[blindkid] Braille instruction time in IEP

Thu May 29 01:33:02 UTC 2014

Congrats!  Sounds good.  I also second making sure that he actually gets
his time.  We had a TVI who would give my kids about 10 min and then send
them back to class.  Was so frustrating!!

good luck!
Traci

On Wed, May 28, 2014 at 8:45 PM, Marianne Denning via blindkid <
blindkid at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> I would say that a braillenote, or other braille display, is needed
> from the beginning.  I teach through virtual instruction and I connect
> with students via Skype and JAWS Tandem.  The student has a braille
> display and so do I.  When I work with a duel reader I have the
> student learn braille contractions and look at the computer screen so
> she learns the connection between braille and print.  If the student
> is a braille reader only, I teach JAWS and Windows commands so she can
> also understand the connection between braille and print.  The student
> will interact with the computer key board and the keys on the braille
> display during the lesson.  And yes, I also teach the student to use
> the Perkins Brailler.  All students need many different tools to
> complete assignments.  I also teach the student to decide when to use
> each tool.  Since I am blind I use all of the tools I teach so I can
> be successful in my career. The TVI who is teaching at the school can
> use the same techniques I use.  Many of them may not have the
> knowledge of JAWS and braille displays to do this but they should
> learn these skills.  Employment in the future will be based on
> technology and our students who have the skills will be more
> successful.  These skills should be taught beginning in Kindergarten
> and continue throughout the student's education.
>
> Please encourage your child's TVI to learn these skills so your child
> learns the braille and technology skills to succeed.  Technology does
> not replace braille.  It makes braille more important than it has ever
> been.  Braille Readers are Leaders!!!
>
> On 5/28/14, Pui via blindkid <blindkid at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> > Julie,
> >
> > What are you trying to get funding for? My son has all his needs met (so
> > far). They should have access to quota funds and the low incidence fund.
> > Also, I know the Braille Institute will loan on a case by case basis. We
> did
> > purchase the Smart Brailler ourselves though. We asked for a Mountbatten
> but
> > got the run around, so we pick and choose our battles. I was successful
> in
> > having the district get the CA school for the Blind to do a technology
> > assessment. They concluded that technology would be a big part of his
> future
> > reading and writing. That report I will bring up again when it is time to
> > ask for a BrailleNote etc.
> >
> > Sent from my iPad
> >
> > On May 28, 2014, at 3:00 PM, Julie Yanez via blindkid <
> blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> Great job! A parent is always the best advocate! CA seems to have
> amazing
> >> educational laws, but as we are starting to find out, not much funding
> >> for
> >> the supplies.
> >> On May 28, 2014 2:49 PM, "Sarah Thomas via blindkid"
> >> <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >>> This sounds like very good news.  I will say, from personal experience,
> >>> that you will need to monitor the delivery of services.  I naively
> >>> thought
> >>> that the school would actually follow the IEP we agreed to.  In very
> >>> rare
> >>> cases this proved not to be the case.  They just did what they wanted
> to
> >>> do
> >>> while I wasn't watching.
> >>>
> >>> Even when the law and common sense are on your side, you need to keep
> >>> watching.  Also, your continued involvement helps keep the school
> >>> diligent.
> >>> Good luck.
> >>>
> >>> Sally Thomas
> >>> On May 29, 2014, at 4:13 AM, Pui via blindkid <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> >>> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> Hello everybody,
> >>>>
> >>>> I wrote a few weeks ago about my son's case. He is legally blind and a
> >>> dual learner. We had his IEP a few weeks ago and the district wanted to
> >>> reduce his monthly TVI time from 300 minutes weekly to 90 minutes (30
> >>> minutes a day, 3 times weekly) as he starts kindergarten this fall.
> >>>>
> >>>> For the past week and a half I have been emailing the district to say
> >>> that I did not agree with this reduction. I also sent them the braille
> >>> provision act under IDEA, as well as studies about learning dual media,
> >>> low
> >>> vision kids who couldn't keep up with print later on etc. I have heard
> >>> nothing from them.
> >>>>
> >>>> Today I spoke to a special education lawyer. I explained my case and
> he
> >>> said that my son is in a good legal situation that did not require his
> >>> legal services. The laws in CA are in our favor. It is very difficult
> >>> for
> >>> the district to reduce those 300 minutes once they have agreed to them.
> >>> They would have to file legal action and go into due process to take
> >>> those
> >>> minutes away from him. CA laws allow us parents to pick components of
> >>> the
> >>> IEP we want, and don't want.
> >>>>
> >>>> All I have to do is go to the district and register a letter that I am
> >>> sending them in reply to their kindergarten IEP. The lawyer said that
> >>> basically I just tell them "thanks" for the offer but 1) we don't
> >>> consent
> >>> to the reduction of VI services and 2) we consent to the new
> >>> kindergarten
> >>> goals (and other details we agree on). The district lady was telling me
> >>> that if I did not sign the IEP his service minutes would stay the same,
> >>> but
> >>> we wouldn't be able to move forward on the goals. This is obviously not
> >>> true according to the lawyer.
> >>>>
> >>>> Anyway, there you have it. I am obviously pleased to know my son will
> >>> continue to get daily braille instruction. I am glad that his initial
> >>> IEP
> >>> was written well enough that the district have less wiggle room for his
> >>> second IEP. I am glad that we asked for and got 1) daily TVI time (no
> VI
> >>> or
> >>> blind student gets daily TVI time in our district, it is such an
> >>> outdated
> >>> model of itinerant teaching) 2) half of that time as well as his O&M
> and
> >>> OT
> >>> are done outside of his school hours 3) assistive technology provided
> >>> for
> >>> school and home 4) braille books, tack tiles etc. were added to the IEP
> >>> 4)
> >>> summer school with service as above 5) consult time with parents and
> >>> general education teachers. Our school district is relatively wealthy,
> >>> so
> >>> there are funds.
> >>>>
> >>>> Parents - make sure that first IEP is ironclad and don't be afraid to
> >>> ask. Research on your own, and don't always assume the "professionals"
> >>> know
> >>> best.
> >>>>
> >>>> Thanks everyone for your input, they were all very helpful and
> >>> encouraging!
> >>>>
> >>>> Pui Burmahln
> >>>>
> >>>> Sent from my iPad
> >>>> _______________________________________________
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>
> --
> Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
> Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
> (513) 607-6053
>
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