[blindkid] Seeking National Science Olympiad Advice

[DrV]

Cool!
I passed the into on to Vejas (it was a long math, social studies, english 
night) - he was very excited to learn that Jordan participated in these.
We will check out the other events for next year.
Thanks
Eric V

----- 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: Monday, March 02, 2009 19:13
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Seeking National Science Olympiad Advice


> Hey Eric,
> Congratulations to Vejas! I love the new use for the cane too!
> One never knows...huge grin.
>
> Jordan was in Science Olympiad his sophomore and junior years. He did
> geology-rocks and minerals. This I believe he downloaded info and studied
> online and also he practiced a lot identifying samples at school. Mostly 
> he
> had to have a lot of head knowledge. Planning ahead and requesting some
> things be Brailled. Sighted assistance if needed for color identification,
> he had superior touch identification and the scratch test.
>
> He also did the airplane/flight one. There you have to build your own
> airplane-very hands on and detail in tactile skills. It was from a 
> specific
> kit of basic materials (the same for everyone)and had to be very very to 
> the
> letter on what you could and could not use. Directions on "how-to" can be
> brailled, some sighted assistance in some diagramed instructions read. 
> Again
> it was mostly head knowledge and skill in the building and determining
> aerodynamics and weight.
>
> The third category was electronic circuits. There a talking volt meter I
> think...same thing though. But Curtis Willouby spent a couple hours 
> talking
> to him once for advice. He had tactile real circuits to work with from the
> electronics dept. at school-got electronics book to study in Braille. 
> Again
> it was mostly head knowledge. You can tell them far in advance too, right
> away if you have the science teacher  contact about anything the 
> competition
> date that needs to be brailled or allow a reader--they will work with you 
> we
> found.
>
> A lot of what he did I do not know too so I will ask him. Also I think he
> was part of a team for something else but can't recall what. He did not do
> so hot in any of the competitions-his particular science teacher was very
> laid back too-he was not about winning he was about the kids doing it
> themselves. And Jordan TOTALLY did. It was a great lesson on preparation,
> time management and study skills and research way beyond anything about
> science. He also just really enjoyed it and had a lot of fun. This year he
> decided to be a reporter/photographer on the school newspaper staff 
> instead.
>
>
>
> 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 DrV
> Sent: Monday, March 02, 2009 6:22 PM
> To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)
> Subject: [blindkid] Seeking National Science Olympiad Advice
>
> Hi Everyone,
>
> Vejas participated as part of his Middle School Team in our regional 
> Science
>
> Olympiad
>
> http://soinc.org/short_event_descriptions#write.
>
> He did the trajectory with his friend & they did well. He & his team are
> moving on to the State Finals in April :-)
>
> My question is that most of the events seem pretty visually oriented & not
> particularly accessible, at least from what I raed on them.
>
> I did not have a chance to actually see most of the events as they were
> scattered around the university campus.
>
> Have any of you kids or students participated in the Science Olympiad & if
> so do you have any pearls of advice?
>
> Is there another event that you might suggest as well that would be
> accessible to a blind studnet?
>
>
>
> As a side note, we discovered a new creative use for the NFB cane. When we
> got there, it turns out that to launch the catapult, the participants' 
> whole
>
> body had to be behind the boxed off area. Since their catapult, like a
> number of others, had a side release that presented a bit of a problem. On
> the spot creative solution: as the launching pin was attached to a string,
> they tied that to the end of Vejas long white cane. Fortunately the cane 
> was
>
> long enough that he could knee behind the boxed off area & then snap his
> cane to the right, pulling out the pin -> they hit the targets on each of
> the allotted 4 tries :-)
>
>
>
> I look forward to any insights you may have to offer.
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Eric V
>
>
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