Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Advice for a mentor with a visually impaired mentee (self.Blind)
submitted by cirineo
Hey guys,
I am starting my sophomore year at college and just finished my first day of class as a mentor for a group of incoming freshman who enrolled in a two-week course. There are about 40 kids in the whole class, but they are broken up into 'teams' of 4-5 people and each mentor has two teams.
One of the students in my first team is visually impaired, I do not know the extent of this, or how it happened but I found out after class today (from the instructor) that it is fairly recent (2 years or so) I know that she has to have all of the documents transcribed into Braille, and has special computer software for the rest of the class materials.
I have never worked with anyone that is of a different ability than myself and I am wondering how do I work with her so that she feels as comfortable as possible? All of the other students in the class are fully-abled, so there is no one that she can relate to with this topic.
I dont want to overstep any boundaries with her, or make her feel incompetent but I also want her to know that I am more than happy to help with anything she may need assistance with.
Is it rude/annoying to ask her if she needs help every time the class does something? This morning they were making name tags to put on their desks and I got paper and markers for her. Is this rude to have done? I know that she can do it herself, but it would be easier ( this is also a bad word, what would be a better word to use than 'easier') for me to do it.
The Disability Resource Center at our school has really fucked up too. They were supposed to have all of her materials ready last friday so she would have them in time for the first day of class today, but they didnt have any of them. They also were supposed to send an assistant to attend class with her, but ten minutes before class started the assistant called and said that they would not be able to come so the girl was on her on on her first day of college.
She was the last to leave class today and so it was just her at her desk and then the instructors and mentors up at the front of class and she started crying. My co-mentor went to talk to her, but should I have?
I feel like a baby because I went home and cried about the whole thing, what she must be going through, if i am doing an okay job, if she feels comfortable. Its all very stressful for me so I can not begin to imagine how she feels.
I am meeting up with her in a few hours to read her tonight's readings since she did not get the files from the DRC. Should I bring anything up about her boundaries or what she wants me to help with?
Any advice would be great, this is very important to me.
Thank you
I am starting my sophomore year at college and just finished my first day of class as a mentor for a group of incoming freshman who enrolled in a two-week course. There are about 40 kids in the whole class, but they are broken up into 'teams' of 4-5 people and each mentor has two teams.
One of the students in my first team is visually impaired, I do not know the extent of this, or how it happened but I found out after class today (from the instructor) that it is fairly recent (2 years or so) I know that she has to have all of the documents transcribed into Braille, and has special computer software for the rest of the class materials.
I have never worked with anyone that is of a different ability than myself and I am wondering how do I work with her so that she feels as comfortable as possible? All of the other students in the class are fully-abled, so there is no one that she can relate to with this topic.
I dont want to overstep any boundaries with her, or make her feel incompetent but I also want her to know that I am more than happy to help with anything she may need assistance with.
Is it rude/annoying to ask her if she needs help every time the class does something? This morning they were making name tags to put on their desks and I got paper and markers for her. Is this rude to have done? I know that she can do it herself, but it would be easier ( this is also a bad word, what would be a better word to use than 'easier') for me to do it.
The Disability Resource Center at our school has really fucked up too. They were supposed to have all of her materials ready last friday so she would have them in time for the first day of class today, but they didnt have any of them. They also were supposed to send an assistant to attend class with her, but ten minutes before class started the assistant called and said that they would not be able to come so the girl was on her on on her first day of college.
She was the last to leave class today and so it was just her at her desk and then the instructors and mentors up at the front of class and she started crying. My co-mentor went to talk to her, but should I have?
I feel like a baby because I went home and cried about the whole thing, what she must be going through, if i am doing an okay job, if she feels comfortable. Its all very stressful for me so I can not begin to imagine how she feels.
I am meeting up with her in a few hours to read her tonight's readings since she did not get the files from the DRC. Should I bring anything up about her boundaries or what she wants me to help with?
Any advice would be great, this is very important to me.
Thank you
ryok141 4 points 6y ago
Hi there.
be straight with her.
I don't think that anything could happen if you asked her such questions.
Ask her if she needs help whenever you wanna help her with something and be her friend.
She needs someone that she can trust.
If you see her trying to depend on herself and you see her failing at what she's doing, go and help her by teaching her the right way to do it.
Make her depend on herself because that will help her build her confidence.
Try to include her in groups with other people.
I hope that helps.
be straight with her.
I don't think that anything could happen if you asked her such questions.
Ask her if she needs help whenever you wanna help her with something and be her friend.
She needs someone that she can trust.
If you see her trying to depend on herself and you see her failing at what she's doing, go and help her by teaching her the right way to do it.
Make her depend on herself because that will help her build her confidence.
Try to include her in groups with other people.
I hope that helps.
bondolo 3 points 6y ago
One key is to not be patronizing. Start by asking what the DRC was supposed to be providing. Confirm with her that she believes the DRC accommodation would be adequate and appropriate if provided. Ask her what she feels she needs to succeed. If any part of the accommodation request is unreasonable then be prepared to reject it. Make it clear she can make additional requests or amendments as needed. Do not constantly be offering additional help or monitoring her to a greater degree than the other students.
GuideDogAndHisQueer 1 points 6y ago
Ask her what she needs and if she is OK talking about her visual impairement. She will teach you. Finding the balance between helping and taking over is the key.😎
awesomesaucesaywhat 1 points 6y ago
As an incoming freshman she might be feeling very alone. It's very frustrating when the disability center isn't doing their job properly and it might seem like everything is overwhelming.
If there is something specific you can help with I would suggest you offer, but perhaps it's more important to just care and be supportive right now. She might need someone to vent to, or someone to text with. She probably knows what help she does need help with and if she feels comfortable asking she will.
If there is something specific you can help with I would suggest you offer, but perhaps it's more important to just care and be supportive right now. She might need someone to vent to, or someone to text with. She probably knows what help she does need help with and if she feels comfortable asking she will.
melgarologist 1 points 6y ago
Don't make them feel like you're walking on eggshells, because that's how this post makes me feel(but it's obviously coming from your heart.) Treat them as you'd treat anyone else. Just keep their impairment in mind, and don't try to romanticize it or patronize them.
One of my V.I. students simply says "Sometimes you're my eyes, and sometimes you are my hands. But you're always my friend."
One of my V.I. students simply says "Sometimes you're my eyes, and sometimes you are my hands. But you're always my friend."
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