[blindkid] service time?

Fri Aug 20 12:54:31 UTC 2010

Couldn't the TVI come into the classroom and work with Roman on his assignments 
while in class? For instance, if the other kids are writing their paragraph in 
writing or social studies, Roman could be writing his in braille and working on 
skills that way while getting instruction from the TVI. In math, maybe she could 
work with him in class or do the after school tutoring as mentioned below. There 
should be a way to incorporate his lessons into his regular schedule in the 
classroom without removing him for services. I do not allow my children to be 
pulled from classes for services because they miss stuff that is sometimes 
difficult to make up or understand.

Doreen

________________________________
From: Kim Cunningham <kim at gulfimagesphoto.com>
To: (for parents of blind children)NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List 
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Fri, August 20, 2010 5:55:08 AM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] service time?

Rosina,
I agree that Roman should not be pulled from his classes for services. We 
managed to have services after school, so you might try pushing that issue if 
you have the stamina. Does his time with the TVI include adapting all of his 
work? Or is there additional time added to his IEP for this? What would Roman be 
doing with his TVI during this time? Could this be done at home? If he is having 
trouble with math, maybe he could attend after school math tutoring if it is 
truly just understanding "concepts". Could Roman accumulate time and work with 
his TVI during "teacher in-service days"? I am trying to think of some other 
ways he could receive services and manage to stay in his classes with his peers. 
Pull-out services are harder to manage as our children age. 

Good luck
Kim Cunningham

--- On Thu, 8/19/10, Rosina Solano <colemangirly at yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Rosina Solano <colemangirly at yahoo.com>
Subject: [blindkid] service time?
To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
Date: Thursday, August 19, 2010, 12:18 PM

Okay, Roman has been receiving 90min a day with his TVI doing braille and 
getting help with his math assignments and generally anything else that he needs 
help with.  He has always gone to her during his time block for Reading and for 
Language Arts.  Roman is starting 7th grade and told his teachers that he wishes 
to be in the regular classroom for Reading this year as he thinks he is reading 
much better now and he feels he is missing out and being in the group.  Okay, so 
they (school) is willing to try this on a trial basis and see if he is ready, I 
think he will struggle at first, but will succeed.
Problem?  Well, when to get service time.  We tried to see if he could come in a 
little early or stay a little late, but that didn't fly.  Next solution was to 
use his 7th block rotation.  Let me explain, they have 4 classes a day and 
change every other, so day A would be Reading, Math, P.E., Band;  then day B 
would be Science, Social Studies, Athletics, and 7th block rotation.  Then it 
just repeats back to day A and so on.  7th block rotation changes every 7 weeks, 
right now he has an extra P.E./Health next time it will be Keyboarding, then 
Choir/Art, and so on.
Well Roman opted for the 7th rotation to get his services.  However that means 
he will now only get services for 90 min every other day instead of every day.  
And when the rotation turns to something he needs, like Keyboarding, how is he 
supposed to do both?

My question for all of you is how do you get your services, when do you fit them 
in, how much do you get and is it enough?  Also what services do you think are 
REALLY important after just learning braille?  Roman can read at approx 60 wpm 
at grade level.  I really want to kick it up to 80-100 but I know it will just 
take practice which we do, but now what should we really be trying to get?  He 
needs to type and to learn technologly, but what do we shoot for?  He is tired 
of dragging large braille textbooks to class and his perkins brailler.  School 
has a Pacmate but it seems so difficult and he has trouble just learning simple 
things on it.

Also Roman Has decided he wants to run Cross Country this year as well as 
track.  The school is willing to work with him, but they say he has to get a 
physical before he can even practice.  The doctor surly wouldn't not give him 
one just because of his vision, would he?

Trying to work through this transition time, any input on options would be 
greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance;
Rosina and Roman

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