[rehab] looking for an advice

Thu Mar 18 14:00:57 UTC 2010

Anna,

Sorry, I didn't catch from your first message that you didn't like the field
you were in.  If that's the case, then you should make a career change.  I
wouldn't rule out being a technology instructor in a training center, as the
skill set is a lot different than the skill set you need in straight MIS
work.  A lot of competent "techies" don't like teaching because they find it
boring, so we're always looking for people who have both the technical
skills and the strong desire to help others.  Juan and Jane have given you
some excellent advice.  If you were to work in a training center like the
ones they mentioned, you would get tons of opportunities to counsel people;
dealing with blindness is every bit as important as learning good skills.  

Center training would be a prerequisite to that kind of career transition,
and it would teach you what you need to know about working with blind
people.  I work for BLIND, Inc., which is one of the centers they mentioned.
Our website is www.blindinc.org if you want to look us up.  If you would
like to consider coming here, we will work with you and your state agency to
get you the funding you need.  The Louisiana and Colorado centers would do
the same.  If you were to go to the convention Juan and Jane mentioned, you
would get to meet all of us.  That could jump start your new career.  If you
want to e-mail me offline, my address is ddavis at blindinc.org.

Dick Davis
Assistant Director for Employment
BLIND, Inc.

-----Original Message-----
From: rehab-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:rehab-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Lansaw,Jane (DARS)
Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 2:13 PM
To: Rehabilitation Counselor Mailing List
Subject: Re: [rehab] looking for an advice

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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