Blind and Visually Impaired Community
↑
10
↓
Schools for the Blind (self.Blind)
submitted by giveitarestbuddy
I was born blind, and have attended public/mainstream schools my whole life. Because of this, I have no idea what it's like to go to a school for the blind, and am curious to hear the experiences of those who attended one.
If you went to a school for the blind, what was your experience like? did you enjoy it? do you feel like it prepared you for college/getting a job after high school?
If you went to a school for the blind, what was your experience like? did you enjoy it? do you feel like it prepared you for college/getting a job after high school?
preiman790 7 points 4y ago
Some are better than others, but most are not very good at all about preparing students for employment or higher education, most are in fact little more than holding areas where states can put blind students until they’re old enough that it’s not their problem anymore. If The student is lucky during this time they’ll learn some very basic mobility, braille, Technology, and living skills, though they will often have great musical opportunities. The school I went to spend more money on the music department than they did on the computer lab, the library, and the physical education department put together.
There are a few blind schools out there that do care about helping and educating the student, preparing them for life and education but they are very much the exception rather than the rule, however if somebody is lucky enough to attend one of these schools, they do have a chance at a fairly good education well having the added benefit of doing it alongside teachers and other students who understand the difficulties they’re going through, which can be invaluable both during and after their educational years.
The truth is though, that for the vast majority of students who attend blind schools, they’ve been done a great disservice by their parents, and those responsible for their education, including the states that administrate the schools.
There are a few blind schools out there that do care about helping and educating the student, preparing them for life and education but they are very much the exception rather than the rule, however if somebody is lucky enough to attend one of these schools, they do have a chance at a fairly good education well having the added benefit of doing it alongside teachers and other students who understand the difficulties they’re going through, which can be invaluable both during and after their educational years.
The truth is though, that for the vast majority of students who attend blind schools, they’ve been done a great disservice by their parents, and those responsible for their education, including the states that administrate the schools.
giveitarestbuddy [OP] 1 points 4y ago
my initial impression of blind schools wasn't particularly positive, and it's disappointing to see that for most blind schools my impression was correct. it's frustrating that so many kids are getting screwed over by these schools when it could be a great environment for blind kids to be around other people like them. and that's so weird that music programs get so much funding. A well funded music program is great and all, but not if important resources like libraries and computer labs are underfunded.
Anianna 2 points 4y ago
I have questions for you, if you don't mind. In your public school, was there support such as braille training or tools or lessons specific to your needs available to you? I'm curious how your school handled your specific needs.
I live in a state with one blind school and, after my parents were told I would go blind before I was old enough to start school, they were told to find me a blind school instead of putting me in public schools. I ended up not going blind, but I guess I assumed for a long time that all blind kids were not accepted in regular schools based on what my parents had been told. I've recently started a braille transcriber certification course and am learning a lot not only about braille, but also about how blindness can affect people, but I have a lot to learn, I'm sure. I have discovered that braille equipment is expensive and often difficult to acquire and have read that the fact that there is not better infrastructure for braille leads many individuals who may otherwise be capable to choose not to learn it. So I wondered if public schools where blind students attend have access to this sort of infrastructure or if it is even needed.
I live in a state with one blind school and, after my parents were told I would go blind before I was old enough to start school, they were told to find me a blind school instead of putting me in public schools. I ended up not going blind, but I guess I assumed for a long time that all blind kids were not accepted in regular schools based on what my parents had been told. I've recently started a braille transcriber certification course and am learning a lot not only about braille, but also about how blindness can affect people, but I have a lot to learn, I'm sure. I have discovered that braille equipment is expensive and often difficult to acquire and have read that the fact that there is not better infrastructure for braille leads many individuals who may otherwise be capable to choose not to learn it. So I wondered if public schools where blind students attend have access to this sort of infrastructure or if it is even needed.
giveitarestbuddy [OP] 1 points 4y ago
no problem! I live in a city, so while I was always the only blind kid in school there were usually another couple blind kids in the school district. this probably helped, as I'm sure if I was the only blind student in the district it would've been much harder to get things like Braille/O&M lessons.
