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

Fri Aug 14 01:22:20 UTC 2009

Jessica,

I don't see a requirement to be a braille-reading student. They are looking 
for braille readers of all ages?

Contact the class professor, and she will be able to tell you exactly what 
she's looking for.

Sincerely,

Antonio Guimaraes

If an infinite number of rednecks riding in an infinite number of pickup 
trucks fire an infinite number of shotgun rounds at an infinite number of 
highway signs, they will eventually produce all the world's great literary 
works in Braille.

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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jessica Kostiw" <jessicac.kostiw at gmail.com>
To: "Virginia Association of Blind Students list" <vabs at nfbnet.org>; 
"National Association of Blind Students mailing list" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 10:28 PM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] [Vabs] Panel looking for Braille readers at 
GeorgeMason University

>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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>
>
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