[blindkid] Need help

Wed Dec 16 17:20:31 UTC 2009

Dear Kim,

This sounds terribly frustrating!  Please do keep us posted.  I hope 
Thursday's meeting goes well.

Debbie

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kim Cunningham" <kim at gulfimagesphoto.com>
To: " (for parents of blind children)NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List" 
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 5:38 PM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Need help

> Debbie,
> You have valid points. Kayleigh and I discussed who would be the 
> appropriate person to help her. Since all of the other girls are also 
> learning the routines at the same time as she is, we thought it should be 
> someone who wasn't in the musical. I asked the case manager to speak with 
> the teacher who is over the dance team at the school. I thought maybe one 
> of them might be interested in getting some volunteer hours that could be 
> credited towards National Honor Society or volunteer hours needed by 
> colleges. I did offer to pick up and take this student home. This option 
> also fell through for us as no one responded to the request. I can't even 
> be certain the case manager met with anyone about it. My husband went one 
> evening and video taped one of the rehearsals thinking that one of us 
> could help, but it was far to confusing for me. Many of the kids were 
> moving in many directions. It is the type of dancing where many people are 
> on the stage moving to various
> locations. In one routine there were about 40 kids on stage with different 
> groups doing little dances and then moving to another location where they 
> would do another dance. It is very confusing and you really need to be on 
> stage with the other kids to keep oriented. I have two left feet and I am 
> totally uncoordinated to boot! Our only option left was for someone to be 
> on stage with her to verbally give her the feedback as to what needed to 
> happen. I feel as though I have exhausted all of my options and can't 
> think of anything else.
> Thank you for you help. I have an ARD scheduled for Thursday, so we'll see 
> what happens then.
> Regards,
> Kim
> --- On Tue, 12/15/09, Deborah Kent Stein <dkent5817 at worldnet.att.net> 
> wrote:
>
>
> From: Deborah Kent Stein <dkent5817 at worldnet.att.net>
> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Need help
> To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)" 
> <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> Date: Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 3:40 PM
>
>
>
>
> Dear Kim,
>
> It makes total sense that you are frustrated with the school, and the 
> choir director in particular. However, it sounds as though time is of the 
> essence, as rehearsals are moving forward and Kayleigh needs desperately 
> to catch up. Is it possible for her to ask a couple of the other dancers 
> to help her outside school? Maybe you could drive her to someone's house 
> for a practice? I'm concerned that more precious time will be lost while 
> the situation is discussed in meetings and the choir director comes up 
> with excuses. Could you watch a rehearsal and try to help Kayleigh at 
> home?
>
> Debbie
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "LESLEY FISCHER" 
> <lesleyfischer at dishmail.net>
> To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)" 
> <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 1:55 PM
> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Need help
>
>
> Kim,
> That is a great letter. She is lucky to have you as her mother. I do think
> that something should have been done a long time ago by the school. You 
> are
> right if they are doing this to her & getting away with it who knows how
> they have & will treat any of the future kids. Keep us posted.
> Lesley
>
> On Tue, Dec 15, 2009 at 10:04 AM, Kim Cunningham 
> <kim at gulfimagesphoto.com>wrote:
>
>> I am having a problem with my daughter's school and I need your help. I
>> have composed the letter below to send to all the school board members as
>> all of my other pleas for help have fell on deaf ears. I would appreciate
>> your opinions on how I should handle this matter. I have done nothing but
>> fight for a equal education all my daughter's life. She is a senior now 
>> and
>> I am at the point where I just want to throw the towel in and say 
>> "whatever
>> - I'm too tired to continue this!". I'm sorry the letter is long, but I
>> needed to state all the facts. My daughter actually gave a speech to the
>> school board two years ago about the problems she has had in receiving an
>> education as a blind student. Of course, this only led to bickering 
>> within
>> the board members and the school lawyer. Not much came of the ordeal....
>> Please give me your feedback...I will not send the letter to the board
>> until I calm down.
>> Regards,
>> Kim Cunningham
>>
>> Dear All,
>>
>> I am so upset right now that I pray I can write a civilized email to
>> everyone. There has been an issue for the past 3 months or so, concerning 
>> my
>> daughter, Kayleigh receiving extra help to learn the dance routines for 
>> the
>> upcoming PHS school musical. Kayleigh tried out and won a part as a 
>> member
>> of a singing and dancing group. Kayleigh was very aware that her dancing
>> part of the audition didn’t go very well, but she was chosen nonetheless.
>> Kayleigh knew from previous small routines done within the choir that she
>> was going to have a hard time "visually" learning the routines since she 
>> is
>> partially blind. Kayleigh is very capable of learning the routines, but 
>> she
>> needs someone to give her more than visual instruction.
