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On 5/23/2013 12:17 PM, Patricia Hubschman wrote:<br>
<span style="white-space: pre;">> <br>
> Marsha,<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> GDF in Smithtown is on Middle Country Rd. Its surrounded by
car<br>
> dealerships. I live 2 towns away from Smithtown where GDF
is.<br>
> <br>
> My husband works 6 exits West of us on the Long Island
Expressway.<br>
> During rush hour, it takes him 45 minutes to get to work.
Of<br>
> course, you won’t be going near the LIE, unless you’re on a<br>
> Handicapped bus and .<br>
> <br>
> HKNC is above a town called Port Washington. The main roads
are one<br>
> and two lane and chock full of cars. Long Islanders love
cell<br>
> phones and driving while talking on them attached to their
ear, so<br>
> pedestrians, and I’m sure hKNC staff, tell students to be
super duper<br>
> careful. Most stret corners have street signs that say
no right<br>
> no red. That’s good.<br>
> <br>
> LI isn’t a big city like Philly, but my personal opinion is
that it’s<br>
> easier to cross streets in Manhattan.<br>
> <br>
> Sands Point is a hilly area, but I don’t think therea re any
stores<br>
> there, so there probably isn’t as much traffic. I lived on
Central<br>
> LI most of my life, moved out to Eastern lI a few years ago,
but have<br>
> been up to HKNC a few times. I’m in fact trying to get my
case<br>
> reopened so I can see the audi up there.<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> Trish<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> *From:*nfb-db [<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="mailto:nfb-db-bounces@nfbnet.org">mailto:nfb-db-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>] *On Behalf
Of<br>
> *Marsha Drenth *Sent:* Thursday, May 23, 2013 1:48 PM *To:*
NFB<br>
> Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List *Subject:* Re: [nfb-db] HKNC<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> trish,<br>
> <br>
> I live in Philadelphia. I recieved my guide dog from GDF on
LI. But<br>
> can you explain what you mean about phenomenal traffic?
Because I<br>
> live in a big city, I want to travel in a big city with lots
of<br>
> traffic. In other words if I go to HKNC for training, I am
assuming I<br>
> will that type of training because of the traffic already
there.<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> thanks,<br>
> <br>
> Marsha drenth<br>
> <br>
> Sent with my IPhone<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> On May 23, 2013, at 11:26 AM, Patricia Hubschman<br>
> <<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:palhub@optonline.net">palhub@optonline.net</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:palhub@optonline.net"><mailto:palhub@optonline.net></a>> wrote:<br>
> <br>
> One thing Scott didn’t add. I’m mentioning it because
Montana, I<br>
> would guess is very different than Long Island.<br>
> <br>
> I live on L.I.<br>
> <br>
> The traffic here is phenomenal. I think HKNC is in Sands
Point<br>
> because it’s residential and probably safer.<br>
> <br>
> It is a beautiful campus.<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> Trish<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> *From:*nfb-db [<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="mailto:nfb-db-bounces@nfbnet.org">mailto:nfb-db-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>] *On Behalf
Of<br>
> *Sheila Leigland *Sent:* Thursday, May 23, 2013 10:45 AM
*To:* NFB<br>
> Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List *Subject:* Re: [nfb-db] HKNC<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> thanks for the information. at least I'll know what to expect
and the<br>
> truth is here in great falls Montana we have a number of
areas with<br>
