Comments on: Lions World Services for the Blind http://gentlewit.com/2009/08/13/lions-world-services-for-the-blind/ personal website of Cyndy Otty — blogging on achromatopsia, guide dogs, and life Tue, 22 May 2012 16:32:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Cyndy Otty http://gentlewit.com/2009/08/13/lions-world-services-for-the-blind/comment-page-1/#comment-2602 Wed, 26 Jan 2011 20:17:00 +0000 http://gentlewit.com/?p=710#comment-2602 Hi Josh, welcome to my little corner of the web.

Unfortunately, I can’t really answer any of your questions. My experience with LWSB that I wrote about in this post may give you some insight, but it has been almost five years since I was at the school. I don’t have contact with any staff and so I’m not privy to any of their current policies. My best suggestion would be to contact the school directly and speak with someone directly; I would think a staff person in admissions would be a good start.

I wish you the best of luck and if you do decide to go to Lions World I sincerely hope you have a far better experience than I did.

]]> By: Josh Kennedy http://gentlewit.com/2009/08/13/lions-world-services-for-the-blind/comment-page-1/#comment-2600 Wed, 26 Jan 2011 02:35:50 +0000 http://gentlewit.com/?p=710#comment-2600 Hi, my name is Josh Kenedy and I am considering going to Lions world. I have a few questions. Do I have to have a college degree to get a job in the desktop support technician program? I am also a graduate of the colorado center for the blind. Will I have the freedom to take the bus somewhere if I want to? Can I go to church on Sundays? When in the cafeteria since I am totally blind can I get my own drink? Can I order out if I want to?

]]> By: Kyle Kiper http://gentlewit.com/2009/08/13/lions-world-services-for-the-blind/comment-page-1/#comment-904 Sat, 02 Jan 2010 21:27:34 +0000 http://gentlewit.com/?p=710#comment-904 Cyndy, This is a horrible story. I’m so sorry that you had this experience at LWSB. I’m one of the new directors, hired, from across the country by the new CEO, to help restructure the entire process and experience in this 62 year old organization. Most of us come from State/Federal Rehabilitation Agencies and several of us are Blind or Visually Impaired ourselves. Thank you for sharing your experience, even though it is not something enjoyable to remember. We need to know these things so we can better work to repair the past negatives, rebuild what should be, and bring the center into the 21st Century where we want it. Thank you again for sharing Cyndy.
Kyle Kiper

]]> By: Cyndy Otty http://gentlewit.com/2009/08/13/lions-world-services-for-the-blind/comment-page-1/#comment-680 Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:17:49 +0000 http://gentlewit.com/?p=710#comment-680 Aside from the dismissal, the experience wasn’t any more or less different than anyone else’s. I think they have no respect for their students — and the events of my dismissal are the most extreme proof of that I have. It’s very unsettling.

]]> By: Cyndy Otty http://gentlewit.com/2009/08/13/lions-world-services-for-the-blind/comment-page-1/#comment-679 Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:13:27 +0000 http://gentlewit.com/?p=710#comment-679 After the whole thing my counselor said that they weren’t sending anyone else down there. But as a state, I know that isn’t true since there was a student that was still in a program there after I left from Long Island. And, as I said, the Albany office has someone there right now. But from what I’ve heard he’s having a pretty sucky time himself and might leave before he completes his training.

Much as I hope the new administration helps make things better, I think the school is basically a lost cause at this point. One of its major flaws is it’s stuck in the past and refuses to adopt a more modern approach. Which, I’ve learned, is a common flaw to varying degrees with many similar programs. Heck even some guide dog schools have this particular issue.

]]> By: Cyndy Otty http://gentlewit.com/2009/08/13/lions-world-services-for-the-blind/comment-page-1/#comment-678 Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:10:14 +0000 http://gentlewit.com/?p=710#comment-678 I’d never heard of the school before then, but yeah I’ve yet to hear much in the way of praise since.

When you coming to Albany?!

]]> By: Cyndy Otty http://gentlewit.com/2009/08/13/lions-world-services-for-the-blind/comment-page-1/#comment-677 Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:09:38 +0000 http://gentlewit.com/?p=710#comment-677 The thing that stands out in my mind to this day is the efficency with which they treated me when they dismissed me. It leads me to believe they’d done exactly this before. And the few stories I’ve heard since have definitely proven this true. It’s pretty awful.

]]> By: Alexis http://gentlewit.com/2009/08/13/lions-world-services-for-the-blind/comment-page-1/#comment-675 Thu, 13 Aug 2009 22:19:04 +0000 http://gentlewit.com/?p=710#comment-675 Oh mhy goodness. What a horrid experience! My experience was bad, but yours definitely tops this. I won’t even get into my horrid experience there.

]]> By: caninespirit http://gentlewit.com/2009/08/13/lions-world-services-for-the-blind/comment-page-1/#comment-674 Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:01:30 +0000 http://gentlewit.com/?p=710#comment-674 Yee gads. I’ve heard similar horror stories and even the VR counselors in MO won’t send people to AR. They send to i think the NFB center in LA.

]]> By: Nancy http://gentlewit.com/2009/08/13/lions-world-services-for-the-blind/comment-page-1/#comment-673 Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:18:12 +0000 http://gentlewit.com/?p=710#comment-673 Wow! I’ve heard horror stories about this place so your story just confirms it. I’m sorry this happened to you!! Talk soon!

]]> By: Liz http://gentlewit.com/2009/08/13/lions-world-services-for-the-blind/comment-page-1/#comment-672 Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:40:53 +0000 http://gentlewit.com/?p=710#comment-672 Holy…crap! I mean, wow! Seriously! That’s rediculus! I’m…I don’t even know. Good grief! I’m sorry that happened, that’s nuts!

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