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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Amber:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>You do not need to apologize for sending your email
to all. This email chain -- or whatever it is called-- is just a
group of parents of blind children, teachers of the visually impaired and other
blind adults and everyone understands. Your questions and concerns are
valid.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Here are some questions/thoughts I present to you
to ask yourself to figure things out the best.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>1. Does your son have a regular IEP
yet? If not, why not?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>2. OR is your son still in the "infant and
toddler program?" If so, does he have an IFSP?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>2. You are right to "pick your
battles!"</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>3. However, if you find that Max learns
best on a Perkins Smart Brailler and/or it is easier for him, easier for his
fingers at this time, or whatever, you may wish to consider asking the school to
provide one during Max's next IEP meeting. It might end up being for
next school year but, even so, if you can get it provided by the school, that
would be great.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>4. If you have not already, you
should try to attend one of the IEP learning sessions for parents offered
each November at the NFB state convention. Definitely well worth the time,
etc.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>5. Although my son is now in college, I
know/remember what it was like at the pre-school age!! Contact me
anytime to discuss/questions, etc.: <A
href="mailto:Kyle.richmond2009@comcast.net">Kyle.richmond2009@comcast.net</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Jill</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=eliaam87@gmail.com href="mailto:eliaam87@gmail.com">Amber Elia</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=mdpobc@nfbnet.org
href="mailto:mdpobc@nfbnet.org">Maryland Parents of Blind Children List</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, November 24, 2013 8:13
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Mdpobc] Fundraiser Campaign
for SMART Brailler</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr>Hello, everyone. I sincerely apologize for mistakenly sending my
initial email to the mailing list. That was not my intention and I am
embarrassed by that mistake.
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Thank you to all the emails that I have received and those people who
have informed me of I CAN. I was not aware of that foundation and what it can
offer families dealing with blindness or low vision. My son is enrolled in
Pre-K through Frederick County. I haven't broached the idea of the school
system purchasing a SMART Brailler for him because I have been pushing for
longer hours that he is at school. Currently, he attends the mandated Pre-K
hours, about 2.5 hrs a day. His day is being extended until 1 pm, very soon.
And, there is the potential that he will end up attending a regular full day
of instruction. The school has been very willing to listen to me and what I
think provides Max with an adequate learning environment. He does well with
the Perkin's Brailler, that I am not sure they will say he will benefit more
from a SMART Brailler. At the NAPVI conference, Max was able to explore it and
just knowing how he learns I see that a machine like that will be a great tool
for him. I am just trying to "pick my battles". I am still learning about the
IEP, but the stories and experiences that have been shared with me have always
been tough. I don't want to stretch the luck I have been experiencing by
bringing up too much at once.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Again, I sincerely apologize! </DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Amber</DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=gmail_extra><BR><BR>
<DIV class=gmail_quote>On Sun, Nov 24, 2013 at 12:25 AM, christopher nusbaum
<SPAN dir=ltr><<A href="mailto:dotkid.nusbaum@gmail.com"
target=_blank>dotkid.nusbaum@gmail.com</A>></SPAN> wrote:<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; PADDING-LEFT: 1ex"
class=gmail_quote>
<DIV>
<DIV>Jill,<BR><BR>While I understand your reasoning for asking these
questions, I must point out that the child in question is currently in
preschool. So it is likely that the preschool in which he is enrolled is not
affiliated with a County school system and therefore is not under the same
legal obligation. In addition, the IEP process has probably not yet begun. I
would advise that this family wait until their blind son is fully enrolled
in the public school system and an IEP has been drafted outlining the basic
services he needs before they start pursuing school system funds for
technology. For a child of this age, there are many more fundamental aspects
of blindness services which must first be taken care of: Braille, TVI
services, O and M, etc. Without these fundamentals in a child's initial IEP,
any assistive technology the school system might purchase for him/her would,
in my opinion, be useless.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV> Please understand that I am not saying that school system funding
for technology should not be pursued or that the school's legal obligation
should be ignored; quite the contrary. I am only trying to make sure we
don't put the cart before the horse. Please also understand that I am only
basing my opinions on my experiences as a blind student in the public
schools, and that Amber is free to correct me if any of my assumptions are
wrong. In our experience, however, my family and I have found it better to
go after the schools for technology funding only after my basic services
were provided for under my IEP. </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Chris Nusbaum</DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV class=h5>
<DIV><BR>On Nov 23, 2013, at 6:19 PM, Kyle Richmond <<A
href="mailto:Kyle.Richmond2009@comcast.net"
target=_blank>Kyle.Richmond2009@comcast.net</A>> wrote:<BR><BR></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE type="cite">
<DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Has the school said this child would benefit from a
Perkins Smart Brailler and/or needs a Smart Brailler to participate at
school? If so, why is this parent having to pay for this device
herself? Shouldn't the school be paying for this? I don't know
enough about this situation to make suggestions but just want to ask these
questions! Finally, parents of very young blind children, try
not to set a precedent that you will pay for everything, let the school
provide for what it legally needs to provide under the IDEA
laws.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Jill Richmond</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>PS - the Perkins Smart Brailler does look
super-cool, love the new technology and the T-shirt is
adorable!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><B>From:</B> <A
title=eliaam87@gmail.com href="mailto:eliaam87@gmail.com"
target=_blank>Gmail</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=mdpobc@nfbnet.org
href="mailto:mdpobc@nfbnet.org" target=_blank>Maryland Parents of Blind
Children List</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, November 23, 2013
10:49 AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Mdpobc] Fundraiser
Campaign for SMART Brailler</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN>Hi Trudy! My name is Amber and my son, Max, is a totally
blind 3 year old. We are up in the Frederick area and he is enrolled in
Pre-K already. I am trying to get the word out about a fundraiser I am
doing in the hopes of being able to purchase him a SMART Brailler. It's
a tee shirt campaign and I have attached the link below. Do you think
you can send it out to the listserv? I appreciate your help getting the
word out. </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN><BR></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN><A href="http://teespring.com/brailleliteracy"
target=_blank>http://teespring.com/brailleliteracy</A></SPAN><BR><BR>Sincerely,</DIV>
<DIV>Amber Elia</DIV>
<P></P>
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<BLOCKQUOTE type="cite">
<DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV
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