[blindkid] blindkid Digest, School evaluation
L W
mama2sally at yahoo.com
Fri Mar 13 22:04:00 UTC 2009
Hi all.
Just wondering when you get an evaluation or assessment done to determine what goes into an IEP & what school are required -- does it HAVE to be done 1st by the school district? I would like to get an independent one done from the get go when we move to our new district -- Carroll County Maryland.
Thanks,
Lauren
mama2sally at yahoo.com
--- On Fri, 3/13/09, blindkid-request at nfbnet.org <blindkid-request at nfbnet.org> wrote:
From: blindkid-request at nfbnet.org <blindkid-request at nfbnet.org>
Subject: blindkid Digest, Vol 59, Issue 14
To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
Date: Friday, March 13, 2009, 1:00 PM
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Today's Topics:
1. Re: Putting pressure on the school district (Carrie Gilmer)
2. Re: [nfb-talk] Interesting heartbreaking stroy from Tampa
Florida (Debby B)
3. Re: Putting pressure on the school district (Carrie Gilmer)
4. Re: braille - prebraille (Kathy B)
5. New Jersey TVI problems (Carlton Anne Cook Walker)
6. Braille Note and Smart Board (Brad/Jill Weatherd)
7. Re: Putting pressure on the school district (holly miller)
8. Re: braille - prebraille (holly miller)
9. Fw: [Nfbf-l] Blind man faces attacker in court from the St.
Pete Times 3/12/09 (Debby B)
10. Re: Braille Note and Smart Board (Jessica Trask)
11. Re: Braille Note and Smart Board (Robert Jaquiss)
12. Re: Fw: [Nfbf-l] Blind man faces attacker in court from the
St. Pete Times 3/12/09 (Dr. S. Merchant)
13. Re: Fw: [Nfbf-l] Blind man faces attacker in court from the
St. Pete Times 3/12/09 (Dr. S. Merchant)
14. Re: Braille Note and Smart Board (Bonnie Lucas)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 08:36:11 -0500
From: "Carrie Gilmer" <carrie.gilmer at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Putting pressure on the school district
To: "'NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, \(for parents of blind
children\)'" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Message-ID: <49b90fcd.85c2f10a.5350.28e2 at mx.google.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Very good documenting Holly, non threatening but holding them accountable,
and a good start lets hope they react appropriately and it is the last such
letter and you do not need to take it to the next level.
I am sending vibes through the phone lines-smile.
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 holly miller
Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 10:19 AM
To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Putting pressure on the school district
Ok, this is the letter I just sent to the district caseworker, cc'ing the
sp-ed director and school superintendent.
Wonder how long before the phone rings?
Dear Dr. M,
As you know, at Hank's October 1, 2008 IEP meeting I requested that Hank
receive
Braille instruction. As of today's date, Hank is still not receiving
Braille
instruction as is required by law.
On February 18, 2009 a meeting was held at my request to discuss my concerns
that Hank had not been receiving instruction in Braille as well as the
issues
with additional assistive equipment and staff training that was needed but
had
not been provided. At said meeting it was agreed upon that Ms. S TVI
would provide the information regarding starting Hank on Braille instruction
within two weeks of said meeting. This coincided with Hank's Annual IEP
review
meeting scheduled for March 3, 2009.
Unfortunately, due to the weather the District had to cancel the March 3rd
meeting. In response to my email on March 11, Ms. D informed me that a
new date had not been determined yet. Hank's IEP review due date is April
2,
the meeting will be scheduled sometime prior to that date.
Even though the meeting was canceled, I am assuming Ms. S has provided
the District with the necessary information and that instruction in Braille
can
be started immediately. If I am wrong in my assumption, please contact me
immediately.
Please place a copy of this letter in Hank's permanent file.
Sincerely,
Holly Miller
hard copy to follow
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ail.com
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 07:51:36 -0700 (PDT)
From: Debby B <bwbddl at yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [blindkid] [nfb-talk] Interesting heartbreaking stroy
from Tampa Florida
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, \(for parents of blind
children\)"
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Message-ID: <864869.72670.qm at web90507.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Mike, I too was trouble by the "defenseless" comment. Kris is
certainly NOT defenseless! He is quite capable and trained. I think the other
guy left with more bruises than Kris sustained. Unfortunately, news reporters
always leave out that part. I am glad they finally brought this guy to trial and
that he got a stiff sentence, along with community service. Hopefully he will
come away with a better perspective of the blind, and more empathy for all
people.
