<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" http-equiv=Content-Type>
<META name=GENERATOR content="MSHTML 8.00.6001.19222">
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Hi List:</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">One of my students is a 7 year old
boy whose has a visual impairment of cortical visual impairment with a visual
acuityof 20/70; the student <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>also
<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>has autism and is ambulatory but
nonverbal. I have been teaching this student for close to three years primarily
how to communicate a requested food and presently an tem to play with using the
picture exchange system. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>and have
read the book Autism Spectrum Disorder and visual impairment as well as attended
a mandatory autism workshop to meet my state's educationrequirments. Both the
valuable text and workshop stressed that the picture exchange communication
system is the best suited for my student. in addition, a nmore experienced tvi
observed me and agrees how I am educating this student is appropriate. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">However, I have a an issue to dal
with at the student's school with all other related service providers which
include speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists and the
special education teacher. All other people are using the Carbone method that
teaches communication skills via signs. For the past two years, this student has
sttruggled with this approach but has made significantimprovement <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>to requeest a food and a particular
activity when I use the picture exchange system. I’ve also personally explained
to the person who uses signs to teach students who have autism that this
approach is not a suitable approach for my student whose visually impaired.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">This converstation was occurred last
year. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">I <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>autistic.The parents plan to initiate a
team meeting to discuss my observations and that my student has excelled while I
have been teaching him over the past3 <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>years. a particularl speech therapist is
struggling to teach this student and has finally agreed to observe me <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>teach this student when I reach this
student this week. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">. The parents have felt all along
that the student has made the most progress when I've been teaching me and plan
to advocate for more consistency as to how other related services are provided
and have realized themselves prior to sending the child to the schoool hool that
the student is attending that the child was able to request itmes by presenting
to the parents with <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>a picture of an
item. Most recently, the parent informed me that the student had indicated by
placing his hand on a piece of bread his desire for bread. I have assisted the
parents to get for this student an updated eye report.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>have annual progrgress reports about my
student’s progress as well as various materials to back my position that the
picture exchange communication system is the best approach to teach my student
from the text that I've purchased and read from AFB press as well as hand outs
that I received from a mandatory autism workshop. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Any suggestions from tvis who teach
students who are visually impaired and autistic how I make other related service
providers, school principal, school superviisor of education, and school social
worker understand the best way all service providers and the special education
teacher should be open to implementing to teach my
student.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Lastly, since my student cannot
understand what a particular provider wants from him the student is constantly
crying and doesn't always want to cooperate with other
providers.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Although the student will cry a bit
wile I am attempting to teach im via the picture exchange system, <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I've developed a system that after the
student hands the p[picture of the desired item and completes a few steps in the
activity that the student can go <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>for a walk. This reward motivates the
student and praise for his successful completion of a given ttatask has madethe
student willing to participate in presently selecting the picture of a puzzle,
handing the picture of a puzzzle to me when sitting on my side as wellas <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>when sitting across from me and
completing a puzzle with four shapes. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Thanks for any advice other
experienced tvis have to share about how to deal with <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>my curent
situation.</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:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:State></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>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Email: <A
href="mailto:sararooz@gmail.com">sararooz@gmail.com</A></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>