[blindkid] help for blind/autistic 14 yr old

Tom and Deb OConnor toc6642 at charter.net
Thu Oct 20 15:33:49 UTC 2011 

Thank you Steve.  Yes, I have been in contact with Hadley - helpful and 
I know basic braille.  I have not heard of RISE.  I will check into 
both.  I think having access to the equipment is crucial for their 
success - do you see that with your daughter too?  Matthew loves 
technology and this is an area he is hungry to learn.  How is your 
daughter doing?  Steve - who do you think is the most crucial teacher 
for your daughter - vision teacher or autism teacher?  I know ideally 
both, but if we are looking at other schools besides the public school - 
would the experience of the blind teacher be what you focus on most if 
you have to choose?  Thanks

Deb

Tom & Debbie O'Connor
toc6642 at charter.net


On Thu, Oct 20, 2011 at 5:18 AM, Steve Craig wrote:

> We were able to take materials home for the summer vacation. We 
> recognized, as did our school that our blind/autistic daughter (also 
> 14) had trouble with math. So, we tried to work on it some at home 
> during break. ISBVI has been very accommodating. Another outlet I 
> might suggest to you is Hadley Institute for the Blind. They have 
> courses for Parents that your son may be able to use. You could check. 
> I used them to learn grade 1 braille. We got a computer from the Texas 
> Institute for the Blind for $100 that had everything including a NVDA 
> screen reader. ISBVI does have experience with Blind/Autistic 
> students. Also, you may want to contact RISE (Franklin Township) 
> Indiana, they have been very helpful for my daughter. I think that 
> ISBVI and RISE would offer assistance for you in your area or if you 
> would consider moving, they also could offer some help with that as 
> well.
> Steven L. Craig
>
>
> --- On Wed, 10/19/11, Tom and Deb OConnor <toc6642 at charter.net> wrote:
>
> From: Tom and Deb OConnor <toc6642 at charter.net>
> Subject: Re: [blindkid] help for blind/autistic 14 yr old
> To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)" 
> <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> Date: Wednesday, October 19, 2011, 9:08 PM
>
> He is in mainstream school - things are becoming difficult.  He is in 
> 8th grade - he just for the first time, has a perkins brailler at home 
> - that came on Oct.12.  TOday for the first time - they  downloaded a 
> NVDA screen reading program for him to use at home.  He has never used 
> his braillenoter at home yet.  She wanted to set that up with computer 
> today , but wrong adapter - so waiting about a week or so for that.  
> This year is starting off poorly and difficult communication.  I have 
> spoken to to people on the state level - put I don't want to go that 
> route if I don't have too - I truly want to find a different setting 
> for him with a experienced autism teacher and vision teacher.  His 
> vision teacher has done a pretty good job with skills when I look at 
> IEP - but why no equipment at home???  Dumb me did not even ask as I 
> assumed this was how they did it in Mn.  When I started asking for 
> homework or practice material - they could not
>  comprehend what I wanted.  Then they email me district policy rules 
> on homework.  I assumed that they would expect him to practice skills 
> at home - that was a wrong assumption. I am learning a lot and have a 
> better understanding of IEP etc.  Long learning process and mistakes 
> on my part made on this journey.
>
> Tom & Debbie O'Connor
> toc6642 at charter.net
>
>
> On Wed, Oct 19, 2011 at 9:10 AM, Carol Castellano wrote:
>
>> Is he in school now?  What is his placement and how are things going?
>> Carol
>>
>> At 09:17 AM 10/19/2011, you wrote:
>>> Carol - thanks for info.  I have heard it is good too, but have not 
>>> read it yet.  I am going to try to call them to talk.  We are having 
>>> a very, very hard time even finding a place for him and someone who 
>>> would want to teach him.  We are willing to pay a teacher if need be 
>>> - maybe summer months for tutoring help.  He is easy to work with 
>>> and very funny.  He is so willing to learn and hungry to understand, 
>>> he is not your usual autistic kid, but some tendencies are certainly 
>>> there. - please keep us in mind if you should hear of someone or 
>>> some place. Moving would be hard in this economy, trying to sell 
>>> home etc - but maybe if there is someone out there I could find a 
>>> place to stay with my Son, through the church or something. I am 
>>> just brainstorming here.  WE are in Mn.  I have been in touch with 
>>> Blind Inc. in Mpls mn - but they do not know of any vision teachers 
>>> with autism exp.  Really - all they might need is the desire to help 
>>> this child
>  and read that book you referenced!  That alone would be a great start 
> for him.
>>>
>>> Thanks again
>>>
>>> Tom & Debbie O'Connor
>>> toc6642 at charter.net
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sun, Oct 16, 2011 at 7:56 PM, Carol Castellano wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi Tom & Debbie,
>>>>
>>>> You may already have seen this, but Jay Gense and Marilyn Gense 
>>>> wrote a book called
>>>>
>>>> Autism Spectrum Disorders and Visual Impairment:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Meeting Students' Learning Needs.  I have not read it myself so 
>>>> cannot say if it is a good one, but you might want to take a look 
>>>> if you haven't already.  it's available here:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> 
>>>> <http://www.afb.org/store/product.asp?sku=978-0-89128-880-0&mscssid=L263WDT9Q2K89JA4G3SLVPMVP34J7PT2>http://www.afb.org/store/product.asp?sku=978-0-89128-880-0&mscssid=L263WDT9Q2K89JA4G3SLVPMVP34J7PT2
>>>> The Gense's teach in Oregon.  Perhaps that would be a good place to 
>>>> move to :-).
>>>>
>>>> I wish you good luck in your search.
>>>>
>>>> Carol
>>>>
>>>> Carol Castellano
>>>> Director of Programs
>>>> National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
>>>> 973-377-0976
>>>> carol_castellano at verizon.net
>>>> www.nopbc.org
>>>>
>>>> At 05:46 PM 10/14/2011, you wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> We are seeking a school or person to help educate our very smart 
>>>>> and funny blind/autistic 14 yr old son.  We live in elk river mn. 
>>>>> Willing to drive or possible relocate.  Fairbault school for blind 
>>>>> not an option for us.  Please email us with resources or help. 
>>>>> Thank you
>>>>>
>>>>> Tom & Debbie O'Connor
>>>>> toc6642 at charter.net
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> blindkid mailing list
>>>>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
>>>>> for blindkid:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> 
>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/carol_castellano%40verizon.net
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> blindkid mailing list
>>>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
>>>> for blindkid:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> 
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/toc6642%40charter.net
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> blindkid mailing list
>>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
>>> for blindkid:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/carol.joyce.castellano%40gmail.com
>>
>> Carol Castellano
>> Director of Programs
>> National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
>> 973-377-0976
>> carol_castellano at verizon.net
>> www.nopbc.org
>> _______________________________________________
>> blindkid mailing list
>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>> blindkid:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> 
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/toc6642%40charter.net
>
> _______________________________________________
> blindkid mailing list
> blindkid at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> blindkid:
> 
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/ipd4life2006%40yahoo.com
> _______________________________________________
> blindkid mailing list
> blindkid at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> blindkid:
> 
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/toc6642%40charter.net

More information about the BlindKid mailing list