Debby
bwbddl at yahoo.com
www.nfbflorida.org/parents
Please support Braille literacy and programs for our youth by sponsoring me in
the Motor City March for Independence! Better yet, join the team of the FL
Parents of Blind Children!
http://www.marchforindependence.org/goto/debbyb
________________________________
From: Michael Bullis <mabullis at hotmail.com>
To: NFB Talk Mailing List <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>; blindkid at nfbnet.org
Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2009 7:29:27 AM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] [nfb-talk] Interesting heartbreaking stroy from Tampa
Florida
I am troubled by the Judge's conclusion that this man is one of the most
defenseless in our society. Why don't more blind people get some self
defense?
Mike Bullis
-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Jessica Trask
Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 6:55 PM
To: blindkid at nfbnet.org; nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nfb-talk] Interesting heartbreaking stroy from Tampa Florida
This article was brought to my attention by a friend of mine through
his status update on facebook.
http://tinyurl.com/c553be
--
Jessica Trask
www. samobile.net/users/jess28
Facebook Jessica Trask
Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network. Visit
www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere.
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------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 08:36:11 -0500
From: "Carrie Gilmer" <carrie.gilmer at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Putting pressure on the school district
To: "'NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, \(for parents of blind
children\)'" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Message-ID: <49b90fcd.85c2f10a.5350.28e2 at mx.google.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Very good documenting Holly, non threatening but holding them accountable,
and a good start lets hope they react appropriately and it is the last such
letter and you do not need to take it to the next level.
I am sending vibes through the phone lines-smile.
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 holly miller
Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 10:19 AM
To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Putting pressure on the school district
Ok, this is the letter I just sent to the district caseworker, cc'ing the
sp-ed director and school superintendent.
Wonder how long before the phone rings?
Dear Dr. M,
As you know, at Hank's October 1, 2008 IEP meeting I requested that Hank
receive
Braille instruction. As of today's date, Hank is still not receiving
Braille
instruction as is required by law.
On February 18, 2009 a meeting was held at my request to discuss my concerns
that Hank had not been receiving instruction in Braille as well as the
issues
with additional assistive equipment and staff training that was needed but
had
not been provided. At said meeting it was agreed upon that Ms. S TVI
would provide the information regarding starting Hank on Braille instruction
within two weeks of said meeting. This coincided with Hank's Annual IEP
review
meeting scheduled for March 3, 2009.
Unfortunately, due to the weather the District had to cancel the March 3rd
meeting. In response to my email on March 11, Ms. D informed me that a
new date had not been determined yet. Hank's IEP review due date is April
2,
the meeting will be scheduled sometime prior to that date.
Even though the meeting was canceled, I am assuming Ms. S has provided
the District with the necessary information and that instruction in Braille
can
be started immediately. If I am wrong in my assumption, please contact me
immediately.
Please place a copy of this letter in Hank's permanent file.
Sincerely,
Holly Miller
hard copy to follow
_______________________________________________
blindkid mailing list
blindkid at nfbnet.org
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ail.com
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 10:06:15 -0700 (PDT)
From: Kathy B <burgawicki at yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [blindkid] braille - prebraille
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, \(for parents of blind
children\)"
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Message-ID: <9350.41323.qm at web45810.mail.sp1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Jan,
My daughter is three and we are just starting to learn our braille letters.
Your ideas are great. I think my flashcards will made out of pudding and my
braille cells will be peanutbutter cups. Yummy!!! I can't wait to get
started!!!
Kathy
________________________________
From: Jan Wright <jan.wrightfamily5 at gmail.com>
To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
Sent: Sunday, March 8, 2009 10:52:25 PM
Subject: [blindkid] braille - prebraille
Also some more book sources include:
www.seedlings.org
and I believe that the Braille super store also has some books to buy.
You can even find them on ebay.
I know, I have looked.
the concept of Prebraille is certainly a good idea and could easily be done in
the home.
If you feel that the small braille dots are too fine, you might want to start
with pegs or something larger.
This would help with fine motor skills also and he could easily place pegs in
holes and you tell him when he has a letter made.
Actually, I did this with my sighted children, also.
Of course, they did not feel them, but looked at the patterns.
Some of my friends reported that they liked those old-fashioned "light
brights," for that very reason. The pegs could be like braille.
But, sometimes, I would do "braille on their back," (just like people
draw on each other's backs) and they had to guess the letters.
We even made it to whole word guessing games. And, you could do this in the
dark, in the car, wherever.
I think that there is now braille on all of those store bought magnetic letters
that are quite large.
