[humanser] Questions
Amy Hatten
amykhatten at hotmail.com
Tue Jun 24 22:02:30 UTC 2014
What did your three day evaluation involve? And how did you arrange that?
Sent from my iPhone
> On Jun 24, 2014, at 4:50 PM, "Denise Shaible via humanser" <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> Hello Amy,
>
> I graduated from the Louisiana Center for the Blind in 2009. Since I have
> light perception, I had to wear sleep shades. The only time I had trouble
> was in the summer when it gets very hot. I agree that speaking to as many
> grads as possible is a good idea. LCB is holding a luncheon on Friday, July
> 4, 2014 between the opening and second part of General Session. If you're
> interested in attending a center, you may want to attend this luncheon and
> try to speak with Pam Allen, the Director. She is always willing to speak
> to people interested in what happens at a center. Her husband, Roland Allen
> was my Orientation and Mobility Instructor and he can tell you all about
> sleep shades.
>
> My husband Adam is an O & M Instructor here in Sacramento. At the Society
> for the Blind where he works, they call sleep shades learning shades. I
> like this name better. Don't worry, whether you call them sleep shades or
> learning shades, they're not that scary. They just take getting used to. I
> must say the when you have a small amount of light perception left, they
> really help you concentrate on cues that you'd miss because you're focusing
> on that little bit of residual vision. Keep in mind, you only have to wear
> the shades during training hours. We were able to take them off during
> lunch and after 5:00 pm. So, you do get a break some of the time. If you
> attend a training center, you'll have the time of your life and be
> challenged in so many ways, some of them you don't want to know about but
> when you do them and achieve your goals and graduate, you know that
> everything was worth it. The best thing I can advise is to think about it,
> pray on it if you pray, and speak with as many people as you can. Thad's
> what I did and it worked. I really didn't want to attend the center but,
> after completing a 3-day evaluation, I knew it was the place for me. I hope
> this helps.
>
> Regards,
>
> Denise Shaible
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Alexander
> Castillo via humanser
> Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2014 11:57 AM
> To: Merry Schoch; Human Services Division Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [humanser] Questions
>
> Hi Amy, It's great that you are reaching out to people before making such a
> commitment. I graduated from the Louisiana Center for the Blind in 2011
> after finishing a BA in Political Science and Psychology.
> Sleep shades can be overwhelmming for some, and you should deffintely speak
> to as many people as possible to get a good understanding of what to expect
> while in training.
> The three training centers hold expos throughout convention and it would be
> a good idea to check them all out, they are even more effective if you
> attend with someone who has graduated from one of those centers, as many of
> us keep those connections with staff and fellow students, we have made
> during our training.
> You may contact me off list at AlexanderA.Castillo at gmail.com if you would
> like to meet up anytime during convention. I am usually with
> allot of friendly folk who have attended the training centers as
> well, and I'm sure they would like to meet you too.
> See you in Orlando and take care,
> Alexander Castillo
>
>> On 6/24/14, Merry Schoch via humanser <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Hi Amy,
>>
>> There will be a plethora of information regarding the training
>> centers at convention. What is great is you'll see students from the
>> centers walking around in sleep shades. Sleep shades can be
>> overwhelming; however, besides many of the great points Ericka pointed
>> out they also build confidence. As a person who is currently losing
>> my usable vision, I find myself challenged on a daily basis and this
>> is not a complaint. Each day I walk away knowing I am capable and can
>> move forward as my vision decreases. I know that soon the usable
>> vision will be no more. The experience of working under sleep shades
>> is one that you can always look back at to help you remember that
>> travelling with no sight is more than doable. I have never been to a
>> center, but I would love to have because all the freedom from the
>> skills you learn there are invaluable!
>>
>> I hope this convention helps you make the best decision for your
>> present and future.
>>
>> Warm regards,
>> Merry
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Amy
>> Hatten via humanser
>> Sent: Monday, June 23, 2014 5:30 PM
>> To: Serena Cucco; Human Services Division Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [humanser] Questions
>>
>> I am going to the convention and I have been partially blind for 6
>> years I've considered an NFB center and was suppose to start but the
>> idea of the sleep shades is terrifying me and then I get overwhelmed
> before I go.
>> I would like to meet anyone at the convention to get as much info I
>> can get.
>> I became partially sighted my junior year of college. Did 6 weeks of
>> some training to get back in college the following semester. Then did
>> another 6 weeks of training during summer.
