Vocational Rehabilitation For The Blind

I mean one agency is for the blind, one if for hard of hearing, one is for persons with disabilities, one is called vocational rehabilitation, one is called social services, one is called united way, one is called services for developmental disabilities, one is for filing complaints about these agencies...

Jefferson warned us when he said, "the natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground."

The problem is all of these agencies are truly unconstitutional, and the reason is we have substituted democracy for republic. We were created as a republic, with the only democracy to be in voting for your representative, who SWEARS to uphold the Constitution. The constitution was written to protect the minority from the majority, and democracy is the exact opposite, as Jefferson also clearly stated, "a democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine." So when you hear politicians screaming for spreading democracy, think of two wolves and a sheep deciding what's for dinner!

2007-03-04 10:15:07 by Inquisitive

This has been my experience with having MAV, and dealing with DSB and Voc. Rehab. I also have functional vision issues, not just MAV, but because ...

I finally am getting things started with the state dept. of the blind, and one of the things they have suggested is to go to a rehabilitation center to learn independent living skills, get vocational rehab, and to learn how to use assistive technologies such as JAWS.

I am considering it, but I know very little about rehab centers.

As background for those who may not know, I am legally blind (my left eye sees ~1.5 feet and my right ~3 feet. This has been a gradual increase from light and dark perception only at the very beginning, then a decrease from a brief period of 20/60 in right eye and 20/200 in left...most of the decrease due to glaucoma spikes, I think. So now, I struggle to read even very large print on my computer (I am writing this in size 73, high contrast, and it is still very fuzzy...the equivalent, if not written by my own hand, takes a very long time for me to read anything). Though I manage well with things around me due to an assistant and assistive products such as stick-on bumps and a handheld magnifying device, it is becoming increasingly difficult for me to use the magnifying device, and what I could do before with my residual vision before, I am finding more and more difficult...

Anyway, so that's why I am considering going to a rehab center. They said that the program would be 1-4 weeks, and if I need it, I can go to another rehab center with a more in-depth program...the rehab center is 2 hours away, but is a live-in only...my husband is just returned from Iraq a week and a half ago, so I don't really want to part with him again after being apart for 14 months...

Anyone have a professional or experience-based opinion on rresidential rehab for blind and visually impaired versus classes during the day (transportation is a bit of a problem for us right now with our only car on the fritz, so maybe live-in is the best option, but...I'm not sure)?
I didn't need a lecture on needing to take care of my eyes. I follow my medication schedule to the T, don't overstrain my eyes, and I have been seeing specialists from the first month.

You have bad grammar, bad spelling, and you lecture me. That's nice that you have perfect vision...I never did, and doubt I ever will. Thanks for waving that in my face and bragging.

If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.

Hi. I'm somewhat low vision. No left perphial in both eyes. I live in San Francisco and thees a center for the blind. I'll say the benefits would be learning about new and better equipment that can help you. I dnt see how it could be a bad thing at all. I myself am considering reading braille

2008-12-30 20:38:16 by Jewel

So, I'm blind I need to go and see my vocational rehabilitation counselor to talk about considering an Indipendent living program. I don't really want to go to the program, but my dad really wants me to. I just want to tell my counselor that I am considering going, that way, he doesn't think I absolutely want to go. The thing is Dad wants to take me and I really don't want him to. I need to figure out how to do things for myself and advocate for myself. Dad apparently doesn't trust me because he said he's going to be in the room making sure I follow through. He knows I don't want to go to this program, and even though I'm 20, he keeps pressuring me. I really wouldn't feel comfortable with my dad there. I need to learn self advocacy and indipendence. And I don't want my dad there. I just don't feel comfortable with him coming. I need to figure out a way I can tell him nicely that I can arrange my own transportation But if I sound uneasy, he'll be suspicious. So, please help me!

why not make it a bit easier.


tell you dad you don't want him in the room with you for the interview/discussion part. Because, after all, you need to learn how to follow through yourself.

but let him take you to the appt.

it isn't perfect, but it isn't a bad compromise.

2008-06-25 12:59:19 by Mal13

About us
Nepal Integrated Blind development association (NIBDA) is anon profit making social organization. NIBDA has been working as one of the leading social organization in the field of disability specially since 1997.NIBDA has 9 vision impaired persons (5male and 4 female) in executive board and general members are 2500 in 54 districts. It has a very committed and experiences persons who has been contributing to make organization alive. We are able to gain a faith from the individuals, business companies and government agencies as well. This was really tuff job to bring organisation in this position without any donation and financial support of donors. Besides, we got 1.5 hecter land (present value $ 969,230/-) donated by the local government as a reward of our sincerity and honesty. The former Minister of Social welfare and Minister of foreign affair is member in our advisory board.

NIBDA aims to fulfil the basic needs of visually impaired persons. "Basic needs are basic rights" Such persons will participate in different developmental activities so that their rights will be ensured.

