@cachondo I wish I was surprised, but I'm not...

I find a lot of our VI students struggle with email and organisational skills. Many can't read deeply or fast enough to keep up. Many say "but I'm blind, I can't work that well/fast" cos aspirations are low and they haven't seen what a well trained and competent blind person can achieve with the right support and skills development. They don't get role modelling.

@cachondo @matt
Can I just clarify terms here? Does notetaker mean something like the BrailleNote or all-in-one tech machine or something else?

I also know the term used for a human notetaker which is one of the few things still funded by government for disabled uni students who are deaf or blind and are useful for high density uni info sometimes.

@cachondo @matt Thanks for clarifying, I realised it had a dual meaning.

I can absolutely see the value of notetaker devices but they are expensive and as you say not decently powered or especially good value for money.

Most of my students just want to use iPads or iPhones for everything, and part of that is lack of awareness/belief in the power of anything else. iThings are great but they aren't a whole solution for uni or employment level work.

@cachondo they get overwhelmed. I think we need to carve out time somewhere for skills development and ensure that is provided with plenty of trainers and supporters who can cheerlead, support and guide users where needed.

I often try to share 'success stories' not just Mr Top CEO, but people like Lucy Edwards a young UK activist who talks about how she learned to use a screenreader, gradually speeding up and that it was a longish process both practically and emotionally. /2

@cachondo

Talking to my blinded colleague was always interesting cos he described UK charities like RNIB and Guide Dogs as being historically very patronising. At one Guide Dog training week in the 90s, he wasn't permitted to make himself hot drinks because it was deemed unsafe. I wonder how much of UK stuff at least is still pervaded with fear of sighted people overriding blind people's opportunities for independence and confidence to take risks.

@cachondo I shall have to redact my swearing, cos that's atrocious.

Infantilising and it's no wonder they come to my uni age 18-19 and can't do basic adulting. Some setups have young blind folk moving from no-kettles into their own flat months later and we wonder why they can't function cos we've not given them a gradual learning curve to life skills and how to make choices to maximise capacity and energy.

I'm sure we'd heatedly agree on many of these things.