[rehab] question for the list

[Lansaw,Jane (DARS)]

Great, have you seen any studies on this?

-----Original Message-----
From: rehab [mailto:rehab-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of justin williams
Sent: Tuesday, August 06, 2013 1:44 PM
To: 'Rehabilitation Counselor Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [rehab] question for the list

While it is always a good idea to give the new staff, especially those who are visual, an idea of what persons with visual disabilities are experiencing, immersion is not strictly necessary.  It really depends on the person's job.  If you are going to teach a mobility instructor, using a blind fold will give you an understanding of some of the potential difficulties the consumers will face, and is probably the skill which is most effective for immersion.  A person who is sighted takes for granted the ability to see curves and to know how sharp they are, or how there are shape.  The same goes for steps; the way I walk up and down steps is different due to muscle tension.  Without the ability to see, even with use of a cane, there are different minute muscle adjustments that have to be made.  The cane only gives you about a half second to adjust.  While walking or turning, careful placement of the feet and body dynamics are a must; without sight, you have to learn to do these things on the fly.  
Using a computer without the mouse, forces you to depend on the keyboard.
While it is possible to learn blindness related skills without immersion, immersion may speed up such training.  
Immersion for merely one day is not effective; one week is when techniques like that start to be effective.  A one day immersion can give a person a false sense of understanding; where as one week allows for many of the inconveniences to set in.  

-----Original Message-----
From: rehab [mailto:rehab-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lansaw,Jane
(DARS)
Sent: Tuesday, August 06, 2013 2:09 PM
To: Rehabilitation Counselor Mailing List
Subject: [rehab] question for the list

Hi folks,

I'm looking for some data because I'm curious.  I know a lot of training centers immerse staff in non-visual training for a time when they are newly hired.  I know why I think this is a good idea but I'd like to hear from others.  Why is this a good idea?  Is there any data out there to support the fact?

Thank you,

Jane Lansaw


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