And, who doesn't like a bit of food for learning.
In this way, braille is easier than even print to make.
M&Ms, peanuts, -- just about anything can be used to make patterned braille
dots.
Guess the letter, eat the item!
OK, too much of that and you might have to incorporate a physical activity
program as well.
Thinking optumistically; a program that incorporates mobility and physical
exercise is good for the child, anyway.
And, when their braille skills increase, you could have a treasure hunt which
could incorporate all three.
(smile)
Jan
"Bonds of the Heart should never be broken!"
"Dil kay rishton kay bandhan kabhi naheen tootnay chahiay hain!" --
Urdu translation
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------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:08:23 -0400
From: Carlton Anne Cook Walker <carltonwalker at gmail.com>
Subject: [blindkid] New Jersey TVI problems
To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
Message-ID:
<aa85e5850903121308i30d105c4nc819402ce0d62160 at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Sorry for the title, but here I was in Pennsylvania thinking Jersey has it
right. Their system is certainly better than ours, but there are too many
flaws in all of the systems, it appears.
First, although I am an attorney, PLEASE DO NOT CONSIDER ANY INFORMATION IN
THIS E-MAIL LEGAL ADVICE. IT IS NOT!!! For legal advice, you need to see a
licensed attorney in the state in which you live -- preferably one who has
experience in this field. I know a couple of New Jersey Special Education
attorneys -- please contact me if you need a referral.
Second, I am fighting off a nasty cold/flu (which my sweet daughter was kind
enough to share with me), so I apologize if I am less-than-lucid, but here
goes . . .
Carrie had some great ideas. Personally, I prefer the first tack --
document EVERYTHING and toss the ball back in their court. In addition to
keeping a copy of the letter consider either (1) sending it certified mail,
return receipt requested ($5.32) or (2) hand-delivering it and having the
recipient -- receptionist, whoever -- sign a receipt for the letter. The
receipt can either be a separate sheet of paper OR your own copy, onto which
the individual writes a short note such as, "I, Ashley Smith, have
received
a copy of this document on Friday, March 13, 2009. Signed, Ashley
Smith."
Send a copy of the letter to the school district's solicitor, as well. You
can likely find out the identity of this individual form the school district
office. Often, when a school district is in such a level of non-compliance,
getting the solicitor in the loop can be very helpful for you. (It really
can never hurt. If they have a bad solicitor, nothing's going to change
that. If they have a good one, the individual will tell them to start
following the law. Either way, your "history" letter will likely
wind up on
the desk of the solicitor anyway. Why not make sure that YOU'RE the one
who
put it there?)
Also, add to your letter this wonderful little phrase, "Compensatory
education." "Compensatory education" is a (usually)
court-ordered remedy of
(usually) money to compensate for education not received. However, (at
least in this region), it is not only the value of the lost services. It is
the value of the services required to make-up for the loss of the services.
For an 8 year old, it might actually take 9 months of services to make up
for 5 months lost. As you can see, this is a fairly muddy area of law --
essentially, it's up to the judge. This fact scares the dickens out of
most
school district solicitors. That's why -- even though you might not be
contemplating due process right now -- the use of the term, "Compensatory
education" can be quite useful.
In the meeting, bring up the NEED for Extended School Year (ESY) services
for your son. Come next Fall, he will necessarily be behind his classmates
in braille (because he doesn't know it yet). He definitely needs ESY
services in the summer (and even now, before- and/or after-school) to give
him a fighting chance. (In effect, it can be a form of non-court-ordered
compensatory education.)
Additionally, make certain that any teacher of braille is qualified to do
so. Ask the individual if she is NCLB (National Certification in Literary
Braille) certified. If not, ask her how many academic braille readers she
teaches, both now and in the past 5 years. If there are any, ask how many
are on grade level. It will probably be fairly obvious (to everyone,
including your school officials) fairly quickly if this individual is not
really qualified to teach braille to an academic student.
Again, I apologize if I have been less-than-clear or have missed major
things. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions and/or
concerns.
Take care,
Carlton
--
Carlton Anne Cook Walker
213 North First Street
McConnellsburg, PA 17233
Voice: 717-485-3383
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:51:25 -0600
From: "Brad/Jill Weatherd" <snowedin at union-tel.com>
Subject: [blindkid] Braille Note and Smart Board
To: <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Message-ID: <000f01c9a365$127d8490$37788db0$@com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Debby,
Sorry, I don't know how to connect the mPower to a computer! It does bring
up another question I have, though. Does anyone know how to connect a
Braille Note to a Smart Board? Jill
------------------------------
Message: 7
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:41:05 -0500
From: holly miller <hollym12 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Putting pressure on the school district
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)"
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Message-ID:
<7d85dc6d0903121841i24ec3c05p61056fe17af3d680 at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
I have to apologize, things are changing before I can even come here and
respond to all the wonderful responses I'm getting!!!
