[blindkid] Braille Literacy IEP Question

Fri Mar 16 16:56:09 UTC 2012

Hi Crystal,

A few more thoughts on your son's situation.

Ben's reading difficulties bring up several areas where I wish we had 
more (some?) data.  First, blind kids and learning 
disabilities--there is now a tiny bit of research in this area.  One 
of the questions being asked is "whether the correlational and causal 
pattern between  temporal processing, speech perception, phonological 
processing  and reading is the same both in print- and Braille 
reading population" (direct quote from the researcher) and if not, 
where do the differences lie?

The next area is whether or not what is effective for struggling 
print readers (with or without learning disabilities) would also be 
effective for struggling Braille readers--again, attention is now 
being paid to this area.

Lastly, what are best practices for teaching Braille reading and what 
are the effects of less than optimal Braille teaching on a student's 
ability to read?

Incidentally, in the ideal world the sentence "he will be moving to 
middle school next year and blind kids typically get less services" 
would have nothing to do with anything, as all services are supposed 
to be based on the student's individual needs, not on what is typically done!!!

My own opinion on whether or not to give up on the Braille literacy 
goal is this: Don't give up the goal.  Try to get a handle on whether 
or not your son has been receiving high quality braille instruction 
both in learning the code and in learning to read.  Take advantage of 
the excellent ideas that others have listed for Ben and for other 
struggling readers on our list.  Make a detailed plan that attacks 
all fronts--Braille reading technique, content of reading material, 
amount of reading instruction, amount of reading practice, and 
whatever other ideas might be applicable.  Create new goals in each 
area.  Then apply the new plan, follow it rigorously, and see if it works.

Carol

Carol Castellano
President, Parents of Blind Children-NJ
Director of Programs
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
973-377-0976
carol_castellano at verizon.net
www.blindchildren.org
www.nopbc.org

At 02:00 AM 3/13/2012, you wrote:

>Hello,
>
>I would really appreciate some opinions on the question I am going 
>to ask. I have a struggling braille reader. The question from the 
>IEP team is as follows: Should we discontinue the Braille Literacy 
>Goal which focuses on speed, fluency, and comprehension because Ben 
>has made little growth for the effort put forth and he is missing 
>other class time during this daily 30 minute pull out?
>
>The Facts are as follows:
>
>Ben is 11 years old and in the 5th grade. He was born 14 weeks 
>premature and is blind with light perception from R.O.P. Ben is 
>reading contracted braille at a 2nd grade level with a speed of 30 
>words per minute. He receives services from a TVI, 2 hours a day, 
>who states he has learned most of the Braille code. He also receives 
>services from the Special Education Teacher, 30 minutes a day, who 
>is trained in teaching Reading Literacy. She is using a program 
>called Read Naturally that was transcribed into Braille by the Texas 
>School for the Blind. Ben is her only blind student and has been 
>working with her since the middle of 3rd grade. The other students 
>using this program are sighted. Ben has made some growth, but his 
>progress remains slow. He has many Braille reversals and some 
>tactile defensiveness. He writes Braille at grade level. Ben was 
>tested for a reading disability, but do to the lack of statistics on 
>blind children he could not qualify for our school district. For 
>example, when given the Woodcock-Johnson Normative Test in Braille, 
>Passage Comprehension, he scored at a 2nd grade level. When given 
>the same part of the test auditory, Ben scored at 6th grade level. 
>The IEP team has decided that moving forward, Ben's should receive 
>his text books and some assignments primarily in a digital format. 
>He does use a Braille Note, but relies heavily on the voice when 
>reading or editing papers.
>
>I have a good relationship with my IEP team. They will write the 
>goal how I want, but they need evidence to support it. He will be 
>moving to middle school next year and blind kids typically get less 
>services, not more. Ben may never be a great reader, but Braille is 
>a skill, and I think he needs to be working on it everyday. If a 
>sighted child had dyslexia, would they stop reading with that child? 
>He has a great mind and being able to get information he needs 
>quickly and efficiently via a digital format is important, but I 
>think the Braille is too. Please let me know what you are thinking.
>
>Thank You,
>Crystal Schumacher
>(Ben's Mom)
>
>
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