[blindkid] Getting Ready for High School Tips
Bonnie Lucas
lucas.bonnie at gmail.com
Wed Apr 6 21:13:13 UTC 2011
Hi Eric,
I second what Debby has said for technology. For the past three years,
Aubrie has been either emailing her assignments or the teacher takes the
assignment off Aubrie's thumb drive. Most of them are done on the BN, but
she always puts them on the thumb drive so she can give them to the teacher.
Though she has most books in hard copy Braille, her TVI mostly Brailles math
and tests. When we moved to Alaska, the vision staff was pretty amazed at
her independence. Apparently most of the other students are still signed up
for study halls and such to get things done such as organization. The high
school here has lots of large common areas which has made learning it a bit
difficult. We live pretty close so have been working on having her walk from
school to home. There are no sidewalks, the streets are narrow and in the
winter there has been quite a lot of snow. Not sure that she will walk when
it is really bad because it is mostly high schoolers (scary) drivers driving
the short route. As far as her band music goes, the band teacher emails it
to the transcriber, the same one from Georgia, and she emails it back. It is
then embossed. The district has Goodfeel but no one knows how to use it. We
are trying to work on that one as she is taking private flute lessons and
the teacher would like to have the ability to produce her music in Braille.
The move itself has been a very hard adjustment for her and personally, I
don't recommend moving a teenager! --especially to "outer Mongolia"! If you
ask her, this place should be a territory and not a state! LOL
One last thing--when we were going to move here, she was told that she would
have to have an 18 cell BN and she had used 32 always before. She was not
happy. However, since moving here, she has read over 40 books, one of which
had 1500 print pages on the BN and has changed her mind. She now swears by
the 18 cell!
-----Original Message-----
From: DrV [mailto:icdx at earthlink.net]
Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2011 9:49 PM
To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)
Subject: [blindkid] Getting Ready for High School Tips
Hi Jill & All,
Jill, I enjoyed your article "Suggestions for Working with Hannah". As the
parent of an 8th grader, I am wondering (hoping) for words of wisdom for
middle schoolers (& their parents) as far as transitioning to high school &
how to approach the first year & beyond.
Any & all thoughts appreciated.
Sincerely,
Eric V
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Brad and Jill Weatherd" <snowedin at union-tel.com>
> To: <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 11:33 AM
> Subject: [blindkid] Response to Erin re: pre-school tips
>
>
>> Hi Erin,
>> My daughter, Hannah, is now 15 years old...however, I remember what it
>> was
>> like when she was entering pre-school and kindergarten. With the help of
>> Marty Greiser, I wrote some suggestions to hand to her teachers when she
>> was
>> small, so that they had some better ideas of how to include Hannah in all
>> of
>> the activities. A link to this article on the NFB website is:
>> http://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/Publications/fr/fr18/Issue2/f180208.htm
>> I hope there is something there you can use! Sometimes the teachers take
>> awhile to "get it", but just keep trying and modeling the way you want
>> your
>> child to be treated. It's great that you have found the NFB -- they will
>> be
>> an invaluable resource to you! Jill
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blindkid-bounces+snowedin=union-tel.com at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:blindkid-bounces+snowedin=union-tel.com at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>> blindkid-request at nfbnet.org
>> Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 11:00 AM
>> To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: blindkid Digest, Vol 53, Issue 22
>>
>> Send blindkid mailing list submissions to
>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>
>> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid
>> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>> blindkid-request at nfbnet.org
>>
>> You can reach the person managing the list at
>> blindkid-owner at nfbnet.org
>>
>> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
>> than "Re: Contents of blindkid digest..."
>>
>>
>> Today's Topics:
>>
>> 1. Re: special seat on bus (Carol Castellano)
>> 2. Kindergarten Transition (Stacy Lemmon)
>> 3. Re: Kindergarten Transition (Debby B)
>> 4. Special Seat on the bus (Carlton Anne Cook Walker)
>> 5. Re: Kindergarten Transition (Doreen Franklin)
>> 6. Re: Kindergarten Transition (Carrie Gilmer)
>> 7. Re: Kindergarten Transition (Andy & Sally Thomas)
>> 8. Re: placement intepretation (Mike Freeman)
>> 9. Re: placement intepretation (DrV)
>> 10. Hurricane Ike (Kim Cunningham)
>> 11. Re: Hurricane Ike (Debby B)
>> 12. Re: Question about school placement (Erin Teply)
>>
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:43:26 -0400
>> From: Carol Castellano <blindchildren at verizon.net>
>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] special seat on bus
>> To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, \(for parents of blind children\)"
>> <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>> Message-ID: <200809231743.m8NHhcn02327 at www.nfbnet.org>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
>>
>> Hi Mark,
>>
>> The family does have a wheelchair, but it is apparently not the kind
>> that can be secured in the bus. My understanding is that
>> someone--parent or bus driver--was lifting and carrying the girl onto
>> the bus and then someone--bus driver or school person--was lifting
>> her and carrying her off the bus and into the stroller at school.