> no sidewalks and we also have many parking lots that we
cross. Thanks<br>
> for your honesty, it is appreciated.<br>
> <br>
> On 5/23/2013 7:05 AM, Scott Davert wrote:<br>
> <br>
> Hi all.<br>
> <br>
> I’ve been debating whether to reply to this message, since it
may be<br>
> a<br>
> <br>
> conflict of interest, or I could be accused as such, since I
now<br>
> work<br>
> <br>
> at HKNC. However, the below comments are what I experienced
as a<br>
> <br>
> student, and not as someone in my current position working in
2<br>
> <br>
> different departments.<br>
> <br>
> I would agree with the assessment that HKNC sometimes doesn’t<br>
> <br>
> challenge their students enough, and it’s really up to the<br>
> individual<br>
> <br>
> to push themselves. I have no problems pushing myself, so I
was able<br>
> <br>
> to thrive in this environment for the most part. As I was
fairly<br>
> <br>
> adjusted to my blindness skills, most of the focus was placed
on<br>
> <br>
> compensatory methods for dealing with my hearing loss. For
example,<br>
> a<br>
> <br>
> street crossing card to facilitate the crossing of streets, a<br>
> <br>
> vibrating timer to alert me to when something is done
cooking, being<br>
> <br>
> introduced to the vibracall system for alerts to things like
the<br>
> smoke<br>
> <br>
> alarm going off, doorbell, etc. I also learned communication
related<br>
> <br>
> things as far as getting new hearing aids, methods of using
my FM<br>
> <br>
> system more effectively, etc. But it’s really what you make
it. The<br>
> <br>
> worst thing you can do is go to HKNC, without specific goals
in<br>
> mind.<br>
> <br>
> Though I’d say it’s best to have specific goals in mind when
using<br>
> any<br>
> <br>
> training program if at all possible.<br>
> <br>
> Also with technology, I was able to try out a lot of the
latest<br>
> <br>
> braille displays to see what notetaker and/or display I
wanted. This<br>
> <br>
> was in 2006, so the tech landscape is much different than it
was<br>
> then,<br>
> <br>
> but I was able to try out several different things currently
on the<br>
> <br>
> market, and figure out what I liked best. HKNC was then able
to put<br>
> in<br>
> <br>
> a recommendation to my state to get me what I needed to help
me<br>
> <br>
> complete graduate school after I left here.<br>
> <br>
> The other good point about HKNC is that you will get 1 on 1
time<br>
> with<br>
> <br>
> instructors more so than what you’d get at other training<br>
> facilities.<br>
> <br>
> In general, group classes are not something HKNC does. For an<br>
> <br>
> individual who has both vision and hearing issues, this makes
the<br>
> <br>
> learning process go much more smoothly for a variety of
reasons. At<br>
> <br>
> least, in my observation and personal experience.<br>
> <br>
> Most training facilities have their good and bad points, HKNC
is not<br>
> <br>
> without it’s bad points. The first is that you really need to
not<br>
> let<br>
> <br>
> some of the people treat you like you’re not an adult. Some
people,<br>
> <br>
> myself included as a student, had to put certain people in
their<br>
> <br>
> place. Part of the reason for this is that there are some
students<br>
> who<br>
> <br>
> have other disabilities or lack of social awareness and so
they need<br>
> <br>
> assistance in this area. Sometimes, certain instructors seem
to<br>
> forget<br>
> <br>
> that there are those among us who get along in society and
who can<br>
> <br>
> take responsibility for ourselves. This is something I’m
working<br>
> with<br>
> <br>
> other deaf-blind staff to try and address. Another
disadvantage is<br>
> <br>
> that HKNC is located in a very isolated area. No sidewalks,
no<br>
> <br>
> paratransit to take you from HKNC to the nearest town, etc.
