[blindkid] Need help

[Albert J Rizzi]

Hello Kim,

It is unfortunate when teachers  do not teach to the students particular
learning styles.  I think you hit it on the head when you said that the
school does not know nor is prepared to teach your daughter as your daughter
challenges the norms and perspectives on what the blind are capable of. I
would speak to the determination with which your daughter thirsts for
learning and being looked at as able in her own way of doing things.  She
and you must challenge the schools ignorant approach   and generationally
imposed short comings on their lack of ability in teaching to your daughters
individual learning style.  I myself faced these same puzzlements and head
scratching moments when I lost my eye sight very unexpectedly only 4 years
ago this month.  Misperceptions  about what the blind can do or should not
do in most instances is still very pervasive despite those advancements made
over the years. As a 45 year old man I refuse to be denied access to
anything, and I am sickened to learn that an educational system is failing
to empower a student who's desire to learn challenges the schools own
understanding of least restrictive environments for learning.  To restrict a
student with a passion such as the one your daughter has to participate in
all school activities is appalling. shame on them for not living up to their
purpose and reason for being educators. All to often we as educators find
that if a student does not learn in the typical and normal manner, and lets
face it, today what is normal or typical anyway, that student is labeled
learning disabled and moved away so as not to tax the teacher who is ill
equipped to do their job.  You and your daughter must continue to fight the
good fight. I think someone in the chat circle suggested that you enlist the
participation  of a fellow student who is also dancing and determined to
succeed.  This worked remarkably for me and my students in kindergarten and
beyond. Peer to peer teaching is empowering on more levels then you can
imagine. It helps your daughter learn to accept and look for help from
others, it allows the student helping to feel valued and knowledgeable, it
affords the teacher another tool to use in educating students, and it is a
community, character and civic minded way to ensure our youth grow up to
appreciate one another for who they are and what their needs are. Often
common ground is met in teaching styles such as these which lead to
diversity appreciation and the appreciation of individual abilities and
purpose. Peace.

Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
CEO/Founder
My Blind Spot, Inc.
90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
New York, New York  10004
www.myblindspot.org
PH: 917-553-0347
Fax: 212-858-5759
"The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
doing it."


-----Original Message-----
From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Kim Cunningham
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 3:53 PM
To: Blindkid
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Need help

Thank you Sandy for your warmth! I have called an ARD for Thursday morning.
After speaking to the case manager this morning, I asked "What is it going
to take? Do I need to contact the director of special education?"  The case
manager informed me that the director already knows about the
situation........I was dumbfounded! So the CTVI, case manager, choir
director, school principal, and the director of special education are all
aware that Kayleigh is looking for help with learning the routines and
nobody has offered to help her????? Do you think these people just can' t
imagine how to teach a blind person to dance and are stuck in their tracks?
Surely this can't be the reason, but I'm beginning to wonder. Kayleigh knows
exactly how she needs to be taught, but she just needs to find a person
willing to help her.
There is nothing as sweet as parenting my lovely daughter, but life has been
nothing but hell in every other area.  We have all felt it. This shouldn't
be allowed for other people to have so much control over your own happiness
or sanity! 
We'll see what happens at the ARD. I did ask for the choir director to be
there. Of course, I requested that Kayleigh not attend as I'm sure it won't
be pretty. This man needs to know that he is messing with the wrong momma! 
Regards,
Kim 

--- On Tue, 12/15/09, Dr. S. Merchant <smerchant at vetmed.lsu.edu> wrote:


From: Dr. S. Merchant <smerchant at vetmed.lsu.edu>
Subject: RE: [blindkid] Need help
To: "'Kim Cunningham'" <kim at gulfimagesphoto.com>
Date: Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 2:29 PM


Hi Kim,

I feel your frustration and your tiredness.  Too often we don't want to talk
about us adults just being tired of the fight.  But... it has certainly
happen to me, many times, and I just make do.  But... here we go again.  I
would probably have a meeting with the school principal.  An email does seem
to have gotten you anywhere.  If you want to kill two birds with one stone
and you are up for it, I would request that the choir director be there
(unless you think it will get ugly and there will be a back lash against
Kayleigh) because choir director presence will be more confrontational. 
Then I would change tact and ask the school principal for help with this
matter - make is a personal plea.. ask him to be discreet and you also need
to voice concern of a potential back lash.  When push comes to shove (and it
seems to be there now), you need the principal on your side.  So a personal
meeting will go a long way.  If the principal is a chauvinist
 or has a tendency to be one, you may want to bring your husband - unless it
will get too confrontational if you do this.  

Just my thoughts.