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>>> On Jun 23, 2014, at 4:14 PM, "Serena Cucco via humanser"
>>> <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi Amy and all,
>>>
>>> I received cane travel/orientation and mobility training from the
>>> Commission for the Blind and technology training from a company that
>>> contracted with the Commission when I was younger. I also attended
>>> the Buddy and STEP probrams (Buddy for elementary and middle school
>>> age and STEP for high school age) programs at the Louisiana Center
>>> for the Blind, a training center the NFB runs. There are two other
>>> NFB centers in Colorado and Minnesota. All three of these centers
>>> have adult programs, as well. I use Jaws screen reading software and
>>> Kurzweil (sp?) scanning software.
>>>
>>> Amy, just wondering, are you totally blind? Partially sighted? Are
>>> you going to the convention?
>>>
>>> Serena
>>>
>>>> On 6/23/14, Ericka Short via humanser <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>> Amy, welcome first of all.
>>>>
>>>> Justin is right that having a masters opens the job choices
>>>> considerably.
>>>> He's also right that you can't get off SSDI without the masters.
>>>> Marrying
>>>>
>>>> rich is about the only other way and that doesn't always work out.
>>>> Not that I married rich and would know.It depends on what your
>>>> dreams are and many other life situations. My degree is in social
>>>> work. I'm in about the same boat as you but have some experience
>>>> behind me and am finally certified
>>>>
>>>> in my state for social work. First I suggest you see if you can be
>>>> licensed
>>>>
>>>> in your state for social work even though you have the psych degree.
>>>> I took
>>>>
>>>> the NASW exam and the state statutes exam for WI and am just
>>>> awaiting my license. It isn't impossible to work without licensing
>>>> or a masters, but you
>>>>
>>>> are limited that is for sure. I don't know what age you want to
>>>> work
>> with.
>>>>
>>>> I worked as an activity aide at a nearby nursing home for six years
>>>> part time to get experience. I could walk so it took the transit
>>>> issue out of the equation and we didn't have to drive residents
>>>> anywhere most of the time
>>>>
>>>> so it wasn't in the essential requirements of the job. The only
>>>> thing I drove was wheelchairs! Look into what your state has for
>>>> licensing and that will help direct you. Don't hesitate to talk to
>>>> the campus career center. They have given me lots of help even
>>>> though I graduated 15 years ago. They know more about your own
>>>> state and what the needs are for certain jobs. If you have a focus
>>>> they can help you more on some answers than we can. we are
>>>> allover, but they
>> can help for state specific things.
>>>>
>>>> Transit is a toughie and it also depends on where you live. There
>>>> are some
>>>>
>>>> low cost county services here in my WI county that I have used
>>>> which are reliable and I have help at times from church members I
>>>> am close to. Not everyone has that kind of connection. You might
>>>> be able to carpool with a coworker later, but you have to find a way
>>>> to get there in
>> the beginning.
>>>> IF you are SSDI some states have rules that you can keep your
>>>> assistance while working because work expenses are subtracted from
>>>> the real amount leaving you with lower earnings in the end. I
>>>> don't know much about how the state rules and federal rules differ
>>>> so that is something someone else can post here. IF you can swing
>>>> it, take the part time job that suits you
>>>>
>>>> and keep the benefits for a while until you have the masters and
>>>> other things researched and planned. Any experience out of school
>>>> right away will help you down the road.
>>>>
>>>> My job I am awaiting either a rejection or offer for is in another
>>>> city/county and it is part time. Make sure you know their
>>>> definition of part time. For this job it is 25 /week. I had to
>>>> talk to the benefits specialist to see what it would do if I took
>>>> it. I think I will work for me and I have transit figured out.
>>>> Again this is a job that doesn't require
>>>>
>>>> a license to do the job and if there are situations where it would
>>>> be nice
>>>>
>>>> I have some ideas around it. Not having the job I can't really
>>>> comment because the plans I think will work night not. The job is a
>>>> social service
>>>>
>>>> coordinator position at a HUD apartment building for the disabled
>>>> and elderly. Some of my activity plans like getting to attend a
>>>> church festival might be a little work because of liability,
>>>> insurance and other important things. The building doesn't have a
>>>> van so we'd have to work with
>>>>
>>>> the churches to find a way for them to attend. Fireworks is nether
>>>> community opportunity for them to enjoy and it would be great if we
>>>> could work with the city to get them there and back. As you can
>>>> see, whether I'm
>>>>
>>>> blind or sighted this transit issue would be a problem if I were
>>>> planning an
>>>>
>>>> off-site activity.
>>>>
>>>> For other issues, write me offline. Hope I've been of some help and
>>>> if not,
>>>>
>>>> at least interesting. Good luck with your efforts and don't give up
>>>> the hunt. There is something for you whether you are a partial like
>>>> me or total.
>>>>
>>>> Ericka J. Short
>>>>
>>>> "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". Philippians
>>>> 4:13
>>>>
>>>> "No hand is too small or too big to do good in this world." EJ.
>>>> Short
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
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>
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