Category: Daily Living
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I'm not exactly sure how to go about answering this, but I would say doing something out of desperation that you know is bad will get you nowhere except frustrated because you went there to bail you out of a bad situation, but only made it worse. Now, I guess if you have a thick skin and can just let stuff roll off you, go for it. But I personally am all about environment. If I'm being treated like shit, or if I clash with the ideals/core values/philosophies of a given place, I won't learn anything. I'll just shut down and become depressed, but maybe that's just me and my "unprofessional" attitude like I've heard time and time again. But anyway, to answer your question, even though I strongly disagree with your reason for going, I've heard that the Colorado Center is a bit more lenient about some of the NFB's policies. I had a friend who went there who said she didn't feel like if she didn't become an NFB member permanently, or dared to use a guide dog after she left, she would be shit on the bottom of someone's shoe. But, as I said, I really caution you about using a center that you know won't work for you as a last resort. That's like jumping into oncoming traffic because someone with a gun is chasing you. I know that's a terrible example but I hope you get what I mean. Feeling trapped and helpless is never a good feeling, but why bang your head against a wall if you can avoid it? Is there no other alternative for you? I would really encourage you to think of every option you can. Make lists of pros and cons. Consider everything, no matter how unappealing, then weigh your options and see what you come up with.
as a graduate of the Louisiana center, I'd say that's your best bet.
contrary to what many people think, it isn't a one size fits all type program. I'm speaking from experience that even though it's often presented as such, that's far from true. everyone works at their own pace; the staff and students there are very encouraging/supportive no matter what.
as with anything in life, though, things are what you make of them. of course there'll be things you don't agree with, but as long as you focus on what you're there to do, you'll be fine.
that being said, training centers aren't for everyone; think about it long and hard before you make a decision.
feel free to contact me further for any more questions you may have.
Something only brainwashes a person if they wish to be brainwashed. I don't understand people who say things like this about the NFB centers. If someone is weak-minded enough to feel brainwashed, that says something about them, not the center.
In answer to your question, I would recommend either Colorado or Louisiana. I'm a graduate of the Colorado Center myself. At that time, I felt it was the best of the three. I liked that it was in a city with good public transit, I was impressed with the people I talked with, and I felt the training was extremely good. However, it seems they have declined markedly and rapidly over the last few years, and I can't recommend them with as much enthusiasm as I once would have.
My atttitude about Louisiana goes the other way. Once, when it was under it's former director, I would have said stay away at all costs. I have no use for the woman who used to direct the LCB. But she is gone, and Pam, the woman in charge of it now, is extremely cool. It's set in a rural area, but I've been told they find ways to work around this if it's needed and wanted.
If you want more specifics, particularly about CCB, let me know.
I'm sure these centers work for some people, that's why they're still thriving. however, I get the impression that this is an absolute last resort, and an extremely unattractive one at that, and I don't think it's right to force yourself to do something drastic that you would never consider in a million years otherwise. Speaking from personal experience, I can say forcing yourself to try to like something that you know deep down clashes with you is not a good thing. I know, for example, that if I were to go to one of these places, I would fight the injustice of being forced to use a straight cane or to wear sleep shades since I've been totally blind all my life and I consider it a very negative practice, to say the least. My dad recently said to me, "no matter how right you are, you're wrong if the powers that be say so." I however don't see how a person can just let themselves be stepped on, even if it's something indirect such as the use of sleep shades. Even though it's not a personal attack on me or my independence or lack thereof, I see safety hazards in it, particularly if the instructor is also blind, so I would fight it. That's just how I am, and with every battle I lose, for every perceived injustice that continues, I become disillusioned. I'm not saying this is right at all. I've had it pounded into my head that it's a completely undesirable trait for anyone to have, and that I should be a cookie cutter and not use my intelligence or logic so much. Maybe I wasn't slapped around enough as a kid to become submissive, who knows. Anyway, I'm rambling, and maybe I'm the only person who's like that, but I still say it's a terrible idea to do something if deep down you don't think it will help.
