[rehab] Private testing

Sun Nov 25 20:19:11 UTC 2012

I like the Braille Readers are Leaders speed testing method.  It doesn't
give a person time to get stuck very long on a word that could be derived
from the context.  Have a witness count your words and email you the
results.  Would that be enough documentation?

On the screen reader score, Freedom Scientific offers their JAWS
certification.  That means that you can document your knowledge and for a
$99 fee, you have the certificate to prove it.  
Nancy Coffman

-----Original Message-----
From: rehab [mailto:rehab-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tami Jarvis
Sent: Sunday, November 25, 2012 1:58 PM
To: Rehabilitation Counselor Mailing List
Subject: Re: [rehab] Private testing

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
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> rehab mailing list
>>> rehab at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/rehab_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
>>> for
>>> rehab:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/rehab_nfbnet.org/b.schulz%40sbcglo
>>> bal.net
>>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> rehab mailing list
>> rehab at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/rehab_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> rehab:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/rehab_nfbnet.org/singingmywayin%40g
>> mail.com
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> rehab mailing list
> rehab at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/rehab_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
rehab:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/rehab_nfbnet.org/tami%40poodlemutt.c
> om
>

_______________________________________________
rehab mailing list
rehab at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/rehab_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for rehab:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/rehab_nfbnet.org/nancylc%40sprynet.com