I am reading it all & absorbing, I promise!
This seems to be a Jersey thing maybe?? Our TVI is not a district employee,
she works for the state COB and the district contracts the COB to provide
all vision related evaluations & services.
I did get a response to my letter yesterday and unfortunately, yesterdays
letter seems to be far from the last letter needed :::sigh:::
Yesterday brought a brief email response from the sp.ed director saying they
did sign a new (higher level of service) contract with the COB and braille
will be provided. His district caseworker would contact me shortly with
the how much & whens.
Ok, step in the right direction. I know better than to get too excited but
at least it's in writing that Braille will be provided.
Today district caseworker calls, starts out by telling me his anual IEP
review has been rescheduled for 3/26. Then she informs me the TVI will meet
with Hank & the teachers on 3/19 to "go over things" and figure
out when to
fit braille instruction into his schedule. I ask what level of braille will
be taught and how much instruction time is planned? Pre-braille program,
45 min once a week (he's 8 yrs old, 2nd grade, no cognitive delays)
She goes on to inform me that the TVI has ordered a Franklin Talking
Dictionary, a Victor audio book player and the TVI will review the 3rd grade
text books to see what will need to be enlarged for next year. I asked her
what Braille supplies/equipment has been ordered. She doesn't see any
listed.
And we're off to the races.
I stayed calm & collected but I told her that this is not acceptable. I had
told her (verbally) on two other occasions in the last 3 weeks that I knew
this is what the TVI would be offering and she needed to be aware I was not
going to find it acceptable nor would I sign off on an IEP that did not
provide appropriate Braille instruction. Yet for some reason, she was
surprised I was not pleased with today's news.
Long story short, she kept saying the TVI is the expert, the district can
only go by TVI's recomendation, there is a COB protocol that must be
followed, I (the mother) can't possible say this won't work without
even
trying it, he won't be receiving pre-braille services forever, it's
just a
short term starting place and he'll move on to the next level of service at
a specified time (of course when asked what that specified length of time
was, it wasn't actually specified)
All unnaceptable and I told her so. It boils down to appropriate services
are supposed to be decided by the IEP team as a whole, not arbitrarily made
by the TVI. I am a member of the IEP team yet this decision was made and
implemented without me.
Not to mention that I have no idea what/if any braille related goals have
been developed because none of this is written into his IEP because um...we
didn't *have an IEP meeting to amend his IEP to include braille* His
current working IEP (written 4/08) does not even have the word Braille in it
anywhere. Part my fault for allowing that to happen, but this time last
year I still didn't fully understand the need for Braille and was trusting
the professionals to tell *me* if Hank needed it or not. Now I know
better...
Case worker is at a loss, she has to speak with the sp-ed director and she
imagines we'll have to have a meeting just to discuss this issue (ya
think??? ) aside from the regular IEP review.
So. I am in the process of writing another letter to memorialize today's
phone conversation. I have gotten excellent advice to not just doccument
these conversations/meetings in my own file but to send special services a
letter written along the lines of meeting minutes (factual recounting of
events, not emotional/opinion based and not bringing up new issues) and
state I want a copy placed in his permanent file. Theory being they have to
either accept it (so they can't say 6 months down the road "That was
never
said!") or they have to respond to the letter with their version of events
(which I can counter in writing if necessary). Either way, it's
doccumented
in the official file and can be used if it goes to arbitration/due process.
Next is a 2nd letter listing my official "parent concerns" to be
included in
the IEP doccument (another thing I didn't know I could/should do until
now).
I'm not sure of the ettiquite of this list, I'm more than happy to
post
the letters as I send them if it will be helpful for other parents fighting
the fight. If it is too much detail though I don't want to bog things
down.
Holly
pass the excedrin
On Thu, Mar 12, 2009 at 8:36 AM, Carrie Gilmer
<carrie.gilmer at gmail.com>wrote:
> Very good documenting Holly, non threatening but holding them accountable,
> and a good start lets hope they react appropriately and it is the last
such
> letter and you do not need to take it to the next level.
>
> I am sending vibes through the phone lines-smile.
