[Pibe-division] TVI Training

Tue Feb 18 16:01:47 UTC 2014

No problem.
contact me off list.

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: "Mikayla Gephart" <mikgephart at icloud.com>
To: "Professionals in Blindness Education Division List" 
<pibe-division at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, February 17, 2014 6:10 PM
Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] TVI Training

I just started considering the University of North Colorado. Would you mind 
talking to me off list?

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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