[Jobs] computers and college

[David Evans]

Dear Michel,

Here is something else to know about your rehab rights.
Back in the early 1990's, the NFB helped to get the Freedom of Choice 
Amendment passed to the Rehab Act of 1973.
This says that you, when dealing with your state's department of blind 
services, can choose where you wish to go for your rehab training, even out 
of state.
If you do not like the quality of training that your state rehab center can 
offer, then you are free to go to the center that does have the quality of 
training you are after.
Your state is only required to pay up to the same amount for that out of 
state training as they normally pay for in state training.  You might have 
to pay the difference, but most times you don't.
This is just one of your options in rehab training.
I can tell you that the blind students who come out of an NFB training 
center are the best and are changed, I think, for the better and for life.
AS for technology.
The NFB has a 3% loan program for the purchase of equipment.  You just have 
to show that you have the ability to re-pay the loan back.
There are also personal grants that can be found and used to buy your own 
equipment too.  I know because I have done it multiple times.

Be sure that you have good skills before you go to college and you will have 
no problem.  You will have to learn to manage your own readers, take your 
own notes in class.   Also how and who to use in taking test.
Talk to your profs and see how receptive they are to you and your needs. 
Also check out the college's office of students with disabilities.  Some are 
good and some are not.
You need to be in charge of yourself in college and not the office of 
students with disabilities.
If you get any feeling that anyone is not cooperating with you, document 
everything right away.  If it persists, file a complaint with the college, 
then federal office of equal opportunity.

Let me know if I can help in any other way.

No, I won't adopt you.

David Evans, NFBF
Nuclear/Aerospace Materials Engineer
Builder of the Lunar Rovers and the F-117 Stealth Fighter
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dick Davis" <ddavis at blindinc.org>
To: "'Jobs for the Blind'" <jobs at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2006 10:04 AM
Subject: Re: [Jobs] computers and college


> Dear Michel,
>
> When I read this, I was concerned about the many fears you expressed.  It
> looks like you have not had training at one of our NFB centers.  If you
> don't know about them, there is one in Minneapolis, BLIND, Inc., one in
> Ruston, LA, the Louisiana Center for the Blind, and one in Denver, the
> Colorado Center for the Blind.  Training at one of them will build up your
> skills and self-confidence and teach you how to deal with college.
>
> Too many blind people assume that getting a degree in a good field will 
> get
> them a good job.  However, if you go through college lacking confidence,
> there are things that you won't try yourself, and things from which others
> will excuse you because of your blindness. In other words, it is not just
> getting through college, but how you get through it that is important.
>
> Now is a good time to enter one of our centers.  If you already have some
> training, one of our centers will strengthen your skills and build up your
> self-confidence.  Excellent blindness skills and self-confidence are the
> real things that will ultimately get you the job you want. In our center, 
> we
> work a lot with people on college survival skills and job seeking skills 
> to
> build up your skills and confidence.
>
> If you are interested in learning more about us, our website is
> www.blindinc.org.  My e-mail is ddavis at blindinc.org, and my phone is
> 612-872-0100.  Shawn Mayo is our director, so you can talk to her or to Al
> Spooner who handles our outreach by calling the same number.
>
> Off the top of my head, I cannot remember the URL's for the other two
> centers, but if you type "Louisiana Center for the Blind" and "Colorado
> Center for the Blind" into a search engine, you will get there.  The
> addresses are also on our national site, nfb.org.  They are excellent
> centers, and you should consider them too.
>
> Dick Davis
> Assistant Director for Employment Programs
> BLIND, Inc.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: jobs-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:jobs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf 
> Of
> Michel
> Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 11:14 PM
> To: jobs at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [Jobs] computers and college
>
> Hello,
> my name is Michel. I am about to go ahead and start college. I am afraid 
> of
> so many things. My main fear is getting around campus. Another fear is not
> being able to keep up. My passion is computers. I am a computer genius to 
> my
> family and a computer dummy when talking to computer experts. I want to 
> get
> a bachelor's degree in computer engineering. I was told that this is one 
> of
> the highest paying job in the computer field. I would really like to hear
> from anyone who has went to school for computers that is blind. I  would
> also like to hear from anyone that is totally blind like myself for advice
> and technology that is used to do their jobs. I really ` this web site and
> with everyone's help folks will be calling me Mr. Microsoft in no time!
> Thank you so so much for your time and support!
>
>
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