>> We all know that Kayleigh is considered "special education" due to her
>> blindness and has IEP's as part of the ARD process. One of Kayleigh's 
>> IEP's
>> has been to advocate her needs. Kayleigh has done this repeatedly with
>> regard to looking for someone who could give her extra instruction to 
>> learn
>> her part. Kayleigh has asked for help from her case manager, Mrs. Harris
>> (numerous emails and conversations), and her choir teacher, Mr. Bready.
>> There have been four or five rehearsals so far and NO ONE has been
>> designated yet to help Kayleigh before, during, or after rehearsals!
>> Kayleigh says she feels "foolish" because she knows she isn't dancing and
>> moving like everyone else. Last week, Kayleigh asked Mr. Bready again for
>> help and was told by Mr. Bready to ask Shannon (a student and
>> choreographer/helper with the musical) to help her. The girls decided to
>> meet on Monday, Dec. 14 prior to the evening’s rehearsal for one on one
>> help. Of course, Shannon was
>> not there after school yesterday and Kayleigh again received no help
>> during rehearsal; however she continued to try to do the best she could.
>> I requested two weeks ago in an email to Mrs. Harris, to have an ARD to
>> discuss how we were going to assist Kayleigh with this problem as 
>> everyone
>> was ignoring both our requests for assistance. I emailed Mr. Bready 
>> asking
>> about Kayleigh getting help, and I also email Mr. Berger (school 
>> principal)
>> requesting assistance with this matter. NO ONE CONTACTED ME ON ANY 
>> ACTION!
>> NO ONE CALLED ME! NO ONE EMAILED ME!
>> Now......now, I find out that the choir director, Mr. Bready had the
>> audacity to say during last night's rehearsal to Charles (the main
>> choreographer). "When are we going to start removing some of the bad
>> dancer's and specifically stated Kayleigh as being a bad dancer. This was
>> told to me by someone who heard this discussion. She is a trusted student
>> who knows my daughter and knows of Kayleigh's troubles in finding
>> help. Thank God, the main choreographer said that he didn't want
>> to pull Kayleigh as he could see she was trying to learn the routine.
>> Ultimately, I don’t know who will have the final say – the choreographer 
>> or
>> the choir director. How can Mr. Bready call himself a teacher? Kayleigh
>> asked him for help and now he wants to punish her for not learning what 
>> she
>> asked help for? This must have crushed Kayleigh as she learned of this as 
>> I
>> was dropping her off to school. What kind of school is Pearland High 
>> School?
>> What kind of message are
>> you sending to my daughter? I am hurt and deeply angered that Kayleigh
>> heard this. She is already self-conscious about her dancing ability. I am
>> sure her spirit is deeply wounded.
>> Kayleigh designed her whole schedule this year around the fact that she
>> wanted an opportunity to be in a musical. This was a goal of hers for the
>> year. She told the entire ARD committee last year of her plans. She tried
>> out for musical and made it. We were so proud of her. Kayleigh is so
>> distraught over the situation that I wished she would have never even 
>> tried.
>> It breaks my heart to see my daughter hurting.
>> I'm not sure what my next step is concerning this matter. I do expect 
>> that
>> a dialog should happen with Kayleigh and let her know if she is a valued
>> part of the musical cast or if she is going to be removed. I don't want 
>> her
>> anguish to continue....
>> Mr. Bready has been mainly non-compliant with Kayleigh's accommodations. 
>> He
>> often forgets to have her work enlarged and gives her no considerations 
>> for
>> her blindness. I enlarge many pieces of music (at my own cost) so she 
>> will
>> be sure to have it. I also paid to have the script printed in large 
>> format
>> and bound, again, so she was sure to have it. Kayleigh's accommodations 
>> are
>> meant for ALL classes. Kayleigh has not wanted me to say anything to Mr.
>> Bready about these issues because she wanted to try on her own and is 
>> afraid
>> that he will hold it against her if I complain. This has moved out of her
>> hands now and into mine as I won't take it any longer.
>> I don’t know if this problem warrants a complaint against Kayleigh’s 
>> right
>> to participate as a student, or if this is a discrimination issue because 
>> of
>> her blindness, or simply a moral issue about attitudes of differently 
>> abled
>> people.
>> I just thought that you should know how my daughter has been treated. If
>> this can happen to my daughter, how many others is this happening to? You
>> are the society that deems her as "disabled" when she is perfectly
>> able......
>> Regards,
>> Kim Cunningham
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> blindkid mailing list
>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> blindkid:
>>
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/lesleyfischer%40dishmail.net
>>
>
>
>
> -- http://oldeenglishbulldogges.webs.com
> _______________________________________________
> blindkid mailing list
> blindkid at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> blindkid:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/dkent5817%40worldnet.att.net
>
> _______________________________________________
> blindkid mailing list
> blindkid at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> blindkid:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/kim%40gulfimagesphoto.com
> _______________________________________________
> blindkid mailing list
> blindkid at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> blindkid:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/dkent5817%40worldnet.att.net
> 