Hi Justin,
While I generally concur with just about everything you?ve stated here, I would caution against overestimating the openness to be found among staff and administrators at the Carroll Center. New England is also steeped in tradition and this center is firmly rooted in the visual-centric sight saving training approach. I was the first NOMC hired in Virginia after the agency changed their policy to accept our certification and I can tell you, it was anything but a smooth and seamless process. It was the NFB of Virginia under the legendary leadership of Dr. Fred Schroeder who convinced the then commissioner to make the policy change. I believe it to be the most advisable route to take in regards to the Mass Commission. I believe that our approach is sorely needed there, as well, but I would recommend any NOMC candidate approach it with eyes wide open, so to say, as change is neither almost never easy nor smooth. Personally speaking, one of the most exciting elements of our training model is in our natural role as change agents but I also realize that it is not always the most comfortable role for everyone. It requires a considerable measure of diplomacy, humility, braun, and principled confidence.
It?s high time that it be done, however.
Cheers,
Maurice
From: NOMC [mailto:nomc-bounces at lists.nbpcb.org] On Behalf Of Justin Salisbury
Sent: Tuesday, August 22, 2017 3:40 AM
To: Edward Bell <ebell at pdrib.com>; 'Jane Lansaw' <cordlesslansaw at yahoo.com>
Cc: 'NOMC List' <nomc at lists.nbpcb.org>
Subject: Re: [Nomc] FW: [CambridgeChapter] Carroll Center Job Posting
Hi everybody,
I am a 2006 and 2007 graduate of the Carroll Center (years before I went to training in Louisiana), and I applied for jobs with them once I had earned my NOMC and master?s degree from Louisiana Tech. I thought they might be interested in hiring alumni, but they were unwilling to consider the NOMC and certainly not impressed by the degree from a no-name school in Louisiana. Ironically, it was my mobility instructor at the Carroll Center, Heather Platt, who first told me that blind people could do just about any job, even teach mobility. At the time, I thought it was crazy to think that a blind person could teach mobility, but she held strong and told me that it was totally possible.
I agree with the notion that it may not be the most philosophically open environment for an NOMC instructor to enter; however, intellectual engagement, expectations of productivity, and authentic communication are core components of New England culture. I am sure that those can be used effectively in our favor if we can just get talented people in positions. I really do hope that the Carroll Center can change, and I think that we need to keep trying to get our people in there. New England is a black hole for Structured Discovery, but the blind consumers there need it just as much as anybody else. I encourage us all as a community of practice to keep trying to create opportunities to educate the practitioners under the vision-centered approach. I ought to try to write something for the alumni newsletter about what I?m doing now, teaching cane travel in Hawaii.
Over the years, I have had many conversations with John Oliveira, Deputy Commissioner at the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, about the value that Structured Discovery Cane Travel can bring to Massachusetts. He has consistently told me that both models of teaching are legitimate and valuable and that the only reason that NOMC instructors are not on staff in Massachusetts is because they are not applying.
I know it?s easier said than done, but the AER people at the Carroll Center are our friends, just not yet properly educated.
Aloha,
Justin
Justin M. Salisbury, MA, NOMC, NCRTB, NCUEB
Legislative Committee Chair
Honolulu Chapter
National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii
Email: President at Alumni.ECU.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-salisbury
?Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.?
William Butler Yeats
From: NOMC [mailto:nomc-bounces at lists.nbpcb.org] On Behalf Of Edward Bell
Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2017 4:37 AM
To: 'Jane Lansaw' <cordlesslansaw at yahoo.com>
Cc: 'NOMC List' <nomc at lists.nbpcb.org>
Subject: Re: [Nomc] FW: [CambridgeChapter] Carroll Center Job Posting
Thank you Jane,
In nine out of ten times, the state is not recognizing NOMC simply because no one has ever asked them to recognize NOMC. If the Carroll folks wanted to hire NOMC I am sure they would be allowed to hire NOMC.
On the other hand,if they conveyed to you that they dislike, distrust, or would never hire an NOMC then I will be sure not to post any information from them in the future.
Edward C. Bell, Ph.D., CRC, NOMC
Director, Professional Development and Research
Institute on Blindness
Louisiana Tech University
210 Woodard Hall
PO Box 3158
Ruston LA 71272
Office: 318.257.4554 Fax: 318.257.2259 (Fax) Skype: edwardbell2010
ebell at latech.edu www.pdrib.comhttp://www.pdrib.com
**************************************************************
"I am somehow less interested in the weight and convolutions of Einstein's brain than in the near certainty that people of equal talent have lived and died in cotton fields and sweatshops."
-- Stephen Jay Gould
From: Jane Lansaw [mailto:cordlesslansaw at yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2017 8:55 AM
To: Edward Bell >
Cc: NOMC List >; ncueb at lists.nbpcb.org
Subject: Re: [Nomc] FW: [CambridgeChapter] Carroll Center Job Posting
Good morning Dr. Bell and fellow Federationists,
On Wednesday, August 9, I attended a meeting where representatives from the Carroll Center came to Oklahoma to market their center to our staff. They openly admitted that they do not accept the NOMC certification for orientation and mobility instructors. They said that this was true because they are governed by the state of Massachusetts and the state rehabilitation agency doesn't recognize our certification. Just wanted to give you folks a heads up.
from the world's smallest keyboard.
On Aug 14, 2017, at 10:17 AM, Edward Bell > wrote:
Subject: [CambridgeChapter] Carroll Center Job Posting
THE CARROLL CENTER FOR THE BLIND
TECHNOLOGY SKILLS INSTRUCTOR
(full or part-time)
We seek a Technology Skills Instructor to work with students who range in age from 14 ? 90 and teach a wide variety of nonvisual skills related to accessible means for personal computer use, smartphone use, notetaking techniques, Braille, paper/digital record keeping skills as well as approaches for accessing print. The Technology Skills Instructor will evaluate students? progress, make recommendations and present at department meetings. The Department uses a team-based approach, where all instructors collaborate closely across training disciplines of the Vision Rehab Staff and work together to best support consumer skill development and emotional adjustment to vision loss.
Qualifications: Successful candidate must have a Bachelor?s Degree combined with a minimum of two years? experience working with blind/visually impaired adults and teaching current Windows OS, Microsoft Office products, typing, smartphones & notetaking techniques, paper/digital record keeping skills as well as approaches for accessing print. Experience teaching Braille and Apple computer operating systems a plus. Must be energetic, creative, and enthusiastic as well as possess excellent oral/written skills and be a team player.
We offer a generous benefits package and are an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Qualified applicants kindly submit a cover letter and resume to jobs at carroll.org
770 Centre Street
Newton, MA 02458
www.carroll.orghttp://www.carroll.org
_______________________________________________
NOMC mailing list
NOMC at lists.nbpcb.org
http://lists.nbpcb.org/listinfo.cgi/nomc-nbpcb.org