As for the whole idea of being brainwashed, I tend to agree with Sister Dawn on that, particularly if a person has been blind all their life. For a newly blind person, I see it as more of a concern, because they're in an extremely vulnerable position, having just lost one of their most important senses, so they'll be more likely to lap up any "help" they can get, and perhaps be more easily steered into a perspective or mindset they otherwise never would have shown interest in.
as someone who has been blind all her life, and who was raised under the school of thought that using sleepshades is ineffective, I can honestly say I'm glad I was proven wrong.
using sleep shades for what? I'm 100 percent blind so what difference are sleep shades going to be? I'm confused here.
They claim that putting sleep shades on places you outside your comfort zone and makes you learn to not rely on your vision. Personally, I think that's a load of bullshit, particularly for someone who has no vision. They should make exceptions, but no, and this is just one of many problems I have with the NFB.
lmao! wow. I have no vision at all. but they are gonna make me wear a sleep shade? Lol, no I think I'll pass, also
you guys have it wrong. if you're totally blind, you don't wear sleepshades.
what if you have light perseption? I mean the sleep shades are useless!.
I find it interesting you guys are so adamant, when you clearly do not know the sleepshade policy as it really is. Fighter is correct. If you have no vision, you do not wear sleepshades. There would be no purpose for it.
However, I think we all, including myself, are digressing from the original poster's intent. We were not being asked for our feeling on the NFB as an organization. We were being asked which of the three centers are the best, and thus far, I see only two of us that have answered that question. There are numerous board topics on this site devoted to people's view on both organizations, and of course more can always be created. Sorry we've dragged your thread so off topic, Warrior. I will try to stay out of the bashing stuff, but as I said before, if you have any questions regarding the centers, feel free to ask.
To Persevere Warrior: Perhaps, there are other smaller places in your state that work on independence. These don't necessarily have to be training centres. They may be facilities to which you commute or they may offer service, in which they teach you cooking and cleaning in your own home. It's really worth looking into this.
Ok. now that makes more since. thanks for clearing it up
Eleni has a good point. Have you spoken to your counselor in your state agency about alternatives? This would definitely be a good first step. I found a training center in my state that I'm actually starting at on Monday, and I made sure it wasn't affiliated with the NFB. I also made it clear to my counselor that I wanted no part of anything to do with the NFB, and he respected that. Maybe others aren't as understanding, and maybe I'm just lucky, but really it should be up to the client which direction they want to go, so you have a right to make sure you get the services you want and need.
Seems the best option is to get help in your local area so you learn what's relevant to your living situation, where streets are, and that.
I would generally agree with you, Leo, but not everyone has good training in their local area. In fact, I'd wager to say that the majority of people don't have access to good training right in their local areas. Besides, should not the idea be to get transferrable skills that one can use in any area, that work even when you're in unfamiliar environments?
to the last poster, very well said; I agree completely.
it amazes me that people who know absolutely nothing about the NFB continue to spout stuff like they know what they're talking about. it's even more so, when they let their negative attitudes determine things for them...and allow their misconceptions to speak, instead of trying to find out the facts as they really are.
sorry for getting off topic; I just had to say it.
I think pretty much every one of the three centers has its strengths and weaknesses. I know the least about blind inc, so I don't feel as comfortable giving a view on that one.
I myself went to the Colorado Centter, and sometimes help out there as a tech instructor, so if you have any questions about it, drop me a PM.
I know some about LCB also, because I've had a few friends go there pretty recently.
As for one of the commints, not know what the NFB is about, I want go there! yet I so want too. As for getting help I belive if you can find help close to home look there first. If not I would look other places that are not afiliated with any group like the NFB. Say what you want, but its in my appinion you will get a broad understanding of blindness with out all the groups belifes getting involved with your training. Take or leave it as far as I am consurned.
I have a friend who is at Blind Inc right now, and she loves it, but personally I think its really controling sounding. I think its cool that you learn cooking and all that, but the sleepshade thing (aparently I would have to wear one even though what little shadow I see doesn't help), is dumb, and there policy of not using guidedogs for class is stupid as well. If I have a dog, and can use it, why not do so? I hate NFB canes too lol!
I'm not saying everything about centers are bad, but I wouldn't go to one if there was any other option, and if you don't agree with the policies of NFB why put yourself through 6-9 months of training where your surrounded by it? I need to learn more about cooking and cleaning as well, but I've resorted to just asking people to teach me, and it's worked allright so far. My roommates help w/ teaching me cooking.
