ClearSky

When I first contacted VR after high school for help with college, they had a meeting about how to ask for your needs and dealing with VR when in college. In it, they requested interviews with someone who is in your career field of interest.

Well, I did this, which was a waste of time. This is normally supposed to be done before approving to help you with college (supposedly). Well, even though I hated that part, I was trying to comply with this rule. The counselor paid someone to help me with this. I don't think the person they paid had a clue what they were doing. It took so many weeks of no response back and forth. I met two people that were not related to the career field I was curious about. The counselor was on her side. I don't even know the profession of the person she paid for. I felt that the career interviews were just something out of courtsey to comply with. It did not seem mandatory.

I left school because I needed time off.

A year ago, I contacted a VR counselor again who paid a career counselor to help me with finding a good career path for me. In the middle of it, I wanted to do something different because I was feeling about to explode if I didn't go get some type of schooling. The counselor would not pay for it until I did at least 3 interviews. I understood her concern.

I paid for the program myself as it is not college education just some short training. I finished my career counselor meetings and closed my case. I no longer feel the same about what the career counselor and I had discussed regarding the best interest in the field for me. I had some disagreements, but the career counselor felt otherwise. The counselor basically said that it is okay to feel different all the time and change careers.

I worry that this will affect my getting help with VR in the future if I am not interested in the career we had concluded. She has the report. I just cannot help that I feel different. I actually feel I should go in the direction that I originally stated to the VR counselor when I met her. Sometimes counselors just don't trust your way for some reason making you feel more confused.

If you are getting VR help, were you required to make some interviews in your career field of choice before they approved your college expenses?

I think it's ridiculous because I don't think that a career interview will help you know what you will like to do for a living. Hearing people are not forced to do this before going to college, you know?

Deafness

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imdeafsowhat

When I asked for help, they became shady with me. They would find excuses that it's not the right school, not the right education, and the job you want isn't in market or it's very hot and too many people are going for it.

It's gay, yes, being a client of VR. Let me tell you something you should know. You can tell VR no to anything and anytime. You can stay there as long as you'd like to make the VR change their mind cause they can do basically anything, just with restrictions.

Here's an example. Me. I wanted to go to a private institute, but I'm not allowed since it's not a state university or college. But I forced her to make a plan about it, she had to do it and she said there are ways, WAYS, to do things that you want to do. I was smart to stay and convince her.

So you know now, you can bascially force your counselor to bow to you when it comes to your education plan or you can be a freaking brat and stay in there and be quiet until that counselor squirts. Simple. It's like an interrogation, but you have the right to remain silent.

jillio

Doesn't sound as if this VR counselor was doing a proper job. Did they give you any form of career assessments? Was the counselor familiar with deafness? You would do well to request a counselor that is, and you have the right to do so.

You also have the right to appeal their decisions and their advise.

May I ask, was this a state funded VR agency? There are other options.

ClearSky

Thank you. I was thinking of that I could appeal their decision. Thank you. Yes they always always try to offer other ways that are cheaper, short-term education like certificate or vocational school. Did you know I had a deaf counselor tell me that I needed a certain degree of hearing to be in Criminal Justice major ? Whatever happened to deaf can do anything?

ClearSky

Yes, they gave me career assessments and would offer other things through those areas of interests.

I don't know if the last counselor had a clue about deafness. I never asked. The other previous before her had a deaf sibling and knew sign language and about deafness. She wasn't open minded about out of state colleges like RIT.

Before that was a deaf counselor worried about having certain hearing to perform a job.

This was vocational rehabiliatation. Yes, it's state funded.

I think that should I decide to reopen my case, I should ask for a counselor that's familiar with deaf people's needs and appeal their decision if they are against what I ask for. I shouldn't listen to any other suggestions that convenience them.

Thank you guys.

Oddball

Thats so strange that your deaf counselor telling you that you needed a certain degree of hearing to be in CJ major. It does not make sense to me at all. I know some people majoring in CJ at RIT. I am curious. May I ask what state you are living in? If you live in Colorado, then it is out of luck because counselors tend to send Deaf people to low cost effective colleges or universities. I heard that one counselor got fired for sending a client to Gallaudet which it is not allowed in CO DVRS policy.

You have rights to disagree with your counselor, file an appeal. I wish you the best of luck.

imdeafsowhat

Actually, in CJ, deaf are a bit limited, but not severly. You see, she probably meant for you to take up "lip-reading" courses related to CJ for stronger communication. I'm sure you can find some, because not many school provide that kind of thing.

I suggest you to take communication classes, it is somewhat related to hearing as you have to stand in the front of class and communicate with the class. It will help you a lot, especially in an interview.


Beside, counselors are gay. "Power tripping" is their addiction since they know they can do a lot of things. They're just lazy as well.

ClearSky

I don't know what you mean exactly because I read lips really well . He was a oral deaf counselor and needed an interpreter, and I didn't. So I felt confident that I could find something in the CJ field.

I think that my opinion about the CJ field have changed. I think what I was more interested is investigation, which I don't think is part of the CJ major. CJ is more working with criminals, etc. I don't think I want to work with criminals. I was more interested like into office, the paper works and investigation area related to that. No criminals interactions. Employee or other co-workers interaction is okay.

imdeafsowhat

I think that's called Administration Office Something. I know what you're saying, You wanna try some CSI, don't you?

ClearSky

Well, I don't know a lot about the show CSI. I don't watch that stuff. I know it's not like CSI.

I don't want to deal with Administrative support, but I want to be involved with it. Maybe what I wanted is Private Investigator, but there isn't that much of that major available other than online fake certificates. The more I read about Criminal Justice major the less it's about that, but it is more about dealing with criminals.