We basically focus on rehabilitation program that is, we provide vocational trainings to the blind people and help them to rehabilitate in their own society. We have a running Vocational Training Centre (VTC) under the organization since last13 years. Beside we are also conducts different awareness programs in the different society through out the country to ensure their fundamental rights, including right to live as well

Currently, we are striving to develop our vocational training centre (TTC) as a national technical school. We are requesting the government and other concern bodies to certify us as per the current rules and regulations. Vocational and technical skill can be the best option for their income generating activities and to uplift their living standard.

Programme Insights

Different INGOs are interested to support to improve living condition for the persons with disability in Nepal but they are not disaggregated .A few disability welfare organisations launching the programme in urban areas.
Improvement of living condition of persons with disability is a responsibility of government. In this connection, NGOs should be screened whether they are focussing disables in rural areas or not, whether they are fully political party oriented or not.

Conflict victims, blind women and children, and a poor blind person are more vulnerable groups in the society. So we have to be aware in designing programme and formulating policies to address their felt needs in an integrated manner. "Right to sight" is a right perspective vision. Welfare to rights, micro-macro-micro linkages is to be considered while implementing programme. We should have clear M&E system and follow up accordingly. In this way, support could be worthwhile for the improvement of person with disability.
Blindness is simply an inconvenience that can be overcome and we shall overcome with your help…….
Blind's eyes may not good but brains, hands and feet are more active than normal people.

How much dollars spent for the improvement of living condition of people but what exactly, blind people benefited is a crucial question that we have to ask ourselves.

Programme activities, skill enhancement, training materials, study materials and facilities for the blinds should not be generalised.

NIBDA current programme activities

NIBDA has been implementing different programme activities for the blind. Such programme is different than programme of ables. Both right based and service oriented programme is combined here. Preventable blindness programme, public awareness raising, assistive technology, vocational training, income generating activities, scholarship support, building networks among blinds, leadership development of members, and organisational capacity building are some of the major programme for the visually impaired persons. NIBDA is also one of the active members of CBR (Community Based Rehabilitation) network. CBR is a network of disable organisations. More than4500 visually impaired persons are benefited from NIBDA directly. It has made significant change in their lives. We have many opportunities and challenges that we have to grab opportunities and face challenges carefully. The perceptions of normal people looking towards the blind are being positive which has created working environment. Such progressive qualitative and quantitative change will be documented and shared with stakeholders and funding partners as well.

Future Programme

The following are some of the new programmes planned for coming days and current programme activities are to be continued together with new activities.
•Exchange sharing programme with abroad visionary impaired persons
•Establish low vision clinic
•Lobbying government line agencies
•Leadership capacity building
•Establish National Technical School and Rehabilitation Centr

Your program sounds great to me, you should get support from everyone, I can't see how anybody could say anything negative about what you are doing, keep up the good work!!

2008-11-30 21:12:18 by NIBDA Nepal

I am a legally blind (3/350 acuity in right eye, light perception only in left), currently enrolled in a vocational rehabilitation program. At my next staffing (meeting with all my teachers and counselors), I will request a Accessible Technology evaluation, to see what would be best for me, for use in college and in the workplace as a teacher. However, I hate to go into anything unprepared and was hoping to do some research on my own. I have been able to find a few things to research, such as the Victor StreamReader, the BrailleNote, and the BraillePlus, but I'd like to see what all is out there beyond just these few things, especially blind-accessible PDAs, teacher and college specific programs, and the like.

Is there a website that lists and/or compares the different technologies out there? For people with other disabilities, I'm sure it'd be useful to have a list of technology for the deaf, physically impaired, learning disabled, etc. So, feel free to list those list links also, if there are any.

I am not sure where you are. But there are some really good Visual impairment aides, a friend of mine is currently using Victor reader stream, which he loves, he also use a number of other aids.

The Humanware web site is an excellent web site, and you can select the region/country your in, on the top centre of page. I also found another web site that may help too.

I use Read & Write Gold a computer program which has screen, PDF, and web reading, speech to text, Daisy reader, and many other applications too, (I have dyslexia).

Any books you have to purchase, can be put on a CD for you, electronic files of text or pdf, which the computer program above can read to you. So you need to ask if the collage/university can do this. Usually they have to have a copy of your receipt, and then send it off to the publisher stating that you have a impairment where you need the book on CD. Or the collage maybe able to scan the book in and put it on CD, but this is very time consuming for staff and they maybe reluctant to do this.

You could ask that teachers send out class handouts via email, a few days before class so you can pre-read it and print it off in a suitable font size if needed.

If the collage has a Disability Liaison officer they can help in getting the appropriate supports. Such as a note taker, classroom supports and aids.

I am currently studying at the moment, and have a number of aids, to help me when needed, the books on CD and the Read & Write Gold computer program are especially helpful.

2009-09-26 09:41:09 by Jewel