[blindkid] Braille note

Thu Mar 8 17:09:37 UTC 2012

Just because it is not happening for the others students---does not mean
you should not push for it.
I was just in an IEP yesterday---I give homework because that is how kids
excel....the other teacher did not---she will be now as insisted by the
parent. The area I teach the child---she is learning fast and that is
partly due to the homework.....the other part the other teacher is teaching
and does not give homework, the child has actually lost ground from where
she was last year

You have a lot of power---use it for the benefit of your child. Do not let
others tell you that your child does not need something when you know he
does

Denise

On Thu, Mar 8, 2012 at 8:18 AM, Carly B <barnesraiser at gmail.com> wrote:

> No the other kids aren't, either. He's attending the Academy for the Blind
> in our state and my understanding is that the other kids don't have any
> homework, either. :(
>
> Thanks! :)
>
> On Thu, Mar 8, 2012 at 10:10 AM, Richard Holloway <rholloway at gopbc.org
> >wrote:
>
> > Are the other kids getting homework while he is not?
> >
> > Even without homework, for the summer use I'd argue his skills will
> > diminish if he can't use his braillenote and therefore he'll need more
> time
> > and attention in the fall to get caught back up.
> >
> > Good luck!
> >
> >
> >
> > On Mar 8, 2012, at 11:01 AM, Carly B wrote:
> >
> > > Thanks, Richard, and for everyone who responded to this question.
> > >
> > > One issue I see is that the school does not really ever send homework
> > home.
> > > Our son used to get a spelling list (in Braille on paper) but that kind
> > of
> > > dried up some months ago.
> > >
> > > I hadn't thought about his having it over the summer... wow, would that
> > be
> > > great!
> > >
> > > Thanks again!
> > >
> > > :) Carolynn (Brian's mom)
> > >
> > > On Thu, Mar 8, 2012 at 9:46 AM, Richard Holloway <rholloway at gopbc.org
> > >wrote:
> > >
> > >> Eric, I'm right with you on this point.
> > >>
> > >> Kendra is in third grade and has been taking home her braillenote
> since
> > at
> > >> least the start of first grade. I know she started using at least a
> > braille
> > >> 'n speak in kindergarten-- I can't remember if she actually brought
> that
> > >> one home. I suspect since homework is not officially required for
> > >> kindergarten here, they would have argued she had no need to have the
> > >> equipment issued at that point, but by first grade I think typically
> > >> developing blind kids should have this technology available for
> > homework.
> > >>
> > >> Kendra does the vast majority of her homework on the braillenote. She
> > had
> > >> to present a speech today. She wrote it on the braiienote at home and
> > read
> > >> it from the same unit at school. It is basically her pen and paper and
> > all
> > >> of her notebooks all rolled into one. Imagine if sighted kids were
> > expected
> > >> to leave their pen, paper, and notebooks at school every day!
> > >>
> > >> Our district does require a sheet to be signed to state we're
> > responsible
> > >> for the unit. This has not prevented them thus far from dealing with
> > >> typical maintenance issues on her equipment, but it is reasonable that
> > we
> > >> should cover any damage due to negligence or such, and that would be
> my
> > >> answer to anyone saying a child isn't old enough. We have signed out
> > >> various things-- braillenotes, printers. braillewriters, even an
> abacus
> > >> (though I dont know of that actually needed to be signed for as
> such). I
> > >> suggest that if a parent says they will be responsible for the
> > equipment,
> > >> then it really isn't the school's concern beyond that. Our kids need
> > these
> > >> units to be successful. If we will pay in case they are damaged, where
> > is
> > >> their argument not to send these home? Same thing over the summer.
> What
> > is
> > >> the harm if we cover these for damage over summer break? And as for
> need
> > >> over the summer, even of you're not arguing work would fall behind,
> > often
> > >> there is summer work, at least such as a summer reading list. State
> that
> > >> you need the braillenote to access booskshare books or the like.
> > >>
> > >> If someone has concerns about the cost in case of loss or damage, etc.
> > >> (very understandable-- it concerns us too) you might see what your
> > >> insurance will cover or what can be added on.
> > >>
> > >> Richard
> > >>
> > >> On Mar 7, 2012, at 6:48 PM, DrV wrote:
> > >>
> > >>> My 4th grade son has been taking his BrailleNote to & back from
