[Ohio-Talk] looking for help.

Mon Jul 11 23:16:28 UTC 2022

Colleen,
Thank you for your response.
I'm originally from Canada, and I've been living on my own since 2007.
I've got 10 years of living on my own in Canada and the past 5 years 
here in the US with no support outside the O&M training I specifically 
requested as it was required and using the training in all fields 
provided to me at the school for the blind in Canada. A training center 
would not at this time, and I stress, at this time, be of any use to me 
in my current goals and aspirations.
I appreciate and am thankful for the services, supports, and training 
the NFB training center's  provides to it's graduates, and current 
students, and understand some folks require those services in their 
lives, but I respectfully will remind you that not every blind person 
that supports the values, ideas and philosophies of the federation will 
need the support of a training center.
This isn't the first GED program I've attended in the mainstream, and 
the only reason I wrote today was to find a contact in the event my own 
well used advocacy skills weren't up to the task of preventing 
discriminatory behavior of staff and facalty who may continue to insist 
that I couldn't succeed in the mainstream program.
I doubt this will be an issue as in previous problems in canada, our 
disability laws didn't have as much teeth ut hey, it's been known to 
turn ugly, so frankly, if this does continue to be a problem and they 
insist, incorrectly mind you, that i take a program taylored to the 
blind, would NFB's legal team be the place to start if necessary?
Thanks.
Shane
------ Original Message ------
>From "Colleen Roth via Ohio-Talk" <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org>
To "NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List" <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc "Colleen Roth" <n8tnv52 at outlook.com>
Date 7/11/2022 6:19:11 PM
Subject Re: [Ohio-Talk] looking for help.

>Hello Shane,
>I am sure that the person you talked to thought the Special Program would be better for you. I personally think that attending a regular program would be better because it would prepare you for living in the real world. I understand that you might need some Assistance to catch up with your classmates. I imagine the Aspire would help you with these issues.
>I do not know how your Blindness Skills are and whether or not you need some training to help you compete on terms with others in the Aspire Program.
>I would want to know what Skills I would need and then set things up for myself so that I could compete on terms of equality with those in my Class.
>I would definitely take a Spelling Class.
>You might consider taking a Class from one of the Adult Training Centers run by the NFB.
>You would probably have to fight for this but in the end I am sure it would help you.
>You should also think about what you are interested in doing.
>Colleen Roth, President;
>At Large Chapter;
>NFB of Ohio;
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Shane Popplestone via Ohio-Talk <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org>
>Date: Monday, July 11, 2022 04:06 PM
>To: NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org>
>CC: Shane Popplestone <shane.davidson at icloud.com>
>Subject: [Ohio-Talk] looking for help.
>
>Hello fellow Ohio Federationists,
>I write you today with a bit of a horrifying issue, that I hope my response may result in it going away, but if it doesn't help will be needed.
>A bit of background.
>I'm 35, and due to stupidity on my part in 2007, (we're allowed to be stupid in our younger days, right? lol), I dropped out of and never finished highschool.
>I never really considered going back until about 7 years ago, and that was good, I started the process then moved to the US in late 2017/early 2018.
>I began the process of mygrating permanently at that time, but then covid kicked everything to a grinding stand still. This put an almost three year hault on the world, but everyone knows that, right? lol.
>Earlier this year I finally got things back and rolling and last week, I contacted my chosen college to begin the process of aquiring my GED and transitioning to a college program, major, etc. to be determined later.
>The aspire program (offered by most community colleges, some with better results than others) is the pathway that will permit me to complete this process.
>Due to the fact I really don't like the accessibility services department at the college closer to me and the fact that don't have space now (originally they weren't offering it), anyhow they don't have space until the *end* of next year, I contacted a farther away college.
>I won't throw my chosen college under the bus yet, as I'm stilll trying to resolve this on my own, but in speaking with the head of the aspire program at that college, I was informed, with due horror too me mind you, that she was contacting other colleagues as she thinks their's a specific program for visually impaired students that would be a better fit then taking the mainstream aspire program.
>I so informed her that I wasn't interested in taking, what I called and maybe it wasn't the right term, a sheltered program for the visually impaired, I wanted to take the aspire program offered by yours and other colleges around the nation.
>If she continues down this path does someone know who I might reach out to help me turn this around?
>I'm hoping my message to the head of the program results in her realizing she's made the wrong assumption, but you never know and I'd rather have all the necessary tools in my back pocket.
>Thanks.
>Shane
>
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