[rehab] looking for an advice

Wed Mar 17 19:13:25 UTC 2010

Hi Anna,
Just wanted to reinforce Juan's opinion.  My own training at the Colorado Center for the Blind in Denver was invaluable in my personal life as well as my professional life.  Technology training isn't really the focus but just one of the things that people learn.  You will probably breeze in and out of any tech training.  The other skill areas though may give you a boost of confidence that can get you through any major life or career change you happen to go through.  It can reinforce your existing Braille skills, home management, job search and my favorite, cane travel.  It will also put you in the way of any career options you haven't considered or don't know about.  If you have a burning desire to go into counseling, another degree won't stop you.  If you are just looking for options to get out of a career that makes you dread getting up in the morning, you might need to do some more research to find something that does give you a burning desire.  Juan mentioned conventions of blind people.  NFB will be in Dallas this summer and there are more occupations there than you can shake a stick at.  Your undergrad degree may provide a good platform for many of them whether you add on another Master's or not.  Come to Dallas and see what other blind people are doing.  There are also list serves where people talk about how they do what they are doing.  You found this one so probably have already had a look at the options through NFB.  At convention you will meet many of us who talk on these lists.  Juan and I will be at the rehab conference and the O.&M. conference.  If you go to a center for training, they may provide you with financial assistance to get to Dallas this summer or Orlando next summer.  Often the state agency paying for your training will pay for convention as a part of your training program and your employment research so think about investigating these options.  

NFB has three training centers; Louisiana, Colorado and Minnesota.  Also, the agency operated centers in New Mexico and Nebraska are operated along the same structured discovery training principles.  My own center in Austin is much larger but uses the structured discovery approach as well.  This training approach teaches people not only the alternative techniques of blindness but essential critical thinking and problem solving skills to invent your own alternative techniques in situations where training hasn't given you the specific experience.  There are a lot of options for us today that we didn't have even 20 years ago.  

Come meet us in Dallas and see what we are all about.  

Jane Lansaw
NOMC

-----Original Message-----
From: rehab-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:rehab-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Haro, Juan, CFB
Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 1:43 PM
To: Rehabilitation Counselor Mailing List
Subject: Re: [rehab] looking for an advice

The first thing is to get the skills of blindness.  This will help you
gain greater independence, confidence, as a blind person.  Additionally,
attending a state convention and/or national convention of the blind
will help you meet blind people in a wide range of careers.  As Dick
said, your options are endless.  It all begins with proper training in
blindness skills and a positive view on blindness.  Training is an
investment in yourself and I would recommend it highly.  I owe my
success to my training at the Louisiana Center for the Blind in Ruston.
I learned to believe in myself as a competent blind person; I met
incredible role models; and I strengthened my ability to compete on
terms of equality.       

Juan F. Haro, M.A., NOMCT
Deputy Director
Commission for the Blind
408 N. White Sands Blvd.
Alamogordo, NM 88310
Phone:  (575) 437-0401
Email:  juan.haro at state.nm.us

-----Original Message-----
From: rehab-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:rehab-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Anna Giller
Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 10:58 AM
To: 'Rehabilitation Counselor Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [rehab] looking for an advice

Hi Dick!

I don't need help using JAWS screen reader as an assistive technology,
I
know it much better than many of the teachers. I don't need help
applying
JAWS to the computer science, my experience is extensive enough. I'm
looking
for help getting out of the field that I hate, and start doing something
that I really want to do. What should be my first step?

Thank you,
Anna 
-----Original Message-----
From: rehab-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:rehab-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf
Of Dick Davis
Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 12:29 PM
To: 'Rehabilitation Counselor Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [rehab] looking for an advice

Hi Anna,
Lots of blind people in MIS use screen readers.  I think you should talk
to
the people in the NFB Computer Science division (see www.nfb.org) to
find
out how you can use screen readers more successfully.  Braille output
would
also be an option.  You can't go into counseling at the professional
level
with the degree you have.  You might be able to enter as a
paraprofessional
if you worked on an associate degree, which takes two years.  But it
makes
no sense to go into something completely different.  There are lots of
ways
you can use your skills in the computer field and work with people at
the
same time.  Being an assistive technology specialist or instructor is
one of
the ways.  That profession always needs good people.  However, you need
to
have excellent blindness skills first.  If that isn't the case, I
suggest
you attend one of the NFB training centers to get those skills.  
Dick Davis
Assistant Director
BLIND, Inc.

-----Original Message-----
From: rehab-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:rehab-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf
Of Anna Giller
Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 9:18 AM
To: 'Rehabilitation Counselor Mailing List'
Subject: [rehab] looking for an advice

Hi Everyone!

I'm looking for your advice.
I'm a computer programmer, but this occupation became a torture sinse I
had
to switch to the screen reader.
I currently possess M.S. in Mathematics and teaching.
I would like to work with people rather than with the computers.
I would be happy to work as a rehabilitation or addiction counselor, or
something similar. But I cann't spend 2 years getting a degree in
psychology, I'm not that young any more. 
My question is - where to acquire the necessary skills as soon as
possible?
I'll really appreciate your advice.

Sincerely,
Anna

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