> school
> > >>> since Kindergarden.
> > >>> For us it was never even a question - He needs the tool to do his
> > >>> homework.
> > >>> It is a vital part of his educational experience.
> > >>> How is a child expected to keep up or excel if they are not allowed
> to
> > >>> appropriate access & tools?
> > >>> I would argue that the BrailleNote is needed to access the mandatory
> > >>> general ed curriculum at home & school.
> > >>> My 2 cents.
> > >>> Eric
> > >>>
> > >>> On 3/7/12 2:53 PM, "Dr. S. Merchant" <smerchant at vetmed.lsu.edu>
> wrote:
> > >>>
> > >>>> I really think the maturity of the individual student needs to be
> > taken
> > >>>> into
> > >>>> account, so to deny access to this piece of equipment at home until
> a
> > >>>> certain age doesn't make sense.  However, the Braille notetakers can
> > be
> > >>>> somewhat fragile as concerns their pin movements to create the
> Braille
> > >> and
> > >>>> the functioning Braille display sometimes doesn't survive intact
> when
> > >>>> dropped, but on the other hand it isn't thin glass either.  My son
> > and a
> > >>>> few
> > >>>> of the students that were in his self contained VI class were taking
> > >> their
> > >>>> Braille note takers (school bought/owned) home in the first and
> second
> > >>>> grade. It then never left his side through high school.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> Sandy Merchant Taboada
> > >>>>
> > >>>> -----Original Message-----
> > >>>> From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:
> blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org
> > ]
> > >> On
> > >>>> Behalf Of Penny Duffy
> > >>>> Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2012 3:49 PM
> > >>>> To: Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)
> > >>>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Braille note
> > >>>>
> > >>>> I know in our district the students bring their braille notes and or
> > >>>> laptops
> > >>>> home. Many kids use them for their homework. They are provided by
> the
> > >>>> district.  I am pretty sure IDEA mentions home use. I don't have the
> > >>>> wording.  I am just dragging it out of my memory. Which could be
> > wrong.
> > >>>> On Mar 7, 2012 4:44 PM, "Carly B" <barnesraiser at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >>>>
> > >>>>> Hi everyone,
> > >>>>>
> > >>>>> IEP season... oh, yay!! :) I am going to be making a request for my
> > >>>>> son having a Braille notetaker (MPower or other) to bring home. I'm
> > >>>>> convinced that having it at home will support his Braille
> acquisition
> > >>>> considerably.
> > >>>>> He's in 3rd grade now and this would be for his 4th grade year. I'm
> > >>>>> wondering at what age/grade kids have gotten Braille notetakers for
> > >>>>> home and school use, and whether it was provided by the school or
> > from
> > >>>>> some other agency (or from you), and what have been benefits of
> > having
> > >>>>> it at home?
> > >>>>>
> > >>>>> Thank you so much for any input on this question.
> > >>>>>
> > >>>>> :) Carolynn Barnes
> > >>>>> _______________________________________________
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> > >>>>>
> > >>>>>
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/pennyduffy%40gma
> > >>>>> il.com
> > >>>>>
> > >>>> _______________________________________________
> > >>>> blindkid mailing list
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> > >>
> >
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/smerchant%40mail.vet
> > >>>> me
> > >>>> d.lsu.edu
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>> _______________________________________________
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> > >>
> >
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/icdx%40earthlink.net
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>> _______________________________________________
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> > >>
> >
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/rholloway%40gopbc.org
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> _______________________________________________
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> > >>
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> >
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-- 
 Denise

Denise M. Robinson, TVI, Ph.D.
CEO, TechVision, LLC
Specialist in Technology/Training/Teaching for blind/low vision
509-674-1853

Website with hundreds of informational articles & lessons all done with
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