Hello and welcome to another edition of Interviews to Empower. We’re so glad you are with us today. This month’s interviewee worked at the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind for thirty years. Her advice is applicable whether you have a disability or not, and her experiences will give you a smile and encourage you to keep going. Come with us as we introduce to you, Mrs. Robin Ayers.
Q: What made you decide to work with students who are blind or visually impaired?
A: A position came open, and I was the only one on campus who could fill it. I was asked/talked into taking it.
Q: Some folks give strange looks when we say “Home EC”. Did they call it that when you were the teacher?
A: By the time I took the position in 2000, the name had changed to Family and Consumer Sciences.
Q: What changes did you notice over the years in what types of things you taught?
A: The basics of clothing construction and meal prep became less the focus as more emphasis was placed on nutrition, family management, and careers. Essentially, the focus seemed to shift from teaching mostly in-home tasks to including more outside the home needs.
Q: What were some of the challenges of teaching children who could not see like you?
A: 1. Remembering to walk in each student's shoes to determine his/her needs and how to teach them
2. Placing enough labels in Braille around the classroom
3. Giving directions more accurately. For example, telling someone that something is to "the right of the doorway" rather than "over there"
Q: What were some high points during your time at the school for the blind?
A: Omigoodness. Senior dinners prepared by the kids for their selected guests, Preparation for the Superintendent's Tea/Open House, which started in November, successful meals prepared and served by ProStart students, a totally blind student learning to use a paring knife safely, another student trying to bake his pizza upside down on the oven rack, construction of individual pillows sewn by hand, production of nutritious goodies to stock the school store
Q: What advice would you give to new teachers of the visually impaired just coming out of college?
A: Get to know your students well. Craft your lessons meet their individual needs as much as possible. Focus on what the CAN do rather than what they CANT do, and focus on those strengths.
Q: What advice would you give to parents or caregivers of children who are blind concerning home economics or daily living skills?
A: They should be expected to take care of their own needs just like any other kid. Just adapt the environment so it makes that possible. This old thing of "if she just sits in the chair all day and behaves herself is all that's expected" is bullhockey! Parents doing everything for the child just doesn't cut it. Those parents will not likely be around forever and that child, who is then an adult, better be able to fend for himself! One of my biggest fears was that some situation would occur where the parents couldn't get to the kid, like a flood or snowstorm, and the child would just sit there and starve to death!
Q: Finally, what advice would you give to students today?
A: Learn to do as much as possible for yourself. People aren't always going to be around to help you.
Robin, thank you so much for allowing us to interview you. We truly enjoyed reading your answers. And, thank you, faithful readers for being with us today. Remember, we’re still on Facebook, so come over to facebook.com/adkinsandwells/ and join the discussion.
Note: Beginning today, Sept. 28, 2017, we will no longer be posting once a week. Instead, we will be posting entries on the second and fourth Thursdays of every month. If you have a question you would like us to address, contact us via the blog or send an email to adkinsandwells@gmail.com and put “question” in the subject line. If you know of an individual that you would like us to interview, someone who will encourage those of us who are blind or visually impaired, let us know. As always, be encouraged to try new things and never let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. Have a fantastic weekend, and we’ll see you back here on Oct. 12.
Blessings.
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