[blindkid] Braille note

Thu Mar 8 15:46:14 UTC 2012

Eric, I'm right with you on this point. 

Kendra is in third grade and has been taking home her braillenote since at least the start of first grade. I know she started using at least a braille 'n speak in kindergarten-- I can't remember if she actually brought that one home. I suspect since homework is not officially required for kindergarten here, they would have argued she had no need to have the equipment issued at that point, but by first grade I think typically developing blind kids should have this technology available for homework.

Kendra does the vast majority of her homework on the braillenote. She had to present a speech today. She wrote it on the braiienote at home and read it from the same unit at school. It is basically her pen and paper and all of her notebooks all rolled into one. Imagine if sighted kids were expected to leave their pen, paper, and notebooks at school every day!

Our district does require a sheet to be signed to state we're responsible for the unit. This has not prevented them thus far from dealing with typical maintenance issues on her equipment, but it is reasonable that we should cover any damage due to negligence or such, and that would be my answer to anyone saying a child isn't old enough. We have signed out various things-- braillenotes, printers. braillewriters, even an abacus (though I dont know of that actually needed to be signed for as such). I suggest that if a parent says they will be responsible for the equipment, then it really isn't the school's concern beyond that. Our kids need these units to be successful. If we will pay in case they are damaged, where is their argument not to send these home? Same thing over the summer. What is the harm if we cover these for damage over summer break? And as for need over the summer, even of you're not arguing work would fall behind, often there is summer work, at least such as a summer reading list. State that you need the braillenote to access booskshare books or the like.

If someone has concerns about the cost in case of loss or damage, etc. (very understandable-- it concerns us too) you might see what your insurance will cover or what can be added on.

Richard

On Mar 7, 2012, at 6:48 PM, DrV wrote:

> My 4th grade son has been taking his BrailleNote to & back from school
> since Kindergarden.
> For us it was never even a question - He needs the tool to do his
> homework. 
> It is a vital part of his educational experience.
> How is a child expected to keep up or excel if they are not allowed to
> appropriate access & tools?
> I would argue that the BrailleNote is needed to access the mandatory
> general ed curriculum at home & school.
> My 2 cents.
> Eric 
> 
> On 3/7/12 2:53 PM, "Dr. S. Merchant" <smerchant at vetmed.lsu.edu> wrote:
> 
>> I really think the maturity of the individual student needs to be taken
>> into
>> account, so to deny access to this piece of equipment at home until a
>> certain age doesn't make sense.  However, the Braille notetakers can be
>> somewhat fragile as concerns their pin movements to create the Braille and
>> the functioning Braille display sometimes doesn't survive intact when
>> dropped, but on the other hand it isn't thin glass either.  My son and a
>> few
>> of the students that were in his self contained VI class were taking their
>> Braille note takers (school bought/owned) home in the first and second
>> grade. It then never left his side through high school.
>> 
>> Sandy Merchant Taboada
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Penny Duffy
>> Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2012 3:49 PM
>> To: Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)
>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Braille note
>> 
>> I know in our district the students bring their braille notes and or
>> laptops
>> home. Many kids use them for their homework. They are provided by the
>> district.  I am pretty sure IDEA mentions home use. I don't have the
>> wording.  I am just dragging it out of my memory. Which could be wrong.
>> On Mar 7, 2012 4:44 PM, "Carly B" <barnesraiser at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> Hi everyone,
>>> 
>>> IEP season... oh, yay!! :) I am going to be making a request for my
>>> son having a Braille notetaker (MPower or other) to bring home. I'm
>>> convinced that having it at home will support his Braille acquisition
>> considerably.
>>> He's in 3rd grade now and this would be for his 4th grade year. I'm
>>> wondering at what age/grade kids have gotten Braille notetakers for
>>> home and school use, and whether it was provided by the school or from
>>> some other agency (or from you), and what have been benefits of having
>>> it at home?
>>> 
>>> Thank you so much for any input on this question.
>>> 
>>> :) Carolynn Barnes
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> 
> 
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