[nabs-l] Frustrating High School Issue...

Wed Jan 29 05:12:11 UTC 2014

I used the mobility Method just described by Arielle when I was a kid to get
around school.
-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Arielle
Silverman
Sent: Tuesday, January 28, 2014 11:21 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Frustrating High School Issue...

Hi JJ,

Congrats on starting high school soon!

While Braille signage does make getting around more convenient, most school
buildings I have seen do not have consistent Braille signs. I am not sure if
Braille signage is even required by the ADA. Though I'd encourage you to
keep pushing the school for Braille, please understand that there are many
other ways for you to find your classrooms independently without it. You can
learn whichpod is which based on where it is relative to other landmarks on
campus. For example, perhaps as you walk in to campus from the parking lot,
one pod is on your left while the other is straight ahead or on your right.
These are things that your O&M teacher can help you identify.
Inside the building, you can learn where your classrooms are by counting
doors and by learning which landmarks are near your classes.
There might be a restroom, drinking fountain or stairway close to your
classroom that you can use as a landmark. I have gotten around in many
buildings without Braille signs, including my current office building and
the building I teach in. In fact, you might be surprised to learn that the
NFB national center has few, if any, Braille signs! Many things at the
national center are Brailled, but not the room doors. I don't completely
agree with their choice not to put up Braille signs, but I suppose that the
blind employees at the National Center for the Blind don't feel that Braille
signage is necessary for them to navigate. In my experience, after a while I
do memorize my routes well enough that I don't need to check the Braille
sign even if there is one. In the beginning, when you are learning campus,
your teachers and classmates can help you identify the landmarks on your
path of travel.
You and your TVI  could work together to make temporary Braille signs on
paper or stickers for just the classrooms you use most. This is a simple
solution that would  not involve getting the school to cooperate. On the
downside, the temporary signs may not last too long if students vandalize
them.

Regarding your second issue, the principal is not allowed to put you in a
"challenge" classroom without your parents' permission. These kinds of
arrangements must be made in writing at IEP meetings and agreed to by a
majority of people on your IEP team, including your parents. The principal
might not understand this. If you don't yet attend your annual IEP meetings,
I would suggest you ask to start doing so and ask for Braille copies of your
IEP so you have a record of what your educational plan is and can voice any
concerns. I am not sure why the principal feels a challenge room would help
you, but it does not sound like something that your parents would agree to.

Best,
Arielle

On 1/28/14, Zachary N. Griego-Dreicer <zdreicer at gmail.com> wrote:
> also, I will be talking about the second question you proposed to the 
> administration at the Colorado Center, they will be getting back with 
> you shortly. Talk to you later :-) and sorry to hear of your 
> difficulties my friend. Great news! At my time at Alameda, I 
> discovered that the new building has Braellan it. I know that this 
> isn't necessarily what you want to hear, but it is a start!
>
> Sent from my iPhone 5S Using VoiceOver
>
>> On Jan 28, 2014, at 21:00, johnnie Jean duran 
>> <johnniejduran at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Dear National Association of Blind Students, As some of you are aware 
>> of, next year, I will become a 9th grader
>> (freshman) at Alameda International High School. This high school is 
>> a public school in Lakewood Colorado.
>> While visiting the school for the first time, I'd realized that the 
>> area in which the 9th grade students have classes in, has no braille 
>> on the walls. There are 2 pods, that look exactly alike, but there is 
>> no braille on each doorway to identify which room you are entering.
>> This is going to be an issue for me because there is no way of 
>> identifying which room I am entering, or which pod I am in. I brought 
>> this situation up to my TVI and ONM teachers. My ONM teacher then 
>> informed me that she'd spoken to Alameda several times, and they've 
>> made it seem as if this issue was not a necessity. My TVI told me 
>> that she would talk to the administration about this issue. A few 
>> days later, she happily informed me that they were getting braille up 
>> on the walls ASAP.
>> 2 months later, while I am viseting the school with my 8th grade 
>> class, we took a tour through the pods, and still I did not see any 
>> braille. At a parent night my Mom attended tonight, she brought up 
>> the issue to the Assistant Principal as well. He informed us that 
>> he's been aware of the situation for several years, and then turned 
>> away as if it were not important enough to discuss. He then told us, 
>> that I would be placed in a challenge room with students who have 
>> multiple disabilities. I was frustrated with this issue because of 
>> the fact that I do not need to be in a challenge room. I am capable 
>> of everything a sighted individual is capable of doing, and the only 
>> thing that is stopping me is that braille. I feel like I am being 
>> underestimated, and I rfuse to be placed in a challege room when I 
>> don't need it.
>> The NFB is my last resort, therefore as experienced blind students, I 
>> am asking for your help. How would I take this situation to the next 
>> level?
>> All advice is always appreciated!
>> Thank you,
>> JJ
>>
>> --
>> Ms. Johnnie Jean Duran
>> 8th Grade Student
>> O'Connell Middle School - An IB World School Lakewood, Colorado, 
>> United States Member Of The National Federation Of The Blind Of 
>> Colorado (NFBCO), The Colorado Association Of Blind Students (CABS), 
>> and the North Metro Chapter of the NFB.
>> Facebook: facebook.com/johnniejean.duran
>> Instagram: jj_duran13
>> Skype: jj.duran13
>> Kik: jjd_13
>> Twitter: jj_duran_13
>>
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