[Ohio-talk] Fw: news article to appear: 09A_18SPED600001

[Crystal McClain]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Crystal McClain" <mcmcclain at charter.net>
To: "ohiotalk" <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, November 30, 2009 6:45 PM
Subject: Fw: news article to appear: 09A_18SPED600001


>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Carol Agler" <cagler at ossb.oh.gov>
> To: "Macy McClain" <singinggirl017 at hotmail.com>; "Mark McClain" 
> <MCMCCLAIN at CHARTER.NET>
> Sent: Monday, November 30, 2009 6:18 PM
> Subject: FW: news article to appear: 09A_18SPED600001
>
>
>
> Here are some other colleges that are known for working with people with 
> "developmental disabilities."  I may have forwarded it to you already, but 
> I can't remember.
>
> Kudos to Macy.
>
> Carol Agler
> Music Director
> OSSBMB Co-Director
> Ohio State School for the Blind
> 5220 N. High St.
> Columbus, Ohio 43214
> 614-752-1359
> fax 614-752-1713
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: James Peterfish
> Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 9:01 AM
> To: OSSB Staff
> Subject: FW: news article to appear: 09A_18SPED600001
>
> Thought you all might enjoy this article written by my daughters professor 
> at University of Cincinnati, after attending the concert with our band and 
> the Clark Montessori Steel Drum Band.  The first paragraph and a half and 
> the last are the most important!
> Jim
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Peterfish, Julie
> Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2009 7:02 PM
> To: youthletics at columbus.rr.com
> Subject: FW: news article to appear: 09A_18SPED600001
>
> This is an article my Professor of my Challenging Learner class wrote haha 
> thought you'd appreciate the first part ;) love you :) 
> ________________________________________
> From: Stephen Sunderland [stephen.c.sunderland at uc.edu]
> Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2009 6:10 PM
> Subject: news article to appear: 09A_18SPED600001
>
> This article will appear in an upcoming Metro newspaper.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I KNOW THE WINNER OF THE ROSE BOWL
>
> BY STEVE SUNDERLAND
>
>
> The winner of the Rose Bowl is easy to pick this year. You may be 
> surprised to learn that this year's winner is the Ohio State School for 
> the Blind Marching Band. No matter what happens on the field, it cannot 
> compare to the courage, soul, and grace of this amazing organization. This 
> appearance in the parade on New Year's day will be the Marching Band's 
> first. They are currently rehearsing on a field behind their school by 
> playing and marching in practice for the six mile event. I just saw the 
> band in concert with the extraordinary Clark Montessori Steel Drum Band. 
> The reason for the concert was to help raise funds to defray the costs of 
> the trip to Pasadena. The real reason was to show just how powerful and 
> prepared this group is for the thrill of being in the spotlight of a major 
> event in college and national sports.
>
> The inclusion of the OSSBMB in the parade is a major step forward in 
> opening eyes to the necessity of including students with intellectual and 
> physical challenges in all aspects of higher education. Students seeking a 
> college education and who have an intellectual and/or physical challenge 
> have a major set of obstacles to overcome in the attitudes of college 
> faculty and students. Seeing a blind band in the position of being the 
> only such organization in the world, brings home the point about just how 
> excluded blind people, and by association, anyone with learning and 
> physical difficulties, are from symbolic and substantial school 
> activities. Recently at the University of Cincinnati, representatives from 
> colleges and agencies like the Down Syndrome Association from across the 
> nation met with researchers, teachers, graduates and parents who have all 
> taken a keen interest in admission and success at colleges of challenged 
> students. The research suggests that the national situation is improving 
> but ever so slowly. Three young people, one a college graduate and two 
> students currently attending college in Kentucky, gave inspiring power 
> point and video presentations about their reasons for seeking a degree, 
> employment and a future that is more and more in their control. We also 
> heard from the mothers of two of these students and listened in awe to the 
> work necessary for success for their young people.
>
> Why is the admission of students with challenges so difficult in higher 
> education? As taxpayers, as citizens of this country, as interested 
> students, as people desiring a life of success, they have been left out, 
> turned away, discouraged, and ill prepared for overcoming the hurdles of 
> applying to the colleges of their choice.
> Now, thanks to the work of some outstanding parents, young people, 
> administrators and faculty, there is a new reality. Both Northern Kentucky 
> University and Xavier are welcoming students with intellectual and 
> physical challenges. Clermont College of the University of Cincinnati has 
> people ready to assist in all levels of being a good student. Kent State 
> University and Notre Dame College of Cleveland have also started to open 
> their doors. UC's Peace Village has cooperated with XU and Hamilton County 
> Developmental Disabilities to offer summer college transition experiences 
> at the University of Cincinnati's Clifton campus. Students have lived on 
> campus for a week, attended classes, ate in the dining rooms, attended 
> concerts, heard outstanding speakers on a wide variety of intellectual 
> topics, and just had fun. Starfire U, a private agency with an interest in 
> people with challenges, also joined our college transition summer 
> experience. The Starfire students had worked together as a learning group 
> for the year prior to coming to UC and showed their ability to easily fit 
> into a collegiate experience.
> (For more information on college preparation and college transition 
> programs, please contact Dr. Missy Jones, Northern Kentucky University, 
> prof. Joe Link, Xavier University, Head of Disability Services, Clermont 
> College, Ms. Jan Radt, Pat Dye, Hamilton County Developmental Development, 
> and/or Dr. Steve Sunderland, University of
> Cincinnati.)
>
> Clark Montessori's school auditorium rocked with the joy of the marching, 
> jazz and steel drum bands and the families and friends that came together 
> to celebrate this amazing breakthrough. Thanks to Bruce Weil, Clark Steel 
> Band instructor, and many fellow teachers and parents, we had an 
> experience of feeling the power of music and inclusion. If there was a 
> star of the evening, and there were many, it was Macy McClain, flute and 
> choir, who played solos and with the band in ways that brashly and 
> beautifully said, "We are ready for Pasadena!" Had you been there, you 
> would have not only agreed but you would have been on your feet for the 
> whole concert, cheering their courage and determination to open this 
> important door. Thank you Macy and Bruce.