[blparent] Accessible Homework?

Fri Feb 20 01:14:06 UTC 2009

well, let me tell you this much.

I got a nice setup now with lots and I mean frequent contact with the  
teacher and I get a garenteed very nice long narrative of the homework  
packet (on average 5 pages of homework) via email from the teacher.  
she goes as far as explaining the pictures, circling or anything else  
that I can't get Kayla to describe to me successfully.

It always hasn't been this way though and it took allot of firm  
standing up for myself and diplimatic demands on my part and bringing  
up the rehab504 and 508 and local and federal statues specifics  
though, you can't just say "well, by law, you have! to help me because  
I am blind."

the principle respects me more for going in there knowing what I was  
talking about instead of just using the law as a blanket statement  
because I am blind.

Gabe Vega
CEO
The BlindTechs Network
www.theblindtechsnetwork.com
info at theblindtechsnetwork.com
623-565-9357 (voice)
(206) 203-4400 (Fax Phone)

On Feb 19, 2009, at 10:10 AM, Elizabeth Cooks wrote:

I just talked to someone about that this very morning, since my  
daughter will be in kindergarten this fall, and I have the same  
concerns.  Regular communication with the teacher is important, and  
maybe getting some sighted assistance to go over with you some of it  
will be important.  I have a friend whose child is in kindergarten  
this semester, and maybe she can help a little when Angelica is in  
this fall.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Alex" <heyitslu at gmail.com>
To: <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 7:24 PM
Subject: [blparent] Accessible Homework?

> Hello, all!  I am new to the listserve; thus, please forgive me if
> these issues have previously been addressed.  I am a blind, single mom
> and of an autistic, sighted, nearly 5-year-old boy, who will enter
> kindergarten in the fall.  We live away from family and have few
> friends in this area, who can provide frequent sighted assistance.  My
> son already participates in the special education program at an
> elementary school.  IEP's and progress reports as well as information
> from his teacher and therapists have been made accessible; however,
> homework assignments are not truly accessible.  His speech therapist
> has pictures of vocabulary words, which accompany worksheets, games,
> and lists of questions.  although not required, this is our first look
> at homework, and I am extremely apprehensive regarding the future.  I
> am concerned that I will not be able to assist him in completing
> assignments.  I am also concerned about getting assignments in an
> accessible format.  Although my son is starting to read, he only reads
> when he feels like it, and he is not able to relate events of a day,
> tell a story, etc.  How have you helped your children with homework,
> particularly if your child is sighted but has other sensory and/or
> communication challenges?
> The speech therapist and I discussed this issue earlier today.  She
> has proposed to e-mail me homework assignments or send them home on a
> flash drive.  She has also agreed to outline the pictures in glue.
> She said that she would label them for me, but she does not know
> Braille and wants me to make the labels.  I don't have a problem
> making labels, but making labels in the future will require
> considerable planning in the future on everyone's part.  Also, the
> school my son attends does not have a "Vision Rehabilitation Teacher",
> and I was told that the Vision Teacher is only to assist visually
> impaired students.
> Does the school system have a legal obligation to make homework
> assignments, IEP's, progress reports, etc.  accessible to me?  If so,
> who usually ensures that these things are accessible?
> Any advice and information you can provide would be greatly
> appreciated.  The IEP is up for review in March.  I am trying to move
> into this elementary school's zone because they are willing to work
> with me but just don't seem to know how.  If we go to the elementary
> school for which we are zoned, I am concerned the atmosphere will not
> be as accomodating, and I will need to make sure that any
> accomodations I need in order to properly support my son are well
> delineated prior to entering that school.
> Warmest regards,
> Lucy
>
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