Sandy

-----Original Message-----
From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Kim Cunningham
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 10:04 AM
To: Blindkid
Subject: [blindkid] Need help

I am having a problem with my daughter's school and I need your help. I have
composed the letter below to send to all the school board members as all of
my other pleas for help have fell on deaf ears. I would appreciate your
opinions on how I should handle this matter. I have done nothing but fight
for a equal education all my daughter's life. She is a senior now and I am
at the point where I just want to throw the towel in and say "whatever - I'm
too tired to continue this!". I'm sorry the letter is long, but I needed to
state all the facts. My daughter actually gave a speech to the school board
two years ago about the problems she has had in receiving an education as a
blind student. Of course, this only led to bickering within the board
members and the school lawyer. Not much came of the ordeal....
Please give me your feedback...I will not send the letter to the board until
I calm down.
Regards,
Kim Cunningham

Dear All,

I am so upset right now that I pray I can write a civilized email to
everyone. There has been an issue for the past 3 months or so, concerning my
daughter, Kayleigh receiving extra help to learn the dance routines for the
upcoming PHS school musical. Kayleigh tried out and won a part as a member
of a singing and dancing group. Kayleigh was very aware that her dancing
part of the audition didn’t go very well, but she was chosen nonetheless.
Kayleigh knew from previous small routines done within the choir that she
was going to have a hard time "visually" learning the routines since she is
partially blind. Kayleigh is very capable of learning the routines, but she
needs someone to give her more than visual instruction. 
We all know that Kayleigh is considered "special education" due to her
blindness and has IEP's as part of the ARD process. One of Kayleigh's IEP's
has been to advocate her needs.  Kayleigh has done this repeatedly with
regard to looking for someone who could give her extra instruction to learn
her part. Kayleigh has asked for help from her case manager, Mrs. Harris
(numerous emails and conversations), and her choir teacher, Mr. Bready.
There have been four or five rehearsals so far and NO ONE has been
designated yet to help Kayleigh before, during, or after rehearsals!
Kayleigh says she feels "foolish" because she knows she isn't dancing and
moving like everyone else. Last week, Kayleigh asked Mr. Bready again for
help and was told by Mr. Bready to ask Shannon (a student and
choreographer/helper with the musical) to help her. The girls decided to
meet on Monday, Dec. 14 prior to the evening’s rehearsal for one on one
help. Of course, Shannon was
not there after school yesterday and Kayleigh again received no help during
rehearsal; however she continued to try to do the best she could.
I requested two weeks ago in an email to Mrs. Harris, to have an ARD to
discuss how we were going to assist Kayleigh with this problem as everyone
was ignoring both our requests for assistance. I emailed Mr. Bready asking
about Kayleigh getting help, and I also email Mr. Berger (school principal)
requesting assistance with this matter. NO ONE CONTACTED ME ON ANY ACTION!
NO ONE CALLED ME! NO ONE EMAILED ME!
Now......now, I find out that the choir director, Mr. Bready had the
audacity to say during last night's rehearsal to Charles (the main
choreographer). "When are we going to start removing some of the bad
dancer's and specifically stated Kayleigh as being a bad dancer. This was
told to me by someone who heard this discussion. She is a trusted student
who knows my daughter and knows of Kayleigh's troubles in finding help.
Thank God, the main choreographer said that he didn't want to pull Kayleigh
as he could see she was trying to learn the routine. Ultimately, I don’t
know who will have the final say – the choreographer or the choir director.
How can Mr. Bready call himself a teacher? Kayleigh asked him for help and
now he wants to punish her for not learning what she asked help for? This
must have crushed Kayleigh as she learned of this as I was dropping her off
to school. What kind of school is Pearland High School? What kind of message
are
you sending to my daughter? I am hurt and deeply angered that Kayleigh heard
this. She is already self-conscious about her dancing ability. I am sure her
spirit is deeply wounded.
Kayleigh designed her whole schedule this year around the fact that she
wanted an opportunity to be in a musical. This was a goal of hers for the
year. She told the entire ARD committee last year of her plans. She tried
out for musical and made it. We were so proud of her. Kayleigh is so
distraught over the situation that I wished she would have never even tried.
It breaks my heart to see my daughter hurting.
I'm not sure what my next step is concerning this matter. I do expect that a
dialog should happen with Kayleigh and let her know if she is a valued part
of the musical cast or if she is going to be removed. I don't want her
anguish to continue....
Mr. Bready has been mainly non-compliant with Kayleigh's accommodations. He
often forgets to have her work enlarged and gives her no considerations for
her blindness. I enlarge many pieces of music (at my own cost) so she will
be sure to have it. I also paid to have the script printed in large format
and bound, again, so she was sure to have it. Kayleigh's accommodations are
meant for ALL classes. Kayleigh has not wanted me to say anything to Mr.
Bready about these issues because she wanted to try on her own and is afraid
that he will hold it against her if I complain. This has moved out of her
hands now and into mine as I won't take it any longer. 
I don’t know if this problem warrants a complaint against Kayleigh’s right
to participate as a student, or if this is a discrimination issue because of
her blindness, or simply a moral issue about attitudes of differently abled
people.
I just thought that you should know how my daughter has been treated. If
this can happen to my daughter, how many others is this happening to? You
are the society that deems her as "disabled" when she is perfectly
able......
Regards,
Kim Cunningham






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