[Pibe-division] TVI Training

Tue Feb 18 22:11:50 UTC 2014

I thought you were a TVI. Also, a little bit more on topic, I agree with all of your points.

Sent from my iPad

On Feb 18, 2014, at 1:50 PM, Marianne Denning <marianne at denningweb.com> wrote:

> 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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>> 
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> 
> 
> -- 
> Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
> Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
> (513) 607-6053
> 
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