[blindkid] Getting around school

Mon Jan 26 05:12:56 UTC 2009

I'll think of something! (hasr)

Mike

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Carrie Gilmer" <carrie.gilmer at gmail.com>
To: "'NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)'" 
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2009 6:54 PM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Getting around school

Dear Susan,
I had to chuckle at the memory of once weighing Jordan's Braille volumes 
for
some teachers of blind students. It was all POOR JORDAN has to carry 
those
HEAVY BULKY BRAILLE books...but the CCTV on a cart or heavy large print
would have been okay! So I weighed and yes the volumes he used weighed 
less
than the regular print high school and middle school books of the 
sighted
kids, never mind large print. They stopped making the comments.

But yeah my sighted daughter's bag is heavier or as heavy as Jordan's, 
but
he often carries two bags. BUT as I said she has been carrying 
everything,
we have been working on downsizing her too. Read any general parent 
magazine
and you can likely find an article on heavy backpacks and health it has
become so common. I wanted a rolling backpack for her but in middle 
school
that is NOT cool I guess. I have seen some students at the high school 
use
one. Jordan has special permission to carry a bag because of the 
expensive
technology-since Columbine for security I guess, no middle or high 
school in
our district allows any bags to class either.

And to dear old Mike, my grandfather used to be picked up in the country 
in
Minnesota by a horse drawn wagon and the teacher would have put hot 
bricks
in the wagon and the students would huddle and put their feet on the 
brick
(if it was still warm) and go the miles to school in an open wagon, 
under
thin blankets...sorry Mike I couldn't help myself...smile, you can get 
me
back now.

It sounds like Jason is really coming along-I am excited to see him this
summer! Good job Mom!

Carrie Gilmer, President
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
A Division of the National Federation of the Blind
NFB National Center: 410-659-9314
Home Phone: 763-784-8590
carrie.gilmer at gmail.com
www.nfb.org/nopbc
-----Original Message-----
From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
On
Behalf Of SUSAN POLANSKY
Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2009 6:54 PM
To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Getting around school

Maybe I should not be but I am surprised at the amount of stuff the 
children
must carry. Jason uses a regular book bag and pretty much all that is in 
his
locker is his coat. He has his Braille Note [with a few flash drives in 
the
case], talking dictionary, a slate and stylus, and an accordion file 
type
binder with a section for each class and Braille paper. He periodically
cleans out the binder sorting the work into scrap booking shelves on his
work table at home. Most of his books are kept in each class room, he 
only
places one in his book bag if he has homework in it. I used to keep 
print
copies of all his books at home but have not done that since he went to
Middle School last year although his math book is on line if I need to 
look
at it but mostly he is far ahead of my ability to understand his math. 
His
book bag is heavy and he is the only student in the school who carries 
it
class to class [book bags for some reason not allowed to be
 carried in Middle school but are allowed in High School] but with 
usually
having no more than 1 or 2 Braille books in it at a time it is not any
heavier than the other kids with heavy print volumes. We periodically 
weigh
it and it is usually about 10 lbs.
Susan T. Polansky

________________________________
From: Carlton Anne Cook Walker <carltonwalker at gmail.com>
To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2009 1:47:03 PM
Subject: [blindkid] Getting around school

Hi,

Just thought I'd weigh in on this one. It' been a constant concern for 
me
with my daughter and will become even more of a concern in the future.

First, I heartily echo Carrie's comments. IEPs ARE individualized to the
student for a reason. There is no need for anyone to feel that they will 
be
criticized for having items in the IEP that are individualized to their
child.

That being said, it's also important to keep an open mind -- what may
have been necessary at one time might no loner be necessary. And I 
believe
that we are the watch guards to ensure that our children's IEPs are 
tailored
to their needs -- not too much and not too little.

My daughter, Anna Catherine, is in our local elementary school and must 
use
the staircase 2-6 times per day. At first, the school wanted her to use 
the
elevator instead. We nixed it.

The school's elementary classes travel in packs, but Anna's IEP has a 
goal
that she will remain in the first one-third of the line without prompts 
100%
of the time when moving from class to specials, lunch, etc. Now, I'm 
sure
this doesn't happen all the time, but it serves as a message to the 
school
that we expect Anna Catherine to keep up with the class and to be in the
regular rotation for class "line leader," an honor she was not allowed
before (they just skipped over her).

Now, Anna Catherine does have orthopedic problems with her hips and will
likely be using a wheelchair at least part-time in high school (or maybe 
a
portion of middle school). However, for now, she is expected to preform 
all
gross motor activities of her peers (and takes two dance classes per 
week).
We treat her pain but remember that she needs to meet the same physical
demands as do her classmates -- for as long as she can.

Regarding the issue of a great deal of equipment, when Anna Catherine's
equipment was actually working (it hasn't been for a while, we're having 
a
meeting on Friday), she used a rolling cart to carry it. She did receive
help carrying it down the steps because she is quite small and none of 
her
peers would be expected to be able to manage the cart down the stairs. I
don't know if an older student could manage the cart of equipment and 
the
cane down a set of stairs, but I imagine that many could, with practice.
Also, the rolling cart eases the burden on the student's back so that 
s/he
may walk comfortably upright.

Regarding more/heavier books, you're right, it's unfair. In 
kindergarten,
Anna had an aide pack and unpack her book bag and carry it for her from 
and
to the parking lot.
But we have now determined that relieving Anna of the responsibility of
carrying her own book bag is not the answer.
Anna Catherine's book bag is heavier and bulkier than the book bag of 
any
other child in the school (including the fifth graders).
She must carry her braille reading book volume as well the print version
everyone else has to carry. Her math materials are heavier, and the 
abacus
and tactile clock make her book bag even bulkier. Also, she is smaller 
than
her classmates and has orthopedic problems.
But guess what? She carries her own book bag at all times. Period.
Is it unfair? You bet.
Does she complain it? You bet.
Are we changing it? No.
She is *capable* of taking care of her own coat, book bag, etc. That's 
the
bottom line for us.
Even though these tasks may be harder than what her peers are expected 
to
do, she can do the tasks.

Again, every parent must determine what is best for his/her own child in 
the
child's particular school setting.

Just a few thoughts . . .

Carlton

-- 
Carlton Anne Cook Walker
213 North First Street
McConnellsburg, PA 17233
Voice: 717-485-3383
_______________________________________________
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/sepolansky%40veriz
on.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/carrie.gilmer%40gm
ail.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/k7uij%40panix.com