
> the blind, you can’t just not live life because you can’t hear ordered their
> blindness involved. And depending on what you have to do, in many respects
> you have to get out there and just plain live one’s life. Another thought of
> course comes to mind in many of the writings and things that are second
> national president Dr. Jernigan when he spoke about not throwing the nickel.
> I guess it kind of blows down to accept help when you need it and of course
> find ways of not accepting it if you don’t. And last but not least he
> believed in blind people and I extend this adept line people blending into
> society when in wherever it is possible. Just some food for thought on a
> rainy Monday afternoon. I’d certainly would like to read some of the
> thoughts that you all may add to this. But I’ll just leave it at this I have
> an abiding belief in all of the training centers and what they can do in the
> fact that the NFB difference is that they care not just there for a
> paycheck. But because they care and believe in turning out capable and
> competent people.
>
> Sincerely Maurice mines. Phone 360-524-0791, work/school email address,
> Maurice.mines at PCC.edu.
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