[blindkid] High School

[EMMOL at aol.com]

We have found the juggling of high school schedules (course selection and  
day to day requirements) to be quite challenging for all students blind and  
sighted, so then adding the piece that our kids need on top of the other 
makes  the high school years quite a juggling act!
 
Patrick loves technology so it wasn't a hardship to add that to his  
schedule. Email was a goal a couple of years back not just important socially,  
but he often emails assignments to teachers or will take a test using his  
Braille Note to record his answers, save to a thumb drive and send to the  
teacher at the end of class,  during technology time or even at the end of  the 
day. Accessible cell phones was his research project in a class  last year 
where specific types of research were required and then a paper  written. His 
motivation: a new cell phone for his 16th birthday so that texting  his 
sister in college was possible. So, he wasn't as frustrated as I was when  
there were scheduling conflicts with choir and some honors classes  that had 
fewer sections available. His only elective, and the one he  would never give 
up, is Spanish. He too began in middle school, so he is  ahead of the game, 
but will be taking AP Spanish in his senior year.
He was also looking to free up some after school time as that is when clubs 
 meet. Again, important socially, but also important for college planning. 
He  tried to select clubs that interested him, of course, but that didn't 
meet every  afternoon, so he was still able to do O&M after school one day a 
week.  Another piece of the puzzle, community service, important to the high 
school,  indicated on your diploma, also looked at by colleges. That is 
often  done after school, sometimes in the evenings or weekends, and is  
mandatory with the high school honor societies. Besides being  important for all 
high school students. 
In terms of Braille music, he learned that at home. We ordered the "Dancing 
 Dots" program and he used it in conjunction with piano lessons beginning 
in the  elementary years. The part time PE requirement was over ridden this 
year & I  wasn't concerned about a lack of athletic time as he is a golfer 
and spends more  and more time at the golf course!
Hope this continues to be helpful. High school is an exciting time!
Eileen
 
----- Original Message -----
From: Debby B [bwbddl at yahoo.com]
Sent:  05/17/2010 03:47 AM MST
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, \(for parents of  blind children\)" 
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [blindkid] High  School



Bonnie, we are right there with you! Winona suggested  taking an on-line 
class this summer in order to free her schedule for both  bands. 
Symphonic/marching and Jazz band. Then they hit her with having to keep a  Braille block 
in her schedule for technology, any work she needs help on, etc.  They 
hooked her with the promise of Braille music at that time slot. We're  insisting 
O&M come from that time as well, rather than pulling from band.  Winona's 
determined to master the Braille music, and show them she DOES NOT need  the 
Braille block. Moving to the high school, she also gets a new (to her)  
Braille teacher, so will have some proving to do.

Because of our state  mandated testing and subsequent placement in classes, 
she still may lose the  band. We won't know until late June. So frustrating 
for kids who don't test  well!

Like Bonnie, I sure appreciate all the info shared by those who  have 
already traveled the high school  road.

Debby
bwbddl at yahoo.com
http://www.raceforindependence.org/goto/winona.brackett




________________________________
From:  Bonnie Lucas <lucas.bonnie at gmail.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing  List, (for parents of blind children)" 
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sun,  May 16, 2010 10:14:24 PM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] High School

Thanks  for this valuable information. I would like to know what those who 
have children  in music, who want to stay in music classes, do. Aubrie would 
never give up any  music classes though technology is important. It's as if 
any of the extra things  she has to do, such as mobility and solving 
technology issues will need to be  done after school. We may take a look at the 
e-high school and see if there are  a couple of those pud classes, health and 
P.E. that she could take in the summer  and then she'd have time for help 
with math and technology. The other elective  that she has, and would never 
give up, is Spanish.
Thanks again for the  information.
Bonnie



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