hello everyone,
I would like to add on to this matter.
speaking as a student I think we should not forget the students in
universities when talking about assistants.
in my opinion having a student assistant while in university is
important and it should be made an accommodation.
from my own experience in school I have two readers/ scribes who help
me in my math, economics and finance classes and any other classes
that might need someone to read out anything on the board, describe
graphs or pictures and scribe my exams.
most of the time they are graduate students who have taken the course
and passed.
this students are paid by the school and most of them are on work study.
as we continue advancing access within disability remember we are not
only making ourselves adapt to the mainstream world but also making
the mainstream world accessible to us -- and such accomodations from
an early time such as in school can go a long way in helping us, the
young ones, fulfill our potentials.
such accomodations as having a scribe/reader and getting good
orientation and mobility training around campus can be very helpful.
for students I would imagine having a guide can be a bit too intruding
as we sometimes have "personal matters" to tend to and plus the
mobility around campus helps us improve our networking ability and
confidence.
as we consider those in the job sector we should also remember the
students also.
I hope what I have outlined makes sense. again as everyone has pointed
out I do not think training is required as such but the competency
matters....
yes you can criticize my input have a grhrhrhrhrrheeaat day everyone!!!!
On 4/17/16, Dr. K I Laibuta <laibuta@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Sam, you are right.
In my previous appointment, my two assistants were University graduates, one
of them being a lawyer. The nature of work demanded just that. The guide was
a driver, and the personal skills and attributes of the guide depended on
the tips I gave him as to what I required of him. In my current office, I
require no less of a Diploma holder, a person conversant with library
research in addition to being a proficient reader.
I have been in discussion with Lawrence on this matter and it would appear
that an average Form 4 certificate holder is for all practical purposes
semi-illiterate, particularly the men who could double up as a driver. While
basic training helps in very general terms, I can assure you that the rest
depends on you, the caliber of the person you get and your specific
needs.You can train someone to be a good guide in a couple of hours, but you
can't train them to be good readers or task executors otherwise than on job.
Those are my personal views, which might not necessarily match those of
others.
Dr. K I Laibuta
Advocate of the High Court of Kenya
Chartered Arbitrator and Mediator
P.O.Box 6455-00300
NAIROBI
Cell:0722521708; 0788344111
Email:kilaibuta@xxxxxxxxx
-----Original Message-----
From: sopvid-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:sopvid-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Samuel Kabue
Sent: Saturday, April 16, 2016 9:31 PM
To: sopvid@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [sopvid] Re: Discussion on guides and personal assistants for the
VI
Dear Stanley and all,
I agree with you that the personal assistant one has will either hinder
or enhance the performance of a person with visual impairment. However, I do
not think that training is the key issue as this kind of work very much
depends on both the attitude and the qualification of the individual
personal assistant. Attitude may be changed on the job where possible but
the other factor is what needs attendtion. Every job calls for specific
qualification and the type and level of the job held by the person who needs
assistance is a major factor in choosing the personal assistant. If you
teach in Primary school, an average form four person with the necessary
drive should be able to help you. However, If your job entails marking
scripts from the University students or making presentation in which you
need specialized computer skills like preparing power points or excel sheets
, an average form four assistnat wil find a lot of challenges in helping
you. If you are a member of Parliament or a Commisioner in one of the
constitutional Commision, your assistant should be a person who is able to
go to the library and cary out research to enhance your knowledge base and
to keep you abreast with your expected role. If you are a social worker or
an administrator, this research role may equally apply. At times, your
personal assistant may play other roles like driving in addition to the
professional roles if there is no room for such. This bring to question the
Sarah Selem level of remuneration for personal assistnats which does not
make this ddistinction. She seem to have taken the role of guiding as the
most important but my argument is that the professional level of the
assistnat need to be such that consideration is made for the other roles at
professional level such an assistnat will be required to play. As for the
training, each principal should be able to train their personal assistnat in
accordance with their expectation. These are my views but I am open to
challenges and criticism.
Sam.
-----Original Message-----
From: sopvid-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:sopvid-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Stan Mutuma
Sent: Saturday, April 16, 2016 3:49 PM
To: sopvid <sopvid@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [sopvid] Discussion on guides and personal assistants for the VI
Dear SOPVID fraternity,
I trust you have been well and Our Dear Lord has kept you in good health
and spirits Kindly find the attached on going discussion regarding the
issue of
guides and personal assistants for the VI.
Kindly go through the attached document and give your input.
With kind regards and best wishes,
Stan
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