>
>
> Carrie Gilmer, President
> National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
>
------------------------------
Message: 8
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:11:04 -0500
From: holly miller <hollym12 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [blindkid] braille - prebraille
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)"
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Message-ID:
<7d85dc6d0903121411t6673379fr595bd47d0563ccd2 at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Not as tasty, but a friend used 6 hole muffin tins and ping pong balls
Holly
On Thu, Mar 12, 2009 at 12:06 PM, Kathy B <burgawicki at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Jan,
> My daughter is three and we are just starting to learn our braille
letters.
> Your ideas are great. I think my flashcards will made out of pudding and
> my braille cells will be peanutbutter cups. Yummy!!! I can't wait to
get
> started!!!
>
> Kathy
>
>
------------------------------
Message: 9
Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 03:52:20 -0700 (PDT)
From: Debby B <bwbddl at yahoo.com>
Subject: [blindkid] Fw: [Nfbf-l] Blind man faces attacker in court
from the St. Pete Times 3/12/09
To: Multiple recipients of NFBnet BlindKid Mailing List
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Message-ID: <925019.7280.qm at web90501.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Here is another article about the case in Tampa.
Debby
Blind man faces attacker in court
Kris Scheppe says he wanted justice and to tell the world: We are not
vulnerable.
BY BEN MONTGOMERY
Times Staff Writer
TAMPA ? Kris Scheppe, a blind man who doesn?t need your help, wanted to
see justice served.
So on Wednesday he climbed off a Greyhound bus downtown, tapped his cane
on concrete and walked to the County Courthouse, to Courtroom 11, to a seat
beside a Hillsborough assis?tant state attorney.
The defendant, 17-year-old Michael Watts, stood before him, in an orange
jumpsuit and shackles, biting his lip.
Watts? mother spoke to the judge: ?He?s a very respectful child,? she
said. ?I just want my son home.?
Then his brother: ?He is a good brother. He keeps us in line when we act
up.?
Then Watts himself: ?All I ask for is just one more chance.?
Did he deserve another chance?
Scheppe looked toward Watts, who grew up in Central Park Village, a
pub?lic housing project, with his mother and five younger siblings. He had
been waiting for this.
Nearly two years ago, Scheppe was on his way to the National Federation of
the Blind state convention when he
asked a man for directions to the bus stop. The man punched him in the
head, dragged him to the ground, kicked him and took his belongings.
His cane. His phone. His duffel bag, and with it his clothes, cash and
digital camera.
Then the bandit fled, clutching a bag containing $190 that was meant to
pay for a pizza party for blind children.
He did not know Kris Scheppe was a power lifter and a sailor, or that the
29-year-old from Fort Myers has retinitis pigmentosa, an inherited eye
disease that left him with no peripheral vision but central vision just good
enough to pick out the kid from a photo lineup.
Nor, we must assume, did he think the police would track the first phone
call he made from the stolen cell to his mother, a mere 57 seconds after the
attack.
Confronted with these facts, Watts pleaded guilty to robbery by sudden
snatching with force and adult abuse and faced up to five years in prison
and five years? probation. Scheppe felt this was merited, that it would send
a mes?sage for him and for blind people everywhere: We?re not vulnerable. ?I
would really like to see jus?tice done,? Scheppe told the judge. ?I would
really like to see him get five years in prison.?
The judge turned to Watts and asked him if he wished to address Scheppe.
?All I got to say is, I mean, I?m sorry for whoever did it to you,? he
said.
Circuit Judge Daniel H. Sleet cut him off. ?You?re sitting here telling
this court that you did not beat up this young man??
?I?m just let?ting him know that I?m sor?ry for whoever did that to him,?
Watts said. The judge re?viewed Watts? record. A 2005 battery charge. A 2006
charge of possession of a firearm by a minor. The 2007 ar?rest for the
attack on Scheppe. And 2008 charges ? while Watts was out on bail ? of
resisting a police officer and assault.
?I don?t believe you want to change your life,? the judge said.
?This is egregious. This is despicable.?
The judge sentenced Watts to five years in prison and five years on
probation. He demanded that Watts spend 250 hours in service to his
community and that 150 of those hours be spent working for the Florida
Division of Blind Ser?vices.
Watts? mother ran from the courtroom wailing. His stepfa?ther and brothers
followed her.
Bailiffs escorted Watts out a back door. Television cameras crowded around
Scheppe.
What did he think of the ver?dict? What message did it send? Did this
change him?
?Blindness is just a bit of a hin?drance that makes you do things
different,? he said. ?I can?t let it stop me from doing things. If I live in
fear, it?s just going to keep me back.?