I started learning Braille when I was 4/5, and up until high school had at least 1 Braille lesson each week during school hours. I have some remaining vision left, so I would just use enlarged print and assistive technology instead of Braille for school work. I never really had any access issues, except on one or two occasions where I didn't get enlarged materials in time for an assignment or things like that. Overall I'd say my schools did pretty well with ensuring that I had access to things I needed.
You're not entirely wrong about public schools being unaccepting of blind kids though. My parents were also repeatedly told to put me in a blind school, and I know my mom had issues when it was time to register me for school because they kept insisting that I couldn't be in mainstream classes even though I tested 2-3 grade levels ahead. (and this was a while after laws like the ADA were passed, so it was definitely illegal). Blind students can definitely attend and do well in public schools, but there are still unfortunately a lot of people who think we can't achiieve as much as sighted people can.
I started learning Braille when I was 4/5, and up until high school had at least 1 Braille lesson each week during school hours. I have some remaining vision left, so I would just use enlarged print and assistive technology instead of Braille for school work. I never really had any access issues, except on one or two occasions where I didn't get enlarged materials in time for an assignment or things like that. Overall I'd say my schools did pretty well with ensuring that I had access to things I needed.
You're not entirely wrong about public schools being unaccepting of blind kids though. My parents were also repeatedly told to put me in a blind school, and I know my mom had issues when it was time to register me for school because they kept insisting that I couldn't be in mainstream classes even though I tested 2-3 grade levels ahead. (and this was a while after laws like the ADA were passed, so it was definitely illegal). Blind students can definitely attend and do well in public schools, but there are still unfortunately a lot of people who think we can't achiieve as much as sighted people can.
Anianna 2 points 4y ago
Thank you. I'm glad you had a pretty positive experience in regards to support from your school.
Silverottawa 2 points 4y ago
I know 7 people that went strictly to a blind school and they are very one way thinking about blindness and are a little extremist about making everything 100% blind friendly all the time. I know 10 others that did public/private non blind schools and they seem more open and willing to work with companies/people to strive towards full accessibility.These are just my observations. I am a LV guy who went to a rural school of 130 kids grades 6-12 with 0% supports.
retrolental_morose 2 points 4y ago
I work at a school for the blind, being blind myself and coming from a mainstream background (I don't think I actually met another blind person until my late teens).
I was astonished at the stuff that wasn't being covered. IT, which is my field, was a bit of file management and word processing. The fact that I shop, bank, borrow books and magazines online, that I use technology for everything from independent travel to reading and managing my correspondence, and basically that computers or phones have impacted so far into my day-to-day existence has changed the IT landscape for some of the students I work with.
I was astonished at the stuff that wasn't being covered. IT, which is my field, was a bit of file management and word processing. The fact that I shop, bank, borrow books and magazines online, that I use technology for everything from independent travel to reading and managing my correspondence, and basically that computers or phones have impacted so far into my day-to-day existence has changed the IT landscape for some of the students I work with.
giveitarestbuddy [OP] 1 points 4y ago
that's awesome that you're helping your students realize that they can do tons of things independently online! I can't believe they were only teaching word processing and file management before you started there, they did a huge disservice to those students.
blindnessandbees 2 points 4y ago
I currently attend a school for the blind and visually impaired after two years of mainstream school. It has its pros and cons. Not constantly having to fight for accessibility is great, and generally all teachers are really nice and understanding. How ever, it sucks to not feel “normal”. I don’t feel at all like we are babied at my school but it can kind od create a warped world view when you are always around people who understand disability
This nonprofit website is run by volunteers.
Please contribute if you can. Thank you!
Our mission is to provide everyone with access to large-
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
©2023 HumbleCat Inc • HumbleCat is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Michigan, USA.