[nobe-l] Quietly I introduce myself

Thu Feb 11 18:19:25 UTC 2010

Dear Priscilla,

thank you for your insight into teaching, and the job market.

I find it unfortunate that blind people have such a hard time finding 
teaching positions in middle and high schools. Why is that, and more 
important, why it should be so anger me a bit. One of our list members just 
posted that he was denied a job based on his blindness. This is absolutely 
appalling, and they are lucky the NFB is not so organized where employment 
of blind teachers is concerned. That is at least my perception. If it were, 
teachers need not fear landing a job.

That said, I will do what I do, and fight the good fight, and definitely 
plan of getting a masters. Community College is a good options, but need not 
be where I stop. If I start with a job in the place, city, of my choosing, 
and grow from there, I could teach at a four year institution with a ph.d.

God only knows what the future holds for me down the road, but it is good to 
hear stories from the trenches.

Sincerely,

Antonio Guimaraes

If an infinite number of rednecks riding in an infinite number of pickup 
trucks fire an infinite number of shotgun rounds at an infinite number of 
highway signs, they will eventually produce all the world's great literary 
works in Braille.

Shop online and support the NFB of RI at no additional cost to you.
http://www.givebackamerica.com/charity.php?b=169
Givebackamerica.org, America's Online Charity Shopping Mall
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Priscilla McKinley" <priscilla.mckinley at gmail.com>
To: "National Organization of Blind Educators Mailing List" 
<nobe-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 4:09 PM
Subject: Re: [nobe-l] Quietly I introduce myself

