[rehab] Private testing

Sun Nov 25 19:58:29 UTC 2012

Thanks, Bryan and Danielle!

But, while I don't live in Missouri, I do live in Oregon. Believe me, I 
don't stand a chance here, either. After 13 years, in which I ended up 
losing my still-advancing career when my progressive vision loss became 
loss of sighted reading, I think it's safe to say that even if I weren't 
a proud member of the Thorn In The Side Club, I still wouldn't stand a 
chance... Since, by reviewing my file (what is actually in there; their 
documentation woes are the subject of many failed audits, which did not 
surprise me, having reviewed my own file), it seems pretty clear that I 
had managed to make myself a Thorn In The Side long before I ever came 
within 300 miles of anyone there but a VRC, who was really great, it's 
clear I never had a chance in the first place of just keeping working, 
so... Well, I'm not bitter, not at all. /sarcastic grin/

So I'm asking about the testing for my own benefit, since I would like 
to get that cleared out of the way, but also so I can pass reliable info 
onto others in the same boat. Sigh.

As for my own case, if you're entertained by such tales, I'll mention 
that the VR Director and Administrator are in agreement that they are 
not about to waste valuable taxpayer resources letting me show up for a 
braille reading test with the Braille Literacy Specialist because they 
have determined that I refuse to learn braille. I did suggest that a 
quick reading test might clear up some confusion there, but... That's a 
sign of some deep mental disturbance on my part, so now they won't even 
talk to me unless I agree to get counseling. I crazily suggest that I 
will be happy to do so once they set another psych eval to see what I'm 
supposed to get counseling for. /lol/ Yes, I do mean a second one. They 
have a psych eval but they do not have documentation that I have mental 
deficits or disturbances. They're not about to set another, of course, 
even though they were ordered to do so by CAP back in 2007...

Turns out I am not alone in that boat, either. I may be the only 4.0 
math major working geek in information management along with various and 
sundry clerical this and that who has been determined to have... wait 
for it! ... ADHD! As we all know, there are many brilliant people with 
ADHD and they do many things with their brilliant brains... What they do 
not do is successfully sit for that many hours a day focusing on 
ensuring that multiple tiny, tiny details are perfect. It's just not 
their gig. Anyone who can spend 6 to 8 hours a day for a couple of days 
reviewing thousands upon thousands of lines of code for that one missing 
semi-colon, then head home and study braille for when they can't see and 
study technical manuals to keep improving their programming and 
design/development skills then do another programming project, which 
involves tiny, tiny details that must be exactly perfect... I'm just 
saying. They mighta looked at my resume and my academic record before 
they picked ADHD out of a hat. /smile/

So. If I want a braille reading test, I need another solution. So do a 
lot of people who haven't even gotten to be Thorns in the Side. Neat, huh?

Tami Jarvis (formerly Kinney)

On 11/24/2012 11:59 PM, Danielle Antoine wrote:
> Try going through your local rehabilitation Services Program. they
> usually help you get started with assessments and training, if
> necessary. good luck!
>
> On 11/19/12, Bryan Schulz <b.schulz at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>> hi,
>>
>> If you live in Missouri, you have no chance!
>> Bryan Schulz
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Tami Jarvis" <tami at poodlemutt.com>
>> To: "Rehabilitation Counselor Mailing List" <rehab at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, November 17, 2012 11:46 AM
>> Subject: [rehab] Private testing
>>
>>
>>> Hi, all!
>>>
>>> I've heard over the past few years of private consultants who appear to do
>>>
>>> evaluations for assistive technology and provide testing for adaptive
>>> skills like braille and other areas.
>>>
>>> Can someone here tell me how that works in terms of how it is paid for and
>>>
>>> by whom?
>>>
>>> We've been spending the last year or more on family matters and finally
>>> got ourselves moved to the small town where my father will be living out
>>> his remaining years. So I am finally getting back to preparing to go job
>>> seeking, although I continue to do what freelance -- mostly pro bono --
>>> projects that come my way. I can be looking for more freelance projects
>>> that perhaps are not so free while I'm job hunting.
>>>
>>> I have a suspicion that having proper test scores for reading and
>>> technology could greatly increase my odds of getting more projects,
>>> especially at first. In this tiny market, I might find a nugget or two
>>> here and there, but I would really like to continue to expand my horizons
>>>
>>> beyond this area. We'll see. But I want to be prepared and that means I
>>> need to figure out how to get those official test scores and other
>>> assessments to reassure prospective employers and clients that someone has
>>>
>>> verified I know how to do stuff now that I'm blind. /smile/
>>>
>>> Thanks in advance for any information or direction anyone can provide.
>>>
>>> I hope you are all getting ready for a happy and healthy holiday season!
>>>
>>> Tami
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
>>
>>
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>
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