[blindkid] High School

[Susan Harper]

Thanks for the info.  I know for us it is a while off, if ever, however, it
is always good to hear what is working for folks.  Thanks and blessings,
Sue H.

On Sun, May 16, 2010 at 6:41 AM, <EMMOL at aol.com> wrote:

> Hi,
> Realized I had saved the questions regarding blind high school students for
>  a less busy time. Not sure when that is. So, I apologize for the delay in
> responding. Patrick is a junior preparing for college. Our recent time  and
> focus relates to our many college visits on the weekends. Also  time
> devoted to the SAT.
> So...things that we have found to work:
> *Key the locker rather than the standard combination lock. Add his
> combination lock to the gym locker. A locker on the end of a row helps.
>
> *O&M always after school, once a week. It has interfered with certain
> after school activities and we try and work the schedule around that. We
> have
> switched the day different years depending on his activity schedule. It is
> his  responsibility to let her know ahead of time if he will be running
> late
> due to a  mandatory meeting, which happens in high school. Urban travel is
> scheduled for  teacher in-service days.The O&M would prefer that he misses
> a
> Friday once a  month for this. We feel that the missed class work, trying
> to
> make up work  and/or tests is too much to ask.
>
> *Identify one librarian (there are several in our high school) who is
> familiar with Patrick's equipment so that if he needs assistance when
> researching or scanning etc. someone is knowledgeable. He's generally
>  independent,
> but it's good to have a "go to person" as the vision teacher is  only in
> district for part of the day.
>
> *Vision Teacher is in the building, daily. In ninth grade they met after
> school. In tenth & eleventh grade one period a day for technology. (Patrick
> gave up choir and they eliminated health from his schedule.) Technology
> time can be "soft" such as previewing materials for geometry or more
> sophisticated such as programs used in chemistry, an internet/jaws glitch,
>  scanning,
> power point assistance, to name a few.
>
> She is available to push in to math if needed. Usually at the beginning of
> the year, not needed now. Some years more challenging, such as with
> geometry.
>
> She also has consult time in her schedule to meet with teachers. Much
> information gathering is done via email for assignments etc, but it is
> important
>  that she is in the building and available for questions.She oversees his
> technology in the building. She oversees the ordering of books, etc. but we
> added that as a goal for Patrick to begin in 10th grade. Contacting next
> years  teachers, getting book lists and ordering materials, to assist with
> the
>  transition to college. We also find that the early contact gets teachers
> thinking and they have their questions ready. They also see Patrick  as
> responsible for his program and feel more comfortable directing  questions
> to
> him.
>
> Sorry for the length of this. I could go on. There are many little things
> that help to make it work. Patrick actually did a power point on this
> topic.
>  (Maybe next year's convention...) I would be happy to answer specific
> questions  as I only touched on many things and didn't get into other
> things. We
> are  preparing for his final IEP meeting. Hard to believe!
> Eileen
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