[blindkid] books and school

T. J. tjmaries at yahoo.com
Thu Dec 4 23:56:47 UTC 2008


Awesome! Thanks for the discription. Going to make one right away!

T. J.




________________________________
From: Debby B <bwbddl at yahoo.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 4, 2008 3:37:34 PM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] books and school

It's just a piece of heavy screen duct taped to a piece of cardboard. You place your paper on top and write or color on it. Winona says she can feel pencil, some pens, some markers, and of course crayons.

Debby 
bwbddl at yahoo.com
www.nfbflorida.org/parents



----- Original Message ----
From: T. J. <tjmaries at yahoo.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 4, 2008 8:49:10 AM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] books and school

Debby, Can you tell me how the screen board was made?  It sounds like siomething I need.

T. J.




________________________________
From: Debby B <bwbddl at yahoo.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 4, 2008 4:35:03 AM
Subject: [blindkid] books and school

This happened a lot at the beginning of the year. Winona in tears, "I need my book", the paras adamant "I am NOT going down there", the teacher "it's okay, not important today." Me insisting they keep the current volume, the next one, and any the teacher anticipates skipping to. After 3 meetings with everyone that problem has mostly resolved. Each class is only 50 minutes, with 3 minutes between. Most classes are on the same upstairs hall, resource room is down stairs in another wing. Old school, small rooms. By the time Winona went down, found the needed book (maybe in a box?), and got back to class she would have missed the class.

Here's another goodie that will be brought up at Monday's meeting. Winona provided her own protractor, wikki stiks, screen board, crayons, etc. for math yesterday as she knew what was coming up and figured the TVI wouldn't have it. Sure enough, she told Winona there was no protractor she could use. Volia! Winona pulled it out. "Sorry Winona, there's no way for you to color in this pie graph. Volia! Winona pulled out her screen board and crayons. I was so proud of Winona for thinking ahead and being prepared. Otherwise, she would have been simply sitting and listening to this math lesson.

Science teacher no longer discusses things with the TVI, she goes straight to Winona to work things out.

Another item on the agenda for Monday: Winona's "Braille time" was finally spent doing something other than this ridiculous mPower "testing" and chatting. Yesterday she was able to Braille her own worksheet, since the TVI "had no time" to do it.

Our middle schools send a text home with each student, then they all share the school text. Works out great because there is no more "I left my book at school" excuse! They also don't allow backpacks, although our blind kids are allowed since they're lugging around more stuff.

Oh, and I must share an almost funny, which will also be  brought up at the meeting! The TVI keeps telling all 3 blind kids that there is no way to hook the mPower to a computer for the teacher to see their work. We all know there is. Tuesday I substituted in an elementary class which includes our elementary blind student. It was really interesting to be on the teacher end of the spectrum. Plus, I got to see the other TVI in action, which included plugging the student's mPower into the computer so that I could see her work! Ah ha! Proof that it can be done and is being done in our own county!

Debby 
bwbddl at yahoo.com
www.nfbflorida.org/parents



----- Original Message ----
From: Carrie Gilmer <carrie.gilmer at gmail.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 3, 2008 7:58:20 PM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] storage solutions

Dear Debby-

Many times, many times, she is without a book for this reason? I know things
have been ridiculous, and this tops the cake...this is unacceptable.



Winona is in middle school. Jordan had a resource room that was some
distance, if he needed a volume change he had a permanent hall pass (or
needed to print something from his BrailleNote) to go to the resource room.
He was always very responsible and used his time wisely. I think Winona has
the same kind of character.

Another thing that has been done (the resource room is only so big)is to
have a rolling book cart in a room with the whole book in there, one in
math, one in science, one in social, etc. This has worked really well. (All
these things were/are in his IEP (his IEP accommodations are ridiculous like
six pages-but IF IT IS NOT WRITTEN down-it always failed somewhere-smile)



It helps develop responsibility too, like anyone else if he forgot a volume
or his book then he was stuck or needed to call a classmate. It was also his
responsibility to keep aware of what was coming next, which volume he might
need. This has really helped his ability to self organize and plan ahead.



"Plan Ahead" and "Flexibility" are two essentials blind people can't be
caught without...they are good for everyone, but really important for the
blind student or employee to succeed. 



I am sad to say I think we had a high of 30 and that may be the warmest air
we see this week. I'll be there shortly.smile. 45? Don't make me laugh. Even
my garage door has been frozen for two days. Why do things always break just
when you are about to spend Christmas money? Smile.. 



Carrie Gilmer, President

National Organization of Parents of Blind Children

A Division of the National Federation of the Blind

NFB National Center: 410-659-9314

Home Phone: 763-784-8590

carrie.gilmer at gmail.com

www.nfb.org/nopbc


      

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