[Ohio-talk] BSVI Counselors

[Dawn via Ohio-talk]

Well today  my councilor  or worker from the sight center came to my house
this morning she was trying to go over some medical things with me and then
she wanted me to try to figure out what was in the can goods that I have
well we talked  and once again she told me I could join a group for the
visually impaired and blind   that I would learn  how to contrast my things
like black on white  proper lighting  I just laughed at her  I said why
would I want to know that  I am totally blind  I see nothing  just black all
black  in fact black is now my favorite color  I wasn't mad  because I have
learned  that the people really do not know  what to do with me she told me
that  there just wasn't many things out for the totally blind  then she sat
five cans of my food on the table  and then she told me to shake them  so I
did  then she said  now what do you think that is  I said I have no clue  I
thought maybe we were trying to see if I was psychic  heheheheh   then I
shook another  I ended up shaking all five I noticed a difference in one can
it sounded like it was looser then another one  maybe corn  or carrots  but
with the pie filling  and the baked beans no clue  ijust thought it was
funny she has tried and tried to figure out a way to  mark things for me
hehe  she seen a slate and stylist sitting on my table  I told her I wanted
to learn brail  she said you cannot jump into brail  anyways she told me
something's and I thought she was nuts I asked her if she knew brail  she
said yes  a little bit  and that she would talk to my counselor  at V SB I
to see if she could teach me  she works a yhe sight center in Toledo I am
sorry but I am not impressed with them  they are nice people  but I have
found out that I am winging it better on my own so if you all need me I will
be in my kitchen shaking it   I am not going to cry about being blind  it
has kept me laughing I am blessed I am special and I am learning Dawn in
Toledo

-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio-talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of via
Ohio-talk
Sent: Monday, May 19, 2014 4:15 PM
To: ohio-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Ohio-talk] BSVI Counselors


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Arlie and list viewers,

I agree with you 100%.  Many counselors don't understand what it means to be
blind as they are not blind themselves.  They have never gone through
mobility and Braille training.  They have no idea how blind people live
independently.  They simply don't understand us and so, tend to treat us
leither as medical models ar un need of psychological counseling.  After
all, they probably think it's terrible to be blind  and we are in need of a
surgeon who can restore our sight or a therapist who can help us cope.  I'm
sure that most times, the therapist is not blind either.

Some BSVI counselors come across as being condescending and are in the habit
of hand-holding their clients.  Many of them make up their wown rules as
they go along.  If you don't do as they say, they'll either make it hard for
you to get the necessary equipment to do your job or they will close your
case, unless you go through some bureaucratic contortions just to satisfy
them or their supervisor.  

I must sound as though I'm ranting and raving, but I actually had a
counselor who treated me that way.  She said she wanted to help me: She
helped me all right, but on her own terms.

I finally told her to close my case, and I haven't been back to BSVI since.
Everytime I think about it, I am reminded of the bitter experience I faced.

Milena



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