>>
>> The school and/or bus people then told the family that this could no
>> longer be done and that the family had to purchase the kind of
>> wheelchair that could be secured in the bus.
>>
>> Carol
>>
>> At 01:08 AM 9/23/2008, you wrote:
>>>Hello Carol,
>>>
>>>are you saying that the bus driver and staff are carrying this student
>>>into
>>>the school bus? If the student does not own a wheelchair it may be that
>>>the
>>>district will provide such a chair and a bus with lift during school
>>>hours.
>>>Worth looking in to?
>>>
>>>Mark Feliz
>>>
>>>
>>>Mark Feliz
>>>
>>>HAPPY DOTS BRAILLE SERVICES
>>>
>>>PRESIDENT, NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF ARIZONA
>>>EAST VALLEY CHAPTER
>>>
>>>1038 WEST HILLVIEW STREET
>>>MESA, ARIZONA 85201
>>>
>>>VOICE: 480-890-8943
>>>FAX: 480-835-3036
>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>From: "Carol Castellano" <blindchildren at verizon.net>
>>>To: <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>>>Sent: Monday, September 22, 2008 1:39 PM
>>>Subject: [blindkid] special seat on bus
>>>
>>>
>>> > Hi All,
>>> >
>>> > I just got a call from a parent of a 5-year-old who is a wheelchair
>>> > user. The school told the parent that the family has to purchase a
>>> > special wheelchair or stroller that can be hooked into place on the
>>> > school bus.
>>> >
>>> > The school will no longer transport her on the bus because they say
>>> > neither they nor the bus driver are allowed to carry her into or out
>>> > of the bus, hence the need for the special chair.
>>> >
>>> > Does anyone know if the family is really responsible for this
>>> > purchase? Right now they have to drive the girl to school
>>> > themselves. When the dad goes to work, the mom has no car. She also
>>> > has 3 other kids. Help is needed!
>>> >
>>> > Thanks,
>>> > Carol
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > _______________________________________________
>>> > blindkid mailing list
>>> > blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid
>>> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> > blindkid:
>>> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid/felizfamily5%40msn.com
>>> >
>>>
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>blindkid mailing list
>>>blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid
>>>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>for blindkid:
>>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid/blindchildren%40verizon.ne
t
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 2
>> Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:28:58 -0400
>> From: "Stacy Lemmon" <slemmonrn at spotlight-music.com>
>> Subject: [blindkid] Kindergarten Transition
>> To: <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>> Message-ID: <001801c91da1$dd41ffc0$0401a8c0 at stacypc>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>>
>> We are already preparing for Adison's transition to kindergarten for the
>> 2009-2010 school year. It seems no one can provide me answer to a
>> question
>> about services...if we keep her in a non public school (she currently
>> attends a Catholic preschool and we would like to keep her there) who
>> will
>> provide her vision services?
>>
>> Thanks!
>> Stacy
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 3
>> Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:51:15 -0700 (PDT)
>> From: Debby B <bwbddl at yahoo.com>
>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Kindergarten Transition
>> To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, \(for parents of blind children\)"
>> <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>> Message-ID: <81235.9156.qm at web90505.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>>
>> Stacy, I think this varies by state and by district. In Miami, FL, we got
>> NO
>> services in the private sector. I understand in the district we are now
>> in
>> that you can, if you can get the providers to agree to do so.
>>
>> Debby
>> bwbddl at yahoo.com
>> www.nfbflorida.org/parents
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----
>> From: Stacy Lemmon <slemmonrn at spotlight-music.com>
>> To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
>> Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 1:28:58 PM
>> Subject: [blindkid] Kindergarten Transition
>>
>> We are already preparing for Adison's transition to kindergarten for the
>> 2009-2010 school year. It seems no one can provide me answer to a
>> question
>> about services...if we keep her in a non public school (she currently
>> attends a Catholic preschool and we would like to keep her there) who
>> will
>> provide her vision services?
>>
>> Thanks!