> Antonio,
>
> I have an MFA in creative nonfiction writing and a Ph.D. in English
> Education (Languatge, Literacy, and Culture).  I taught composition
> and nonfiction writing at the University of Iowa for eight years and
> at Silicon Valley College in California for a couple of semesters.
> Right now, I teach English and writing online for a company out of
> Washington, DC.  I have had this job for the last three years.  While
> I miss the classroom, I like my current teaching environment -- in my
> own home, lounging in a recliner,  dressed in sweats with a Diet
> Mountain Dew available at all times.
>
> I recommend getting the Master's in Social Studies Education, as you
> can teach at most community colleges with a Master's degree.  It's
> very difficult for blind people to secure teaching positions in
> elementary and high schools, not impossible but difficult.  I've known
> many blind people who start teaching  in schools for the blind because
> they couldn't secure jobs in the public school systems.
>
> Anyway, welcome to the list.  If you have questions or ideas for
> discussions, you have a place to post.
>
> Priscilla McKinley
> Vice President, NOBE
>
>
> On 2/10/10, Albert J Rizzi <albert at myblindspot.org> wrote:
>> I am a recent entrant into the blind community. I too am completely 
>> blind, I
>> hold a dual masters in education, one for early childhood education and 
>> the
>> other in supervision and administration. I am having a hell of a time
>> getting anyone to even consider me for a position, even one for a 
>> teaching
>> aid who would be willing to learn braille. It is a bleak set of
>> circumstances when those in hr do not look at us as viable and capable
>> candidates  for any and all teaching positions. I was told very matter of
>> factly that I needed my eye sight to teach here in my school district. 
>> There
>> was a lot of posturing and entertaining of meetings with me only to have 
>> no
>> support or interest in making even the application process accessible to
>> those dependent  upon assistive technologies. I went out and started my 
>> own
>> non profit in the hopes of shifting perspectives on our abilities. With 
>> any
>> luck and an open minded audience I may be able to shift that position  in
>> the not to distant future.
>>
>> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
>> CEO/Founder
>> My Blind Spot, Inc.
>> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
>> New York, New York  10004
>> www.myblindspot.org
>> PH: 917-553-0347
>> Fax: 212-858-5759
>> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who 
>> is
>> doing it."
>>
>>
>> Visit us on Facebook LinkedIn
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nobe-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nobe-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
>> Behalf
>> Of Hope Paulos
>> Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 11:25 AM
>> To: National Organization of Blind Educators Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [nobe-l] Quietly I introduce myself
>>
>> Hello Antonio. My name is Hope Paulos and I recently  obtained my 
>> secondary
>> teaching degree with a concentration in Spanish. I hve also received a
>> bachelor's degree in modern languages.  I'm totally blind. I've not 
>> landed a
>>
>> job, yet. This Fall I plan to attend the online program at UMass to 
>> obtain
>> my masters in teacher of the blind/visually impaired.
>> Take care!
>> Hope and guide dog, Beignet
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Brandy W" <branlw at sbcglobal.net>
>> To: "National Organization of Blind Educators Mailing List"
>> <nobe-l at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 10:23 AM
>> Subject: Re: [nobe-l] Quietly I introduce myself
>>
>>
>>> Hi, I finished my elementary and special education degree in May of 09. 
>>> I
>>> did have a few job offers but because of my health decided I just 
>>> couldn't
>>
>>> handle the full day and haven't found a part time job. Currently I tutor
>>> children in reading and math, nanny for a 1 year old, and do as needed
>>> babysitting. If you have any questions feel free to ask. Bran
>>>
>>> Brandy Wojcik
>>> Discovery Toys Educational Leader
>>> www.playtoachieve.com
>>> (512) 231-8697
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Anita Adkins" <aadkins7 at verizon.net>
>>> To: "National Organization of Blind Educators Mailing List"
>>> <nobe-l at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 7:30 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [nobe-l] Quietly I introduce myself
>>>
>>>
>>>> Hello Antonio,
>>>>
>>>> My name is Anita.  I am a blind student currently working toward a
>>>> Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with a specialization in
>>>> Language Arts at Frostburg State University.  I have spent a few years
>>>> teaching skills of blindness, and I hope to do this again someday.  I
>>>> have about 4 semesters to go after this current one.  After graduating, 
>>>> I
>>
>>>> plan to work toward a Master's in Vision.  Any experiences you have and
>>>> are willing to share dealing with teaching are greatly appreciated.
>>>>
>>>> Bye for now.
>>>>
>>>> Anita Adkins
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "Antonio M. Guimaraes" <iamantonio at cox.net>
>>>> To: <nobe-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 12:07 AM
>>>> Subject: [nobe-l] Quietly I introduce myself
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>
>>>>> I hope we are all busy at teaching, or learning how to teach, since I
>>>>> have gotten no mail from this list in the past couple of weeks since
>>>>> subscribing.
>>>>>
>>>>> I am a member of the National Federation of the Blind of Rhode Island,
>>>>> and subscribed here because I am at school to become a social studies
>>>>> teacher.
>>>>>
>>>>> Some of you may know me from the NABS list, or the NFB of Florida, or
>>>>> the NFB of Massachusetts, and some of you will come to know me as a
>>>>> student at Western Governors University.
>>>>>
>>>>> This online university is where I currently attend, and it is where I
>>>>> will obtain a bachelors in social studies teaching 5/12.
>>>>>
>>>>> I am optimistic about getting a job after graduation, and I expect my
>>>>> hopes of employment to become realized. In other words, I want to, and
>>>>> expect to land a job.
>>>>>
>>>>> Right now all I can do is to work hard at school, and hope for a 
>>>>> bright,
>>
>>>>> if hectic teaching career.
>>>>>
>>>>> I have no specific questions at the moment, but hope to see some list
>>>>> traffic.
>>>>>
>>>>> Are there blind teachers here? what do you teach, and are you listed 
>>>>> in
>>>>> Where the Blind Work?
>>>>>
>>>>> Sincerely,
>>>>>
>>>>> Antonio Guimaraes
>>>>>
>>>>> If an infinite number of rednecks riding in an infinite number of 
>>>>> pickup
>>
>>>>> trucks fire an infinite number of shotgun rounds at an infinite number
>>>>> of highway signs, they will eventually produce all the world's great
>>>>> literary works in Braille.
>>>>>
>>>>> Shop online and support the NFB of RI at no additional cost to you.
>>>>> http://www.givebackamerica.com/charity.php?b=169
>>>>> Givebackamerica.org, America's Online Charity Shopping Mall
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> nobe-l mailing list
>>>>> nobe-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nobe-l_nfbnet.org
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>> et
>>>>
>>>>
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>> edu
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>
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