[blindkid] service time and cross country

Pat Renfranz dblair2525 at msn.com
Fri Aug 20 23:06:08 UTC 2010


The American Foundation for the Blind offers a book on technology and tech
assessments called Assistive Technology For Students Who Are Blind or
Visually Impaired: A Guide to Assessment. It is by Ike Presley and Frances
Mary D'Andrea. I have looked through it, and it's up-to-date and would
probably be a good place start. Perhaps your school district could purchase
a copy? Here's a link to the book:
<http://www.afb.org/store/product.asp?sku=978-0-89128-890-9&mscssid=ANJ7J6F0
4P3X9GN9KEKHPBRS7LAHDJQB>

By substituting with PE, I meant that the cross country practice (after
school) could count as a PE credit, that is, if it is required to take PE
and if he needs more time (during school hours) with service providers.

My daughter is also very nervous with new technology, because she got burned
by a combination of faulty equipment and poor instruction. A good teacher
who understands the equipment has made all the difference. With pressure
from us and, critically, IEP goals to support us, the district contracted
with an outside instructor, someone who is blind. If his TVI is unable to
teach him (as in our case), perhaps you could try that approach? I realize
this would be difficult in a rural area. Maybe whoever provides services to
adults in your area could help? Or contact your NFB state affiliate, and ask
if there is a member adept in technology who lives in your area?

Hope this helps,
Pat





On 8/20/10 4:13 PM, "Rosina Solano" <colemangirly at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Okay, thanks for all the great input.  As for the cross country the doctor
> (not ours but the school physical one) oked Roman with a few adaptations.  So
> that is okay for now.
>  
> As for his service time, he runs cross country after school so I can't
> substitue that time for any other as we are an extremely small rural school
> and that is the only time he can run with the team.  He is choosing to "trade
> in" his elective or 7th rotation for his time with his TVI but will only meet
> with her every other day.  This time will be used to go over anything he
> didn't understand clearly in class (mainly some math codes in Nemeth) and now
> this year to work on technology.  As for how he gets his work done.  Right now
> he drags the Perkins brailler from class to class and does his work on it. 
> Then it is turned in to the TVI and she converts it to text for the classroom
> teacher and then it is graded.  I have told them that if Roman could use his
> laptop or Pacmate then it could be printed in text and given straight to the
> class teacher saving valuable time for the TVI (in my opinion).  Luckily they
> agree!  Roman is also a A/B student and
>  sometimes just an A student!  He is very proud of the fact he is at the top
> of his class, and no, not just for a blind kid.  I have seen his work.  I was
> at the top of my class and I know good work.
> Anyway, he does get regular O&M instruction 4 times a month, but in those
> cases he has to pull out when we can get her here.  She travels about 90 miles
> so we are not fighting that.  He gets around very well and is confident in
> almost everything accept crossing very busy intersections.  We do not have bus
> travel here or even taxi's (we are very rural Ozarks), so a couple times a
> year he gets to go to bigger town to practive those things. 
>  
> He is very nervous about using new technology even tho he wants it, we just
> don't know what to fight for.  School has pacmate, but we are trying to get
> braillenote for home as everyone tells us it is easier.  Right now he does not
> take notes or anything like that, he just uses his incredible memory, but as
> he gets older and the work gets more he is really going to have to know how to
> do those things.  His work is 95% provided in braille and then he brailles his
> anwsers.
>  
> I like the idea of a technology assesment but what more info could I find on
> that?  Also, Roman wants to learn music notation braille, but everyone tells
> him that it would be too confusing for him right now what with nemeth and
> technology too.  I think not as sighted kids can learn print, math, music, and
> sometimes additional languages and they seem to handle it.
>  
> I just don't know where we should go from here.  School seems willing to work
> with us, but none of us know what he needs at this age. 
>  
> Thank you again to all who have helped us in this endeavor;
> Rosina and Roman
> 
> 
> 
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> 
>       
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