>> Stacy
>> _______________________________________________
>> blindkid mailing list
>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> blindkid:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid/bwbddl%40yahoo.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 4
>> Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:41:23 -0400
>> From: "Carlton Anne Cook Walker" <PaPoBC at gmail.com>
>> Subject: [blindkid] Special Seat on the bus
>> To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
>> Message-ID:
>> <aa85e5850809231241i36a488f6k4be66951e0cc049 at mail.gmail.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>>
>> Carol,
>>
>>
>> First, I apologize for the rambling nature of this note. I have been
>> (still am) sick and am terribly behind, so my thought process is even
>> more "stream of consciousness" than usual.
>>
>>
>>
>> It seems to me that the root of the problem is a "one-size-fits-all"
>> mentality of the school -- when the IDEA requires INDIVIDUALIZATION..
>>
>>
>>
>> As an initial matter, please check whether the transportation services
>> are included in the child's IEP. If they are, read no further. The
>> school's failure to provide the transportation services is a violaton
>> of the IEP itself and can be addressed that way. Additionally, the
>> parents' provision of transportation in the interim can be properly
>> billed and recompensed as "compensatory education," although the
>> amount involved may not be worth a due process claim.
>>
>>
>>
>> The parents need to get the school to put their ridiculous request IN
>> WRITING. Then, take it to the NJ Department of Education (assuming
>> that they are at all worthwhile).
>>
>>
>> Here's the communication that SHOULD be happening with the school":
>>
>> School: OH, our school buses aren't able to accommodate THAT kind f
>> wheelchair.
>>
>> Family: Hmm, well, this IS the wheelchair that was prescribed for our
>> child. You know, our vehicle IS able to transport her despite this
>> wheelchair. We believe that MOST passenger vehicles can do so.
>> Please (1) advertise for bid for an individual -- properly bonded,
>> background checks, etc. -- to run the route to transport our child to
>> and from school or (2) provide whatever you need to transport her in
>> the school bus until such time as private transport is arranged.
>>
>>
>>
>> Also, if I were the parent, I would be logging my mileage and
>> presenting the school with a bill (using AT LEAST the IRS reimbursable
>> rate of $0.585/mile).
>>
>>
>> Additionally, I will reiterate that the parents NEED to demand the
>> transportation IN WRITING and have it refused INN WRITING. I cannot
>> stress this point too much. Remember, if it's not in writing, it
>> didn't happen.
>>
>>
>> Regarding the billing for transportation, it should begin no more than
>> three school days AFTER the parents' letter is delivered (preferably
>> by hand, with a copy thereof signed as received by a school official)
>> -- the parents' letter warning that they will provide free
>> transportation to the school for only three more days. After that,
>> it's the school's responsibility and the school will be billed if they
>> do not provide said transportation.
>>
>>
>>
>> This all seems so very odd. Did anything occur that precipitated this
>> issue? Are there new personnel involved?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Carlton Anne Cook Walker
>> President, Pennsylvania Parents of Blind Children
>> 213 North First Street
>> McConnellsburg, PA 17233
>> Voice: 717-485-4529
>> Cell: 717-658-9894
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 5
>> Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:42:24 -0700 (PDT)
>> From: Doreen Franklin <theconelady at yahoo.com>
>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Kindergarten Transition
>> To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, \(for parents of blind children\)"
>> <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>> Message-ID: <856713.71181.qm at web54303.mail.re2.yahoo.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>>
>> Stacy
>> We are also in FL with Debby B -- we are a county north of her. As was
>> explained to me by the ESE department is that if in a private school,
>> services may be provided at a public school. School bd will transport
>> BACK
>> from public to private but not from private to public. We are in the
>> pre-K 3
>> program but I am trying to get answers for many things and cannot seem to
>> get too far.
>> ?
>> Good luck!
>> Doreen
>>
>>
>> --- On Tue, 9/23/08, Stacy Lemmon <slemmonrn at spotlight-music.com> wrote:
>>
>> From: Stacy Lemmon <slemmonrn at spotlight-music.com>
>> Subject: [blindkid] Kindergarten Transition
>> To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
>> Date: Tuesday, September 23, 2008, 1:28 PM
>>
>> We are already preparing for Adison's transition to kindergarten for the
>> 2009-2010 school year. It seems no one can provide me answer to a
>> question
>> about
>> services...if we keep her in a non public school (she currently attends a
>> Catholic preschool and we would like to keep her there) who will provide
>> her
>> vision services?
>>
>> Thanks!
