[Pibe-division] TVI Training

Tue Feb 18 18:50:31 UTC 2014

Good afternoon Allie.  I know the head of the entire program is or was
Gabe Capperman.  He is totally blind.  He was my algebra teacher many
many moons ago.  He is nearing retirement but I know he believes
people who are blind are capable of working as TVIs.

When I had my first TVI job one of the parents was thrilled her
daughter would have a blind TVI.  Another parent moved to a different
school district and wanted me to continue to work with her daughter so
badly that she advocated to have the school districts work together to
provide my transportation.  That young lady has a developmental delay
but has made significant progress because I am a blind roll model for
her.  When I began working with me she told me she couldn't do
something because she was blind.  It has taken a few years but last
week I told someone was letting her get by with something because she
was blind and she didn't like that at all.

I think there are great TVIs who are sighted and, probably not so good
ones who are blind.  I agree that children need strong positive roll
models who have successful careers.

One more thing and then I will get off my soap box.  Many TVIs don't
believe their students are capable of being a TVI because of the lack
of vision.  I am very concerned about the message that sends to our
students.  I have even seen that discussion on a group for
professionals in blindness.  I have also been asked by other blindness
professionals if I think blind people can be O&M instructors.  I get
very indignant about that question.  If I were a TVI I would teach O&M
in a different method because of my life experiences.
On 2/18/14, Al Futty <afutty at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I follow this list but don't often post.  This conversation has been very
> interesting to me as I am entering a joint TVI and O&M graduate program in
> the fall (most likely at Northern Illinois University, I have not officially
> made up my mind yet so I would be interested in hearing thoughts on the
> program).  I am visually impaired and aware of the discrimination in the
> field.  This makes my blood boil, especially in relation to TVIs.  As
> someone who has had a life long visual impairment I can only wish that I had
> a blind TVI as a child,  my "TVI" was a sighted woman who would show up once
> a year to do an IEP and to tell my parents not to expect too much from me.
> Now, I am not saying that a sighted person cannot be a great TVI, there are
> many, but I can only imagine how different my childhood would have been if I
> had had access from an early age to an accomplished blind teacher.  I truly
> believed I was stupid until I was in my teens and began to develop an
> independent sense of self esteem.  I am tired of the absolute oppression
> many visually impaired and blind students face at the hands of irresponsible
> educators who are projecting their own assumptions about blindness onto
> other people with no first hand experience.
>
> Allie
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
>> On Feb 18, 2014, at 10:45 AM, "Smith, Pauline L" <PSmith4 at dmc.org> wrote:
>>
>> Good Morning,
>>
>> Thanks, Melissa for reminding us of the obstacles that are still too
>> numerous in getting blind teachers hired even in the TVI field.  One thing
>> that was and continues to be pointed out to me is that school districts
>> are hesitant to hire someone that may need a driver that the district
>> would possibly have to pay for.  The number of single school based
>> programs continues to diminish nationwide.  That's the kind of job I
>> prefer.  The stress of finding and keeping up with drivers was a
>> discouraging factor in my pursuing itinerant jobs, particularly in areas
>> outside my home base.  It can and is done by countless teachers.  However,
>> I had the same experience Melissa had.  I had a hard time finding
>> successful blind teachers to network with.  The one person I did find
>> didn't keep in touch on a regular basis to be of much help.
>>
>> Good luck to all those pursuing this profession.  Good teachers are sorely
>> needed everywhere.
>>
>> Pauline
>>
>> P.S., Those of you who have quotes at the end of your emails, how do you
>> find them?  How do you incorporate them into your messages?
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Pibe-division [mailto:pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>> melissa R green
>> Sent: Monday, February 17, 2014 8:06 PM
>> To: Professionals in Blindness Education Division List
>> Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] TVI Training
>>
>> 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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-- 
Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
(513) 607-6053