[nabs-l] [Vabs] Panel looking for Braille readers at George Mason University

[Jessica Kostiw]

I would definitly be interested, but am not sure if I qualify as I am no 
longer a student?
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Corbb O'Connor" <corbbo at gmail.com>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>; <vabs at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 3:45 PM
Subject: [Vabs] Panel looking for Braille readers at George Mason University


> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kimberly Avila" <krwa at verizon.net
> To: <kavila at gmu.edu
> Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 2:18 PM
> Subject: Braille Readers Panel
>
>
> Dear Friends and teachers,
>
> (TVI's and service providers, please pass this along to any students who 
> may
> be interested in speaking on this panel.)
>
> This fall I will be teaching "Braille Code" through the Virginia 
> Consortium
> and George Mason University.  In my efforts to help the graduate
> students/prospective teachers of the visually impaired understand braille 
> is
> more than memorizing code, I would like to host a panel discussion of
> braille readers who will bring personal perspectives of how braille has
> impacted their lives.
>
> This panel will consist of 3-5 members of differing ages and braille 
> reading
> abilities.  A list of topics that will be discussed will be passed along 
> to
> volunteer panel members closer to the date, but here is a general overview
> of questions:
>
> How long did it take you to learn braille?
> What was easy, what was hard?
> Were teachers, family and schools supportive of you learning and reading
> braille?
> Were there any teaching strategies used that were good for you or not so
> good?
> What obstacles did you face in learning or accessing braille?
> How did you manage all of the braille materials and volumes of books?
> Has braille opened up opportunities for you?
> Did knowing braille impact your ability to get a job or attend college 
> after
> high school?
> How has access to braille changed over the years?  (For those who have 
> been
> braille readers longer, what has changed in recent decades that you feel 
> are
> great or not so great...)
> What advice can you give to teachers of the visually impaired or students
> learning braille that will make it more efficient, more fun or more
> accessible?
> Are you glad you learned braille?
> Funny stories: students LOVE to hear any cute anecdotes or experiences 
> with
> braille that make them laugh.
>
> I have created a very thorough, packed syllabus for the Braille course, 
> with
> lessons on every aspect of braille literacy, techniques and technologies 
> for
> teaching/transcribing/reading braille and we will be using the NLS
> curriculum/WESBraille for code instruction.  However, any technologies or
> devices you would like to demo during panel would be great, just let me 
> know
> what you will be bringing.
>
> There are four prospective dates for this panel: 10/1/09, 10/8/09, 
> 10/22/09
> or 11/12/09.  Please let me know your order of preference for days, all
> classes are from 4-6:40 on Thursdays.  The panel will be approximately 1
> hour (give or take) and would ideally begin at 4:00, but I am flexible 
> with
> the start time (the latest start time would be 5:30).
>
> Our class is located in Fairfax City, about 1.5 miles from GMU's main
> campus. Directions will be provided to volunteers.  Sorry, there is no
> re-imbursement for guest speaker travel expenses, but your testimony will
> have a tremendous impact on future TVI's and students.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Kimberly Avila M.A., COMS
> Adjunct Professor of Special Education, Blindness and Visual Impairment
> Contracting Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments
> ACVREP Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist
> www.vipsight.org
>
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