>> Stacy
>> _______________________________________________
>> blindkid mailing list
>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> blindkid:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid/theconelady%40yahoo.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 6
>> Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:46:13 -0500
>> From: "Carrie Gilmer" <carrie.gilmer at gmail.com>
>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Kindergarten Transition
>> To: "'NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, \(for parents of blind
>> children\)'" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>> Message-ID: <48d9559d.2009360a.4cd2.045d at mx.google.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>>
>> The portions of IDEA that deal with children in private schools are
>> extensive and detailed and on the one hand complex in that they deal with
>> every detail and simple in it is all spelled out. I think you could have
>> a
>> weekend course just on this position of the IDEA. I have only read it
>> briefly, not studied it. The Local Education Authority does have
>> responsibilities including FINDING children in its geographic area of
>> authority and ensuring the private entity is providing some service but
>> if
>> the child is placed by choice of the parent the responsibilities do not
>> go
>> far (as far as I understand it now). To really get all services you
>> should
>> get at a public school you would have to have a determination by the LEA
>> that they could not provide and it would be in the IEP for the student to
>> attend (thus no longer parentally placed) in order to gain FAPE.
>>
>>
>>
>> Notice this portion for parentally placed children: 300.137 Equitable
>> Services determined.
>>
>> (a) No individual right to special education and related services. No
>> parentally placed private school child with a disability has an
>> individual
>> right to receive some or all of the special education and related
>> services
>> that the child would receive if enrolled in a public school.
>>
>>
>>
>> For everyone, but especially if you are going to consider private or home
>> schooling I recommend you go to www.wrightslaw.com
>> <http://www.wrightslaw.com/> and buy their book Special Education Law.
>> Or
>> go to the US department of Education website and call or write if you can
>> not find the IDEA online from them. It is a law and should be available
>> to
>> the public at no cost, I have meant but have not taken or had time to go
>> to
>> the Department online and try and find it. The book is nice because you
>> have
>> it all there, but you should also be able to get a copy of IDEA for free.
>> (Carlton will be able to correct me if I am wrong-smile)
>>
>>
>>
>> If anyone is interested in finding out for us or knows speak up.
>>
>>
>>
>> Then I would say, as Mindy mentioned the other day-it is up to us to know
>> the details of the law because they either really don't know themselves
>> or
>> they don't want us to know. It is empowering to know the law too. If
>> reading
>> the law seems confusing to you, it is a lot easier to work at an issue
>> directly and with you having a copy of the law and another having a copy
>> and
>> helping each other through the points of confusion. So I do recommend
>> everyone have a handy copy of the law of their own. The nice thing about
>> the
>> book is that you can look in the index for problems-like private school
>> and
>> it tells you which pages of the book cover those portions of the law. The
>> Free copy you would get from the government likely won't do that.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> 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+carrie.gilmer=gmail.com at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:blindkid-bounces+carrie.gilmer=gmail.com at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>> Debby B
>> Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 1:51 PM
>> To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)
>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Kindergarten Transition
>>
>>
>>
>> Stacy, I think this varies by state and by district. In Miami, FL, we got
>> NO
>> services in the private sector. I understand in the district we are now
>> in
>> that you can, if you can get the providers to agree to do so.
>>
>>
>>
>> Debby
>>
>> bwbddl at yahoo.com
>>
>> www.nfbflorida.org/parents
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----
>>
>> From: Stacy Lemmon <slemmonrn at spotlight-music.com>
>>
>> To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>
>> Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 1:28:58 PM
>>
>> Subject: [blindkid] Kindergarten Transition
>>
>>
>>
>> We are already preparing for Adison's transition to kindergarten for the
>> 2009-2010 school year. It seems no one can provide me answer to a
>> question
>> about services...if we keep her in a non public school (she currently
>> attends a Catholic preschool and we would like to keep her there) who
>> will
>> provide her vision services?
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Stacy
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>> blindkid mailing list
>>
>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid
>>
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> blindkid:
>>
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid/bwbddl%40yahoo.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>> blindkid mailing list
>>
>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid
>>
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> blindkid:
>>
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid/carrie.gilmer%40gmail.com
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 7
>> Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:11:55 -0500
>> From: "Andy & Sally Thomas" <andysally at comcast.net>
>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Kindergarten Transition
>> To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, \(for parents of blind children\)"
>> <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>> Message-ID: <04C492072FD94A1A83DB04E3AF62061A at andysallyhome>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
>> reply-type=original
>>
>> A good place to start on the Department of Education website is
>> http://idea.ed.gov/explore/home . The full text of the law is on the
>> website but navigating through the menus provided by the Dept of Ed. is a
>> little friendlier.