He told them that he has begun to trust people again and that it was nice
to see justice served and that his next goal is to board a sailboat alone
and cir?cumnavigate the globe.
David Gardner, a University of Florida journalism student, contributed to
this report. Ben Montgomery can be reached at bmontgomery at sptimes.com.
WILLIEJ.ALLENJR. | Times
Kris Scheppe, left, gets a hug from friend Dave Williams after the man who
attacked him two years ago got five years in prison on Wednesday. Scheppe is
legally blind.
------------------------------
Message: 10
Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 07:50:47 -0400
From: Jessica Trask <jess28 at samobile.net>
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Braille Note and Smart Board
To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
Message-ID: <20090313115047.26656.30551 at web3.serotek.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii";
format="flowed"
Debby and all,
The BrailleNote connects to the computer through a serial cable what
you might need to do is take the BrailleNote with you to Radio Shack or
another electronics store because I'm not sure if it's a a female to
female cable or a male to male cable. I know that because my fiancee
uses a BrailleNote. However I don't know how it would connect to the
smart board or if it's even possible for it to do so.
--
Jessica Trask
www. samobile.net/users/jess28
Facebook Jessica Trask
Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network. Visit
www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere.
------------------------------
Message: 11
Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 08:46:08 -0500
From: "Robert Jaquiss" <rjaquiss at earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Braille Note and Smart Board
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, \(for parents of blind
children\)"
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Message-ID: <C180FA6D51E6496D9ED0FBEFAC1FB06C at D3DTZP41>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=response
Hello Colleagues:
The serial connector on the BrailleNote is a 9 pin mail. The cable that
comes with a BrailleNote is a 9 pin female to 9 pin female. It is possible
to buy cables in various configurations and adapters to go from 9 pin to the
older 25 pin serial connectors. Hope this helps.
Robert
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jessica Trask" <jess28 at samobile.net>
To: <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, March 13, 2009 6:50 AM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Braille Note and Smart Board
> Debby and all,
> The BrailleNote connects to the computer through a serial cable what you
> might need to do is take the BrailleNote with you to Radio Shack or
> another electronics store because I'm not sure if it's a a female
to
> female cable or a male to male cable. I know that because my fiancee uses
> a BrailleNote. However I don't know how it would connect to the smart
> board or if it's even possible for it to do so.
>
> --
> Jessica Trask
> www. samobile.net/users/jess28
> Facebook Jessica Trask
>
> Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network. Visit
> www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere.
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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/rjaquiss%40earthlink.net
------------------------------
Message: 12
Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 08:49:05 -0500
From: "Dr. S. Merchant" <smerchant at vetmed.lsu.edu>
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Fw: [Nfbf-l] Blind man faces attacker in court
from the St. Pete Times 3/12/09
To: "'NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, \(for parents of blind
children\)'" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Message-ID: <001401c9a3e2$79633150$6c2993f0$@lsu.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
Now this is a good article!
-----Original Message-----
From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Debby B
Sent: Friday, March 13, 2009 5:52 AM
To: Multiple recipients of NFBnet BlindKid Mailing List
Subject: [blindkid] Fw: [Nfbf-l] Blind man faces attacker in court from the St.
Pete Times 3/12/09
Here is another article about the case in Tampa.
Debby
Blind man faces attacker in court
Kris Scheppe says he wanted justice and to tell the world: We are not
vulnerable.
BY BEN MONTGOMERY
Times Staff Writer
TAMPA ? Kris Scheppe, a blind man who doesn?t need your help, wanted to
see justice served.
So on Wednesday he climbed off a Greyhound bus downtown, tapped his cane
on concrete and walked to the County Courthouse, to Courtroom 11, to a seat
beside a Hillsborough assis?tant state attorney.
The defendant, 17-year-old Michael Watts, stood before him, in an orange
jumpsuit and shackles, biting his lip.
Watts? mother spoke to the judge: ?He?s a very respectful child,? she
said. ?I just want my son home.?
Then his brother: ?He is a good brother. He keeps us in line when we act
up.?
Then Watts himself: ?All I ask for is just one more chance.?
Did he deserve another chance?
Scheppe looked toward Watts, who grew up in Central Park Village, a
pub?lic housing project, with his mother and five younger siblings. He had
been waiting for this.
Nearly two years ago, Scheppe was on his way to the National Federation of
the Blind state convention when he
asked a man for directions to the bus stop. The man punched him in the
head, dragged him to the ground, kicked him and took his belongings.
