[rehab] Looking for ESL resources for newly blind refugee from Syria who doesn’t' know any English or braille

[Nancy Coffman]

The orientation Center at the Nebraska commission for the blind and visually impaired also had a Blind refugee and worked with her on ESL.

Nancy Coffman

Sent from my iPhone

> On Nov 20, 2017, at 4:19 PM, Nightingale, Noel via rehab <rehab at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> NPR ran a series of stories about a Syrian refugee client who was newly-blinded being served by the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired.  Perhaps that agency might have good information for you.
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: rehab [mailto:rehab-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Gatton, Tonia (OFB-LV) via rehab
> Sent: Monday, November 20, 2017 8:35 AM
> To: rehab at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Gatton, Tonia (OFB-LV)
> Subject: [rehab] Looking for ESL resources for newly blind refugee from Syria who doesn’t' know any English or braille
> 
> Hi all!  As my subject indicates, we have an extremely bright  client who is a refugee from Syria.  He was blinded in a bomb explosion and he and his family recently relocated to our area.  He only speaks Arabic and doesn’t know Arabic braille.  He is attempting to learn English but is in an ESL class with a large number of students, and has received very little assistance.  He’s struggling tremendously due to how visual the class is.  Our agency won’t pay for translator’s and he’s currently working with volunteer translators to learn basic O&M skills.
> 
> The O&M instructor and I are trying to locate resources that might be helpful to him in trying to learn English.  I was also thinking it could be beneficial to find other blind individuals who speak both Arabic and English, that might be willing to talk to him on the phone.  We would greatly appreciate any suggestions or possible contacts.
> 
> Thanks so much,
> 
> Tonia
> 
> 
> 
> Tonia Gatton
> Assistive Technology Specialist
> Kentucky career Center
> KY Office for the Blind
> Charles W. McDowell Center
> 8412 Westport Road
> Louisville, KY 40242
> (502) 429-4460 ext. 268
> (502) 429-7101
> tonia.gatton at ky.gov<mailto:tonia.gatton at ky.gov>
> 
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