I went to Lcb. I think I was too young though. I take the view that if I don't agree I can still use the good things I learned. I love my straight cane but wasn't crazy about the 7 mile hike or the drop routes. I managed not to get run over or lost forever so it worked out. I'm still terrified when traveling with my cane inspite of performing all the travel requirements. Why such a strong dislike of the nfb. You can't be lead anywhere unless you move your feet. The tech training was miserable but shop home-ec and cane travel are topnotch.If I could go back I'd spend most of my time building confidence in travel. I didn't have to wear sleepshades either being totally blind. Dido for Pam and Roland being awesome. They take all kinds of folks there, it's not just a place for nfb wanabees or hotshots who know everything. I wish they had school or job placement services for afterwords maybe they do now. I think looking in your local area may be a good solution. If the training you receive is inadiquit fight until your satisfied with the results. Wood shop was the most terrifying at first but I'd not trade my dollhouse for anything. I'd build a cedar chest if I could do it again. Tiffany
Okay I went to the colorado center and here's what I think. It is a very suportive enviroment but they do make you wear sleep shades no matter what vision you have. also they don't like you to us e sighed guide or a guide og.
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Nine months in a center? That's a really really long time IMHO.
That being said, it seems if you're doing anything academic maybe they could get accredited somehow so you don't have lost those 9 months at a critical time in your life when you should be in school getting your college education done. Finishing that is critical to your success finding work, be it college, trade school, or some other vocational program. University isn't as important as it used to be, but some form of certification related to your field is pretty critical. Seems the one thing any place like that needs to do is become competitive in that space, especially concerning the entire duration of a school year you're expected to attend. I take it you get a certificate of completion, but most of us haven't even seen one of those, and frankly when I was hiring people, before I came on this site, I would have had to go find out what that even was if I saw something like that on a resume.
Nine months, the duration of a school year, is really a long time for something you can't put on paper as proof of accomplishment. Seems they should account for this somehow, either shorten it up there or deliver on vocational training as part of their program. After all, what good is it to know how to take care of your house, if you lack the income to even have one? Seems way out there they don't do this.
I have a bachilor in criminology and was looking for a job before the pain. I do plan to when the pain goes away, get a job in my field of study. Oh and the counselor in my state when I had been looking for a job didn't help me at all. He just wanted me to work in a call center. I did my own looking a sent in plenty of despatcher and criminal inteligence analis applications. I also did get an interview to be a despatcher for the police department. I would never go back to school to get my masters even if my life depended on it. I had a very hard time with disable services at my university and violating my civil rights because they would not get my books read on time and my grade point average suffered because of that.
They don't have a problem with guied dogs. I do work at the Colorado center and have a guide dog. That being said during the day while training if you're a student you don't use your dog. This is because you're learning cane travel and orientation techniques.
I second Miah on this. the Centers are designed to teach cane travel, just as guide dog schools are designed to teach traveling with a dog. The Centers have no problem with a person having a guide dog. this is especially true with CCB. After all, the woman who first started it is a guide dog user herself. You just can't use your dog on travel because, as Miah said, the idea is to teach you cane skills.
Leo, you certainly do not have to spend 9 months at the Center. It just varies on an individual basis. I've known friends who have gone for three months. I was there for six. Some do stay 9 months. It all depends on your skill level when you start, your learning speed and style, and so forth. I don't feel you, "lose that time," as you put it. My six months at CCB were probably some of the most profitable I have spent in my life. If someone has to take six or nine months out of their life to learn skills that will serve them for the rest of it, I do not consider that wasted time in the slightest.
I have to agree with the last post. I went to my local commission center for about 9 month a couple years back, and it really did help boost my abilities in mobility and cooking among other things. My view on something is if you always think negative thoughts about something, always complain about policies, you'll just find reasons to make it harder on yourself. Open your mind, don't all of a sudden start getting worked up over what a certain person or group of people say. You're your own person, you make your own choices. Also, i seems to me, people are making judgement calls on what they went through years ago, or what they heard others went through. there's nothing like learing what something is like, for yourself.