His cane. His phone. His duffel bag, and with it his clothes, cash and
digital camera.
Then the bandit fled, clutching a bag containing $190 that was meant to
pay for a pizza party for blind children.
He did not know Kris Scheppe was a power lifter and a sailor, or that the
29-year-old from Fort Myers has retinitis pigmentosa, an inherited eye
disease that left him with no peripheral vision but central vision just good
enough to pick out the kid from a photo lineup.
Nor, we must assume, did he think the police would track the first phone
call he made from the stolen cell to his mother, a mere 57 seconds after the
attack.
Confronted with these facts, Watts pleaded guilty to robbery by sudden
snatching with force and adult abuse and faced up to five years in prison
and five years? probation. Scheppe felt this was merited, that it would send
a mes?sage for him and for blind people everywhere: We?re not vulnerable. ?I
would really like to see jus?tice done,? Scheppe told the judge. ?I would
really like to see him get five years in prison.?
The judge turned to Watts and asked him if he wished to address Scheppe.
?All I got to say is, I mean, I?m sorry for whoever did it to you,? he
said.
Circuit Judge Daniel H. Sleet cut him off. ?You?re sitting here telling
this court that you did not beat up this young man??
?I?m just let?ting him know that I?m sor?ry for whoever did that to him,?
Watts said. The judge re?viewed Watts? record. A 2005 battery charge. A 2006
charge of possession of a firearm by a minor. The 2007 ar?rest for the
attack on Scheppe. And 2008 charges ? while Watts was out on bail ? of
resisting a police officer and assault.
?I don?t believe you want to change your life,? the judge said.
?This is egregious. This is despicable.?
The judge sentenced Watts to five years in prison and five years on
probation. He demanded that Watts spend 250 hours in service to his
community and that 150 of those hours be spent working for the Florida
Division of Blind Ser?vices.
Watts? mother ran from the courtroom wailing. His stepfa?ther and brothers
followed her.
Bailiffs escorted Watts out a back door. Television cameras crowded around
Scheppe.
What did he think of the ver?dict? What message did it send? Did this
change him?
?Blindness is just a bit of a hin?drance that makes you do things
different,? he said. ?I can?t let it stop me from doing things. If I live in
fear, it?s just going to keep me back.?
He told them that he has begun to trust people again and that it was nice
to see justice served and that his next goal is to board a sailboat alone
and cir?cumnavigate the globe.
David Gardner, a University of Florida journalism student, contributed to
this report. Ben Montgomery can be reached at bmontgomery at sptimes.com.
WILLIEJ.ALLENJR. | Times
Kris Scheppe, left, gets a hug from friend Dave Williams after the man who
attacked him two years ago got five years in prison on Wednesday. Scheppe is
legally blind.
_______________________________________________
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/smerchant%40mail.vetmed.lsu.edu
------------------------------
Message: 13
Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 08:59:21 -0500
From: "Dr. S. Merchant" <smerchant at vetmed.lsu.edu>
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Fw: [Nfbf-l] Blind man faces attacker in court
from the St. Pete Times 3/12/09
To: "'NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, \(for parents of blind
children\)'" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Message-ID: <001a01c9a3e3$e88ae450$b9a0acf0$@lsu.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
I just send the man who wrote the article an email thank you note for this
follow up and for not portraying Kris as a helpless blind person. Perhaps other
people could also send a thank you or some other type of note, so that we can
continue to fight the media portrayal of the helpless blind.
Just a thought.
Sandy Taboada
PS - Thanks Debby for sharing and for the author's email address
-----Original Message-----
From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Debby B
Sent: Friday, March 13, 2009 5:52 AM
To: Multiple recipients of NFBnet BlindKid Mailing List
Subject: [blindkid] Fw: [Nfbf-l] Blind man faces attacker in court from the St.
Pete Times 3/12/09
Here is another article about the case in Tampa.
Debby
Blind man faces attacker in court
Kris Scheppe says he wanted justice and to tell the world: We are not
vulnerable.
BY BEN MONTGOMERY
Times Staff Writer
TAMPA ? Kris Scheppe, a blind man who doesn?t need your help, wanted to
see justice served.
So on Wednesday he climbed off a Greyhound bus downtown, tapped his cane
on concrete and walked to the County Courthouse, to Courtroom 11, to a seat
beside a Hillsborough assis?tant state attorney.
The defendant, 17-year-old Michael Watts, stood before him, in an orange
jumpsuit and shackles, biting his lip.
Watts? mother spoke to the judge: ?He?s a very respectful child,? she
said. ?I just want my son home.?