>>
>> Here's the link to the law on the Wrightslaw website:
>> http://www.wrightslaw.com/idea/law.htm . The entire code and regulations
>> are there and the format is a little cleaner than the Dept of Ed.
>> website.
>>
>> In the Wrightslaw seminar, Pete Wright told us that the law was purposely
>> written in a vague manner in order to be able to get the legislation
>> passed.
>>
>> There is room for interpretation. That is where your negotiation skills
>> and/or the attorneys come in. What seems cut and dried to you may not
>> seem
>> that way to your school district. Imagine my surprise when my school
>> district informed me that while they agree Braille is the primary
>> learning
>> medium for my child, having Braille that is legible is not a requirement!
>> There is nothing specific in IDEA that states that educational materials
>> must be legible.
>>
>> Sally Thomas
>> ----- 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: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 3:46 PM
>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Kindergarten Transition
>>
>>
>>> The portions of IDEA that deal with children in private schools are
>>> extensive and detailed and on the one hand complex in that they deal
>>> with
>>> every detail and simple in it is all spelled out. I think you could have
>>> a
>>> weekend course just on this position of the IDEA. I have only read it
>>> briefly, not studied it. The Local Education Authority does have
>>> responsibilities including FINDING children in its geographic area of
>>> authority and ensuring the private entity is providing some service but
>>> if
>>> the child is placed by choice of the parent the responsibilities do not
>>> go
>>> far (as far as I understand it now). To really get all services you
>>> should
>>> get at a public school you would have to have a determination by the LEA
>>> that they could not provide and it would be in the IEP for the student
>>> to
>>> attend (thus no longer parentally placed) in order to gain FAPE.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Notice this portion for parentally placed children: 300.137 Equitable
>>> Services determined.
>>>
>>> (a) No individual right to special education and related services. No
>>> parentally placed private school child with a disability has an
>>> individual
>>> right to receive some or all of the special education and related
>>> services
>>> that the child would receive if enrolled in a public school.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> For everyone, but especially if you are going to consider private or
>>> home
>>> schooling I recommend you go to www.wrightslaw.com
>>> <http://www.wrightslaw.com/> and buy their book Special Education Law.
>>> Or
>>> go to the US department of Education website and call or write if you
>>> can
>>> not find the IDEA online from them. It is a law and should be available
>>> to
>>> the public at no cost, I have meant but have not taken or had time to go
>>> to
>>> the Department online and try and find it. The book is nice because you
>>> have
>>> it all there, but you should also be able to get a copy of IDEA for
>>> free.
>>> (Carlton will be able to correct me if I am wrong-smile)
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> If anyone is interested in finding out for us or knows speak up.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Then I would say, as Mindy mentioned the other day-it is up to us to
>>> know
>>> the details of the law because they either really don't know themselves
>>> or
>>> they don't want us to know. It is empowering to know the law too. If
>>> reading
>>> the law seems confusing to you, it is a lot easier to work at an issue
>>> directly and with you having a copy of the law and another having a copy
>>> and
>>> helping each other through the points of confusion. So I do recommend
>>> everyone have a handy copy of the law of their own. The nice thing about
>>> the
>>> book is that you can look in the index for problems-like private school
>>> and
>>> it tells you which pages of the book cover those portions of the law.
>>> The
>>> Free copy you would get from the government likely won't do that.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 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+carrie.gilmer=gmail.com at nfbnet.org
>>> [mailto:blindkid-bounces+carrie.gilmer=gmail.com at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
>>> Of
>>> Debby B
>>> Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 1:51 PM
>>> To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)
>>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Kindergarten Transition
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Stacy, I think this varies by state and by district. In Miami, FL, we
>>> got
>>> NO
>>> services in the private sector. I understand in the district we are now
>>> in
>>> that you can, if you can get the providers to agree to do so.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Debby
>>>
>>> bwbddl at yahoo.com
>>>
>>> www.nfbflorida.org/parents
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----
>>>
>>> From: Stacy Lemmon <slemmonrn at spotlight-music.com>
>>>
>>> To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>>
>>> Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 1:28:58 PM
>>>
>>> Subject: [blindkid] Kindergarten Transition
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> We are already preparing for Adison's transition to kindergarten for the
>>> 2009-2010 school year. It seems no one can provide me answer to a
>>> question
>>> about services...if we keep her in a non public school (she currently
>>> attends a Catholic preschool and we would like to keep her there) who
>>> will
>>> provide her vision services?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks!
