Liz.Campbell@p0.f33.n130.z1.fidonet.org (Liz Campbell) (08/23/90)
Index Number: 9952 [This is from the Blink Talk Conference] Hi Phil! I was at NSVH from 1968 to 1970. During that time, I think the school was following the trend of working with kids who had multiple handicaps while most blind folks went to public schools. I can't say that I enjoyed my years there much because the lifestyle was so different from what I was used to, but on the other hand, I wouldn't have gotten adequate Braille instruction otherwise. Take care Liz -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!130!33.0!Liz.Campbell Internet: Liz.Campbell@p0.f33.n130.z1.fidonet.org
Stew.Bowden@f6.n377.z1.fidonet.org (Stew Bowden) (09/04/90)
Index Number: 10065 [This is from the Blink Talk Conference] Hi Liz: I often wonder about the psychological effects of younger children who are blind finding out so early that they are different? True, sooner or later all of us must face that, but as adults, and after some successes it seems to me a bit easier to handle. The thing I liked most about the school for the blind was I was equal to everyone else there and that made the competition at least equal. By the time I began to compete in the sighted world, I had the tools to do the job, and was anxious to meet the challenge. I find it interesting that most people who viehemtly oppose residential schools are those who for some reason had negative experiences there. One of the things that makes it hard for people to decide which is better is the fact that blind people can't even agree on the subject. However, that's what makes life interesting. Thanks for the thoughts Liz. Keep them coming. -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!377!6!Stew.Bowden Internet: Stew.Bowden@f6.n377.z1.fidonet.org
Darrell.Shandrow@p0.f10.n300.z1.fidonet.org (Darrell Shandrow) (09/05/90)
Index Number: 10122 [This is from the Blink Talk Conference] Hello. I can't agree more with your statement about those commingout of bind schools. I used to attend the blind school here in Arizona through my eighth grade year. Then I decided to go to a public school setting because the academics at the blind school were generally much slower. Plus we had multihandicapped students. I have no problem with those students until they slow down us who can handle well. I had to fight in court to gain the right to attend public highschool and won. I started nineth grade in public school. I am now a senior in public highschool and will be graduating hopefully in the top 3 or 4 percent of my class. I wouldn't have had this motivation at the blind school. Also it should be noted that while in the blind school I had eye surgeries and had to be tought at home for one school and part of another. My mother had to take courses in abacus, braille, and structure and functioning of the eye to help me get a better education. With the home teaching by my mother and a teacher hired through the blind school, i learned more than i could have ever hoped to learn in a school year at the blind school. Also, my mother didn't let the teacher use the same tactics that were used at school. She knew what was going on and kept that teacher properly in line at all times when I was tought. So I'll hopefully make it in good shape and not be noticed as one who was at one time in a blind school. 73 from NU7I -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!300!10.0!Darrell.Shandrow Internet: Darrell.Shandrow@p0.f10.n300.z1.fidonet.org
Gary.Petraccaro@f90.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Gary Petraccaro) (09/05/90)
Index Number: 10126 [This is from the Blink Talk Conference] -> In a message to Liz Campbell <08-22-90 21:16> Stew Bowden wrote: -> -> SB> equal. By -> SB> the time I began to compete in the sighted world, I had the -> SB> tools to -> SB> do the job, and was anxious to meet the challenge. I find What about socialization and what I've always heard called "Blindisms"--rocking, head shaking, etc. Did/do the special schools try to deal with this problem? -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!90!Gary.Petraccaro Internet: Gary.Petraccaro@f90.n129.z1.fidonet.org
Glen.Nielson@f778.n115.z1.fidonet.org (Glen Nielson) (09/05/90)
Index Number: 10127 [This is from the Blink Talk Conference] Howdy I attended both public school and the school for the blind in Utah. For the most part the school for the blind was a very isolated, restricted environment. I was there from 1958 until 1968. The last couple of years I was at the school for the blind, we had a "progressive" principal. I remember things being quite pleasant during this time. Public school was academically superior to the school for the blind. It seems to me that schools for the blind could be great places if they were run like Prep schools ... Like a blink out of Winkdom -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!115!778!Glen.Nielson Internet: Glen.Nielson@f778.n115.z1.fidonet.org
Stew.Bowden@f6.n377.z1.fidonet.org (Stew Bowden) (09/17/90)
Index Number: 10388 [This is from the Blink Talk Conference] Hi Gary: schools for the blind throughout this country have undergone tremendous change in the last ten years. I honestly do not believe that pl94-142 was intended to dessimate schools for the blind, but for the most part, that is exactly what has happened. With a little moderation on all sides, these schools, whihc I happen to believe are vital to meeting the needs of the blind, but not the only schools to do that, would have been saved. Well, as often has been said, that's the price of change and progress. -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!377!6!Stew.Bowden Internet: Stew.Bowden@f6.n377.z1.fidonet.org