You can<br>
> <br>
> take a cab to get to a place where paratransit will pick you
up, or<br>
> to<br>
> <br>
> the train station a few miles away where you can go in to the
city,<br>
> <br>
> which is a good travel experience for those needing it. Often
times<br>
> <br>
> those who teach mobility need more time to do things because
they<br>
> have<br>
> <br>
> to travel further than a facility located in a city. By far,
this is<br>
> a<br>
> <br>
> terrible place for a rehab agency.<br>
> <br>
> As for the NFB’s stance on such a place, well, I wouldn’t
take any<br>
> <br>
> organization’s stance on anything seriously, because they’re
not<br>
> you,<br>
> <br>
> and so they cannot know what is best for you. Only you know
that.<br>
> For<br>
> <br>
> example, I know lots of people who go to places like LCB,
CCB, or<br>
> even<br>
> <br>
> some sate rehab facilities who find one environment much more<br>
> suitable<br>
> <br>
> than the other. The best you can do is what you are now---
ask<br>
> <br>
> questions of others who have been to these various places and
decide<br>
> <br>
> what would be the best situation for you as a person.<br>
> <br>
> I hope this post is informative, and I hope it helps give you
a<br>
> <br>
> balanced view of things.<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> Scott<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> On 5/23/13, Kerri Kosten <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:kerrik2006@gmail.com"><kerrik2006@gmail.com></a><br>
> <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:kerrik2006@gmail.com"><mailto:kerrik2006@gmail.com></a> wrote:<br>
> <br>
> Hi Everyone:<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> First, I want to say I am very disappointed by how many of
you have<br>
> <br>
> been treated at conventions and such by the NFB.<br>
> <br>
> I have never had this experience of being treated rudely. I
am<br>
> <br>
> saddened to learn of this, because I love the NFB, and it's
positive<br>
> <br>
> philosophy, and I think everyone should be able to enjoy it
and<br>
> <br>
> participate in the organization.<br>
> <br>
> I have a question. I have been selected to attend a
leadership<br>
> seminar<br>
> <br>
> at the National center next week. Apparently, htis seminar is
for<br>
> <br>
> young, up and coming leaders. It is by invitation only, and I
was<br>
> <br>
> recomended by my state president and so was invited.<br>
> <br>
> What can I do as a young leader to help combat this problem
in the<br>
> <br>
> federation? It is wrong people are being treated this way and
if<br>
> <br>
> someone wants to go to convention they should be able to and
have<br>
> full<br>
> <br>
> access to the information!! What can I do to help with this?<br>
> <br>
> The way people have been treated by federationists is wrong,
and<br>
> <br>
> ridiculous!!<br>
> <br>
> Marsha and everyone, please don't give up. The more of us who
become<br>
> <br>
> leaders and stand up and make our voices heard, the more the
NFB<br>
> will<br>
> <br>
> have to wake up and listen. We must not give up. We must make
our<br>
> <br>
> voices heard.<br>
> <br>
> Marsha, as for your question, I just recently attended
training. I<br>
> <br>
> decided to attend LCB because I felt they pushed their
students and<br>
> <br>
> challenged them more than HKNC does. I am not against HKNC, I
just<br>
> <br>
> didn't think it would push and challenge me the way LCB
would. I had<br>
> a<br>
> <br>
> very positive experience at LCB, and I learned many
techniques for<br>
> <br>
> communicating to compensate for my hearing loss. I also
learned how<br>
> to<br>
> <br>
> get assistance/use a sign to get assistance in crossing
streets.<br>
> They<br>
> <br>
> also taught me how to mental map, use the sun, cardinal
directions,<br>
> <br>
> and we worked a ton on communication.<br>
> <br>
> I also wonder what the NFB's position is on HKNC. I wish HKNC
pushed<br>
> <br>
> and challenged their students the way the NFB centers do.<br>
> <br>
> Thanks,<br>
> <br>
> Kerri<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> On 5/22/13, Sheila Leigland <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:sleigland@bresnan.net"><sleigland@bresnan.net></a><br>
> <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:sleigland@bresnan.net"><mailto:sleigland@bresnan.net></a> wrote:<br>
> <br>
> yes, I am exploring the posibility of going to hknc for
training. My<br>
> <br>
> blindness skills are good but mixed with hearing loss I could
use<br>
> some<br>
> <br>
> training.<br>
> <br>
> On 5/22/2013 8:37 PM, Marsha Drenth wrote:<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> Sheila,<br>
> <br>
> Your exploring the option of going to HKNC for training? Just
wanted<br>
> to<br>
> <br>
> clarify.<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> Marsha drenth<br>
> <br>
> Sent with my IPhone<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> On May 22, 2013, at 1:35 PM, Sheila Leigland
