[Pibe-division] TVI Training

Tue Feb 18 02:22:15 UTC 2014

Was the coordinator of your program Paula Connery

Sent from my iPad

On Feb 17, 2014, at 8:06 PM, melissa R green <graduate56 at juno.com> wrote:

> Allison.
> thank you for giving your opinion and your insight.
> I have always heard the good things, and one of them is that the program had 
> the NFB philosopy.
> I went through the University of northern colorado program for teaching 
> blind students.
> I would just say that it isn't perfect, and that there are many other 
> university programs that aren't perfect either.
> Even if you do get the degree and complete the program.
> There is still lots of obstacles that face bind teachers of blind students.
> We are told about the shortage.  But noone considers the things that blind 
> teachers have to go through and the idea that a blind teacher still has a 
> hard time to land and keep their jobs.
> those who are successful don't or won't help others.
> I am being honest as well.
> JMO!
> Best,
> Melissa R Green
> Hold fast to dreams,
> For if dreams die
> Life is a broken-winged bird,
> That cannot fly.
> Langston Hughes
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Allison Hilliker" <AllisonH at benetech.org>
> To: "Professionals in Blindness Education Division List" 
> <pibe-division at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, February 17, 2014 8:04 AM
> Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] TVI Training
> 
> 
> Hi All,
> 
> I went to Louisiana Tech for the TBS program for about 6 months in 2007. It 
> absolutely has the best blindness philosophy and beliefs in the capability 
> of blind people around. You'll definitely get the best teacher education 
> there.
> 
> That said, Jewel is right, it is located in the middle of nowhere. I didn't 
> care for Ruston at all and that's why I left the program. I loved my 
> instructors and my classes, but they only lasted for about 12 hours a week 
> and the rest of the week I was still stuck living in the small town south. 
> And the lack of transportation is a huge problem when trying to do your 
> field work as most blind students do not live in Ruston and you'll need to 
> hire drivers to get to neighboring towns. I was able to get rides with 
> friends sometimes, but when a quarter's worth of classes require more than 
> 30 hours of field work then depending on friends is not necessarily 
> practical. I was spending a lot of money on drivers to do field work. Also, 
> I was the only blind student in the program, and most of my instructors were 
> also sighted, so  I didn't necessarily feel like I was getting many 
> alternative technique suggestions for how to be an effective blind teacher. 
> While The Louisiana Center does have many blind instructors, Louisiana Tech 
> did not and those were the people I was working with in my grad program. And 
> most of all, I just did not like the small town culture. Many people may 
> love it, but I'm not one of them.
> 
> Sorry fellow NFB members. I realize this post won't be popular, but I felt 
> moved to be honest. I've been in the NFB for years, consider myself a 
> philosophical purest, and am  a Louisiana Center graduate. Even so, I have 
> to be honest about Ruston. It's not the greatest place to spend two years of 
> one's life. We desperately need more than one NFB-focused graduate program 
> in this country because Ruston is not an option for everyone. It has many 
> limitations that I feel we need to be real about.
> 
> JMO,
> Allison
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Pibe-division [mailto:pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
> Jewel
> Sent: Sunday, February 16, 2014 6:22 PM
> To: Professionals in Blindness Education Division List
> Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] TVI Training
> 
> I looked into Louisiana Tech, too. I really liked the program description, 
> and I really like their director, who took the time to speak to me. However, 
> this school is in the middle of nowhere. There is no bus system. The only 
> way to get to any good shopping is by Greyhound bus. And getting around town 
> unless you're walking is difficult. You would have to bum rides from fellow 
> students. That is the bad side of Louisiana Tech, but their program looks 
> really good.
> Jewel who went to Louisiana Tech last June to visit
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Feb 16, 2014, at 8:07 PM, Mikayla Gephart <mikgephart at icloud.com> 
>> wrote:
>> 
>> Hi,
>>   As I have said, I want to be a TVI. I am looking at training programs, 
>> and am leaning towards the College of New Jersey and Louisiana Tech, as I 
>> live in New Jersey. What are your experiences with these and other 
>> programs.
>> 
>> Sent from my iPad
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