>>>
>>> Stacy
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>>
>>> blindkid mailing list
>>>
>>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>>
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid
>>>
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> blindkid:
>>>
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid/bwbddl%40yahoo.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>>
>>> blindkid mailing list
>>>
>>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>>
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid
>>>
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> blindkid:
>>>
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid/carrie.gilmer%40gmail.com
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> blindkid mailing list
>>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid
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>>> blindkid:
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>>
>>
>>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> ----
>>
>>
>>
>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
>> Version: 8.0.169 / Virus Database: 270.7.1/1686 - Release Date: 9/23/2008
>> 7:38 AM
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 8
>> Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:56:15 -0700
>> From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] placement intepretation
>> To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, \(for parents of blind children\)"
>> <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>> Message-ID: <87B7D1B76ACD43E1BED81A21C83233F7 at owner96190708e>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>>
>> Basically, I think you are correct. Except that the IEP governs all,
>> i.e., if it is decided by the team (including the parents) that a child
>> should attend a school other than his/her local school, as , for
>> example, a school for the blind and this is written into the IEP, that
>> governs things. Also, sometimes the LRE may not be the local school. All
>> depends upon that IEP.
>>
>> Mike
>>
>> ----- 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, September 22, 2008 7:59 AM
>> Subject: [blindkid] placement intepretation
>>
>>
>> Hello All,
>>
>> Maybe Carlton or another with legal background can give feedback-but my
>> interpretation from the law that seems reasonable is that there is a
>> presumption in the law that the child WILL BE placed wherever he/she
>> would
>> be placed if there was no blindness
>>
>> SO: if the child is placed elsewhere it must come from an eval with data
>> that shows an INDIVIDUAL NEED OF THE CHILD to be placed somewhere else
>> and
>> that is then incorporated by the team in to the IEP.
>>
>> Hope this helps.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> 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
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> blindkid mailing list
>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> blindkid:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid/k7uij%40panix.com
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 9
>> Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:08:02 -0700
>> From: "DrV" <icdx at earthlink.net>
>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] placement intepretation
>> To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, \(for parents of blind children\)"
>> <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>> Message-ID: <006201c91e03$85e74070$6605a8c0 at CSMC.EDU>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
>> reply-type=original
>>
>> It is my understanding that in California, it all depends on the LEA's
>> interpretation & goodwill.
>> They can elect to serve a child in the private school setting, but are
>> not
>> obligated to do so.
>> LEA administration can have quite a turnover. Our LEA director has been
>> the
>> same since the beginning, but there have been 6 or 8 (I lost count) "VI
>> principals" during that same time frame), so what is agreed upon now may
>> change with the change in guard so to speak.
>> This is thus a huge decision.
>> The church may be willing to contract TVI & O&M services.
>> The Braille part is critical too -> making sure all materials are
>> Brailled &
>>
>> modified appropriately & in a timely fashion is a boat-load of work.
>> We thought about this too, but opted to go the public shcool route.
>> Good luck,
>> Eric V
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
>> To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)"
>> <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 5:56 PM
>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] placement intepretation
>>
>>
>>> Basically, I think you are correct. Except that the IEP governs all,
>>> i.e., if it is decided by the team (including the parents) that a child
>>> should attend a school other than his/her local school, as , for
>>> example, a school for the blind and this is written into the IEP, that
>>> governs things. Also, sometimes the LRE may not be the local school. All
>>> depends upon that IEP.
>>>
>>> Mike
>>>
>>> ----- 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, September 22, 2008 7:59 AM
>>> Subject: [blindkid] placement intepretation
>>>
>>>
>>> Hello All,
>>>
>>> Maybe Carlton or another with legal background can give feedback-but my
>>> interpretation from the law that seems reasonable is that there is a
>>> presumption in the law that the child WILL BE placed wherever he/she
>>> would
>>> be placed if there was no blindness
>>>
>>> SO: if the child is placed elsewhere it must come from an eval with data
>>> that shows an INDIVIDUAL NEED OF THE CHILD to be placed somewhere else
>>> and
>>> that is then incorporated by the team in to the IEP.
>>>
>>> Hope this helps.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 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
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> blindkid mailing list
>>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> blindkid:
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid/k7uij%40panix.com
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> blindkid mailing list
>>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> blindkid:
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid/icdx%40earthlink.net
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 10
>> Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2008 04:55:04 -0700 (PDT)
>> From: Kim Cunningham <kim at gulfimagesphoto.com>
>> Subject: [blindkid] Hurricane Ike
>> To: Blindkid <blindkid at nfbnet.org>, Professionals in Blindness
>> Education <Pibe-division at nfbnet.org>
>> Message-ID: <255415.39294.qm at web602.biz.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>>
>> I would like to ask everyone who knows any of our NFB family or friends
>> who
>> live in the Houston area to please try to contact them or visit them. We
>> still have 541,000 people without power (also cable and internet). Our
>> power
>> was just restored last night after 11 days! Hurricane Ike has caused a
>> great
>> deal of destruction. The last I heard our city bus services were
>> operating
>> only in limited areas. The city of Galveston has more than 40% of homes
>> that
>> are uninhabitable. My daughter hasn't been to school since Sept. 11 and
>> will
>> not be returning until the power is restored to her school (who knows
>> when).