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:sleigland@bresnan.net"><sleigland@bresnan.net></a><br>
> <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:sleigland@bresnan.net"><mailto:sleigland@bresnan.net></a><br>
> <br>
> wrote:<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> hi marsha I am considering this also for the same reason that
you<br>
> are.<br>
> <br>
> and we as federationists better wake up and start treating
each<br>
> other<br>
> <br>
> with the respect that we claime to deserve and want. I hope
to meet<br>
> you<br>
> <br>
> at comvention this year.<br>
> <br>
> On 5/21/2013 8:14 PM, Marsha Drenth wrote:<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> Hello Listers,<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> For the past year I have lost a significant amount of
hearing. Last<br>
> <br>
> tested I was at a 100DB loss. I have been totally blind for
the last<br>
> <br>
> 10<br>
> <br>
> years. as a child I attended a school for the blind. So my
blindness<br>
> <br>
> skills are good. But now with the loss of my hearing, life
has<br>
> <br>
> certainly<br>
> <br>
> gotten interesting and challenging. I will be the first to
say that<br>
> I<br>
> <br>
> have been struggling. Currently I am a full time student at a
major<br>
> <br>
> university pursuing a degree in Social Work. I have one year
left.<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> So my questions are this, Has anyone on this list been to
HKNC? I<br>
> know<br>
> <br>
> the NFB advocates for a blindness skills training center, but
that<br>
> is<br>
> <br>
> NOT what i need. my OVR came to and has recommended that I go
to<br>
> HKNC<br>
> <br>
> for training. If you have been, I have a whole slue of
questions,<br>
> that<br>
> <br>
> i'll ask at another point.<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> What is the NFB's stance on HKNC? This by no means will
impact my<br>
> <br>
> desicion to go or not to go. I am curious.<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> I guess a better reason of why I ask the above questions, is
that I<br>
> <br>
> have<br>
> <br>
> been an NFB member for my entire life, my parents, my
grandparents<br>
> all<br>
> <br>
> have been in the NFB. my grandparents were around when the
two<br>
> <br>
> organizations split. I have grown up with the positive
philosophy. I<br>
> <br>
> get<br>
> <br>
> it, I truely do. But here I have been thrust into the world
of<br>
> <br>
> deafblindness. Not many people know this yet, as I am working
to<br>
> <br>
> figure<br>
> <br>
> things out, I am only begining to be comfortable with
expressing my<br>
> <br>
> needs to others. I know that is whole another subject on
acceptance,<br>
> <br>
> but<br>
> <br>
> that is not my point for this post.<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> I will relay an experience I had at my last national
convention,<br>
> last<br>
> <br>
> year in Dallas. I was in the general session, I got up to go
to the<br>
> <br>
> bathroom, found my way out fine. Found the bathroom fine. But
when I<br>
> <br>
> entered the big huge room, I was lost. I asked persons around
me<br>
> where<br>
> <br>
> I<br>
> <br>
> was. People were rude. i said I can't hear. people made fun
of me. I<br>
> <br>
> walked around looking for my state for atleast 15 minutes. I
was<br>
> <br>
> frustrated, I didn't know which way was to the front or the
back of<br>
> <br>
> the<br>
> <br>
> room or the way to get out.<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> I tell you all this, because I realized that my ability to
hear, my<br>
> <br>
> independence was changing. There were other times that I got
lost,<br>
> but<br>
> <br>
> people were so rude, so mean. When I expressed that I was
hard of<br>
> <br>
> hearing and totally blind, people did not understand, care,
or get<br>
> it.<br>
> <br>
> In other words I was shunned, looked down upon, made fun of.<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> Why can't people in the NFB accept persons who are different?
Why<br>
> are<br>
> <br>
> us<br>
> <br>
> who are deafblind looked down upon? And if confirmed, its
just<br>
> because<br>
> <br>
> our blindness skills are lacking. That is not the case.<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> So do the NFB people look down upon those who go to HKNC? Is
there a<br>
> <br>
> difference in training philosophy? Again I said this won't
change my<br>
> <br>
> desision to go for training or not. more curious than
anything.<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> Look folks I don't want to argue about this, but I do want
answers.<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> Thank you for reading, and sorry this is so long....<br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> Marsha drenth<br>
> <br>
> Sent with my IPhone<br>
> <br>
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> <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org</a></span><br>
<br>
thanks for the information.<br>
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