Then his brother: ?He is a good brother. He keeps us in line when we act
up.?
Then Watts himself: ?All I ask for is just one more chance.?
Did he deserve another chance?
Scheppe looked toward Watts, who grew up in Central Park Village, a
pub?lic housing project, with his mother and five younger siblings. He had
been waiting for this.
Nearly two years ago, Scheppe was on his way to the National Federation of
the Blind state convention when he
asked a man for directions to the bus stop. The man punched him in the
head, dragged him to the ground, kicked him and took his belongings.
His cane. His phone. His duffel bag, and with it his clothes, cash and
digital camera.
Then the bandit fled, clutching a bag containing $190 that was meant to
pay for a pizza party for blind children.
He did not know Kris Scheppe was a power lifter and a sailor, or that the
29-year-old from Fort Myers has retinitis pigmentosa, an inherited eye
disease that left him with no peripheral vision but central vision just good
enough to pick out the kid from a photo lineup.
Nor, we must assume, did he think the police would track the first phone
call he made from the stolen cell to his mother, a mere 57 seconds after the
attack.
Confronted with these facts, Watts pleaded guilty to robbery by sudden
snatching with force and adult abuse and faced up to five years in prison
and five years? probation. Scheppe felt this was merited, that it would send
a mes?sage for him and for blind people everywhere: We?re not vulnerable. ?I
would really like to see jus?tice done,? Scheppe told the judge. ?I would
really like to see him get five years in prison.?
The judge turned to Watts and asked him if he wished to address Scheppe.
?All I got to say is, I mean, I?m sorry for whoever did it to you,? he
said.
Circuit Judge Daniel H. Sleet cut him off. ?You?re sitting here telling
this court that you did not beat up this young man??
?I?m just let?ting him know that I?m sor?ry for whoever did that to him,?
Watts said. The judge re?viewed Watts? record. A 2005 battery charge. A 2006
charge of possession of a firearm by a minor. The 2007 ar?rest for the
attack on Scheppe. And 2008 charges ? while Watts was out on bail ? of
resisting a police officer and assault.
?I don?t believe you want to change your life,? the judge said.
?This is egregious. This is despicable.?
The judge sentenced Watts to five years in prison and five years on
probation. He demanded that Watts spend 250 hours in service to his
community and that 150 of those hours be spent working for the Florida
Division of Blind Ser?vices.
Watts? mother ran from the courtroom wailing. His stepfa?ther and brothers
followed her.
Bailiffs escorted Watts out a back door. Television cameras crowded around
Scheppe.
What did he think of the ver?dict? What message did it send? Did this
change him?
?Blindness is just a bit of a hin?drance that makes you do things
different,? he said. ?I can?t let it stop me from doing things. If I live in
fear, it?s just going to keep me back.?
He told them that he has begun to trust people again and that it was nice
to see justice served and that his next goal is to board a sailboat alone
and cir?cumnavigate the globe.
David Gardner, a University of Florida journalism student, contributed to
this report. Ben Montgomery can be reached at bmontgomery at sptimes.com.
WILLIEJ.ALLENJR. | Times
Kris Scheppe, left, gets a hug from friend Dave Williams after the man who
attacked him two years ago got five years in prison on Wednesday. Scheppe is
legally blind.
_______________________________________________
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/smerchant%40vetmed.lsu.edu
------------------------------
Message: 14
Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:29:45 -0400
From: "Bonnie Lucas" <lucas.bonnie at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Braille Note and Smart Board
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, \(for parents of blind
children\)"
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Message-ID: <F0F3529F13694BC58C202F286E7EC5E2 at Lucas1>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
Hello everyone,
We finally hooked Aubrie's BrailleNote up to the computer. It was pretty
exciting. We just installed "Keyview" from the Keysoft CD and then
found the
right cord in the bunch that comes with the BrailleNote. We had a computer
savvy person here so we will need to try it again ourselves. I believe that
it would be just as easy to hook it up to a light board as well.
Bonnie
----- Original Message -----
From: "Brad/Jill Weatherd" <snowedin at union-tel.com>
To: <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2009 6:51 PM
Subject: [blindkid] Braille Note and Smart Board
> Debby,
>
> Sorry, I don't know how to connect the mPower to a computer! It does
> bring
> up another question I have, though. Does anyone know how to connect a
> Braille Note to a Smart Board? Jill
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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/lucas.bonnie%40gmail.com
------------------------------
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End of blindkid Digest, Vol 59, Issue 14
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