>>
>> Thank you,
>> Kim Cunningham
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 11
>> Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2008 05:07:13 -0700 (PDT)
>> From: Debby B <bwbddl at yahoo.com>
>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Hurricane Ike
>> To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, \(for parents of blind children\)"
>> <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>> Message-ID: <932889.77443.qm at web90505.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>>
>> Kim! So glad to hear you are back with power. I so remember those days
>> (and
>> months) we went through after Hurricane Andrew. Ick! I, too, have been
>> wondering how our Houston/Galveston and surrounding areas are faring. Has
>> anyone heard from Laura Webber? And? And? So many folks affected.
>>
>> Debby
>> bwbddl at yahoo.com
>> www.nfbflorida.org/parents
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----
>> From: Kim Cunningham <kim at gulfimagesphoto.com>
>> To: Blindkid <blindkid at nfbnet.org>; Professionals in Blindness Education
>> <Pibe-division at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 7:55:04 AM
>> Subject: [blindkid] Hurricane Ike
>>
>> I would like to ask everyone who knows any of our NFB family or friends
>> who
>> live in the Houston area to please try to contact them or visit them. We
>> still have 541,000 people without power (also cable and internet). Our
>> power
>> was just restored last night after 11 days! Hurricane Ike has caused a
>> great
>> deal of destruction. The last I heard our city bus services were
>> operating
>> only in limited areas. The city of Galveston has more than 40% of homes
>> that
>> are uninhabitable. My daughter hasn't been to school since Sept. 11 and
>> will
>> not be returning until the power is restored to her school (who knows
>> when).
>>
>> Thank you,
>> Kim Cunningham
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> blindkid mailing list
>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> blindkid:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid/bwbddl%40yahoo.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 12
>> Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2008 08:18:04 -0400
>> From: "Erin Teply" <eteply at cfl.rr.com>
>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Question about school placement
>> To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, \(for parents of blind children\)"
>> <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>> Message-ID: <021301c91e3f$98d37e60$6401a8c0 at DC24Q631>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
>> reply-type=original
>>
>> I also have a 2 1/2 year old and live in Melbourne, FL (Brevard county).
>> I
>> just met with someone from the school district that handles the
>> transition
>> from early intervention to the school district. We will have our first
>> meeting in a few months (my son turns 3 in Feb). I am so new to this
>> process, but I believe this is where we start discussions of the IEP.
>> After
>>
>> reading all these emails, I am overwhelmed and nervous that we won't get
>> it
>> right! I also am very concerned about what school he will go to. My 5
>> year
>>
>> old goes to a private school and I would love Max to go there, but yet he
>> needs to go to the school best for him, which very likely would not be
>> this
>> school (they have very few special needs student, if any, Max would
>> definitely be the only blind student). If anyone has good starting
>> information about IEPs, I would welcome it.
>>
>> On a slightly different note, my son has started in a preschool this
>> year.
>> It is at a school where they maintain a 50/50 ratio of special needs
>> children to 'role model' (as they call it...) children. While the
>> teachers
>> are trying really hard, in my opinion simply don't 'get' how to work with
>> a
>> blind child yet, as Max is their first. Myself, Max's vision therapist
>> and
>> an early interventionist are all working with them so that Max can have a
>> better experience. What I see a lot of is holding his hand and walking
>> him
>> around the room (he isn't good enough with his cane yet, but can
>> definitely
>> get around a classroom totally ok on his own!). I also see Max just
>> standing there a lot (I'm sure listening intently and taking it all in,
>> or
>> does he just not know what to do?). I guess I'm just not sure what to
>> do.
>> The EI (who is fantastic) and I may do an inservice for his teachers on
>> blind students, or I'm wondering if I simply need to spend more time in
>> the
>> classroom until he gets acclimated better? Any advice on how your
>> pre-schoolers did (those that did not attend a school for the blind) or
>> what
>>
>> you did to help his/her teachers understand would be great.
>>
>> Thank you!
