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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Hello fellow educators and other
blind consumers:</SPAN><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">My apologies to posing a <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>question to this list but I need advice
about two students with additional disabilities and have received vision
services for the past two years. This past year, the local cse requested that
all my students who have additional disabilities and are either blind or
visually impaired <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>that each parent or guardian get an
updated eye report. The majority of parents complied. However, there are two
parents who have not complied. One parent is difficult to speak with but there
is a person who can speak to the parent about the necessity of getting an eye
report of the child's visual acuity. I am hoping this parent will comply.
Another parent who I <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>managed to
speak with personally informed that it's difficult for this parent to take the
child to the ophthalmologist. When I went down to the school today where I
provide vision education services I was told that the local cse will not approve
vision education services this year to any student who does not have an updated
eye report. I explained to the principal, social worker and school nurse as well
as a health related provider to stress to the parent the necessity for this
child to be seen by an ophthalmologist and has also indicated to theschool
social worker <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>that I had made
contact and that the parent had refused to take the child for an eye exam. I
also informed the district that approves each student's vision education
services and was told not to sign off these particular students for vision
educational <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>services until both
parents comply with the local cse for an updated eye exam. I understand that
students with additional disabilities including visually impaired may have a lot
of medical issues to deal with or the family dynamics may make <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>it difficult to go to a doctor's
appointment. Any suggestion how I proceed? The school feels that it is not my
responsibility to go with any <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>particular child to an ophthalmologist.
The school feels that I have overextended myself by contacting every parent
initially and following up with each parent to ensure that an updated eye report
has been submitted to the local cse and school. How does one proceed in my case?
I would appreciate comments and suggestions from <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>more experienced teachers of the blind
who teach <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>with students with
additional disabilities including blindness or a visual impairment. How <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>can it be <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>suggest that the parents comply with the
essential need for a updated eye report otherwise these two particularly
visually impaired students won't be receiving vision education services. I will
also not be assisting these children meeting the Iep goals and short term
objectives I have written for them. So when it comes for each <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>child's annual review what do I submit to
the local CSE? Thanks for any suggestions more experienced teachers of the blind
and visually impaired teaching students with additional disabilities who are
blind or visually impaired can advise me how to proceed. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Sara Rooz</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Certified Teacher of the Blind and
Visually Impaired in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">New York</st1:State></st1:place></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Independent Related Service Provider
Vision Education Services in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York
City</st1:place></st1:City></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
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