>> Erin
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Kathy B" <burgawicki at yahoo.com>
>> To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)"
>> <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, September 20, 2008 6:52 PM
>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Question about school placement
>>
>>
>>> Doreen-
>>>
>>> Where abouts are you in FL. I have a 2 1/2 yr old in Olando.
>>>
>>> Kathy
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----
>>> From: Doreen Franklin <theconelady at yahoo.com>
>>> To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>> Sent: Saturday, September 20, 2008 4:48:15 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Question about school placement
>>>
>>>
>>> Stephanie
>>> I am very interested in this question. I have asked this question of my
>>> ESE administrator and cannot get much of an answer. My daughter just
>>> turned 4 but because she misses the cut-off by 2 days, she is in a 3 yr
>>> old program (she was adopted from Guatemala and has been home for 2 yrs
>>> now).
>>>
>>> I have tried to pin them down to see if she can go to the "local"
>>> neighborhood school or to one of the 2 charter schools that will be open
>>> in 2 yrs or if she "has" to go to the school where vision has a TVI
>>> there.
>>
>>> I have been told she will be evaluated at that time and the TVI's will
>>> "confer" with professionals (I believe that is how it was stated in an
>>> email) about her needs and where she will be placed; unsure who the
>>> other
>>> "professionals" would be!
>>>
>>> To date, they are not even listening to me on her IEP goals for writing
>>> (her goals sound like they are for a 4 yr old going to kindergarten),
>>> her
>>> O&M that I am trying for them to do as well as ESE teaching her Braille.
>>>
>>> The other source -- which is a GREAT one -- is www.wrightslaw.com --
>>> Peter
>>
>>> Wright and his wife are EXCELLENT sources for the law. A friend and I
>>> went
>>
>>> to a seminar with him and he knows his law inside and out. I believe
>>> there
>>
>>> is a place to email or call to check on what the law exactly is for
>>> placement. I know I will be tapping into it in 2 yrs.
>>>
>>> The other suggestion is to call a local "advocate" -- there are advocate
>>> groups that should be able to answer your questions. One advocate is
>>> "CILO" -- Council for Independent Living Options; I had one of their
>>> advocates at my other daughter's IEP meeting and she looks at things
>>> from
>>> the law side and is more objective too.
>>>
>>> I agree with DrV on his outlook on not only the word "policy" but there
>>> may be wide discrepancies between counties and their outlook on "the
>>> law"
>>> and how it is interpreted. We have been finding that out in a few of the
>>> disability seminars we have gone to. (We live in FL). A local advocate
>>> would be the best resource for this.
>>>
>>> Hope that helps and will give you some options.
>>> Doreen
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --- On Fri, 9/19/08, Kieszak, Stephanie (CDC/CCEHIP/NCEH) <sek7 at CDC.GOV>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> From: Kieszak, Stephanie (CDC/CCEHIP/NCEH) <sek7 at CDC.GOV>
>>> Subject: [blindkid] Question about school placement
>>> To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>> Date: Friday, September 19, 2008, 2:59 PM
>>>
>>> My daughter is currently mainstreamed in kindergarten in a public
>>> school. Her school only goes up to kindergarten so we have been looking
>>> at schools for her for next year. I met with her TVI today about
>>> something else and she mentioned that our county has a policy of
>>> requiring kids who need more than 3 hours a week of TVI time to attend
>>> the elementary school that has a vision resource room. My husband and I
>>> had visited this school in the past and were not thrilled with it. We
>>> are leaning towards the elementary school that her current school feeds
>>> into. Ideally, we would like our daughter to be able to continue to
>>> work with her current TVI who has been with her since she started school
>>> at 3 years of age. My daughter is academically gifted and we want her to
>>> work with a TVI who we know will push her and challenge her. She is a
>>> Braille reader and it's a given that she would need more than 3 hours a
>>> week of TVI time; she gets at least 5 hours a week now. Can the county
>>> require that she attend a certain school based on the hours of TVI time
>>> required? My gut feeling is they cannot but I would appreciate specific
>>> links to language that I can present to the school/county.
>>> Thank you.
>>> Stephanie
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> blindkid mailing list
>>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> blindkid:
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid/theconelady%40yahoo.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> blindkid mailing list
>>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> blindkid:
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid/burgawicki%40yahoo.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> blindkid mailing list
>>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> blindkid:
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid/eteply%40cfl.rr.com
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> blindkid mailing list
>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid
>>
>>
>> End of blindkid Digest, Vol 53, Issue 22
>> ****************************************
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> blindkid mailing list
>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> blindkid:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid/icdx%40earthlink.net
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