[blindkid] Braille instruction time in IEP

Marianne Denning via blindkid blindkid at nfbnet.org
Thu May 29 01:57:03 UTC 2014


I think that works well if there is trust between you, the school
district and the TVI.  The problems come in when that trust is broken.
Itinerant TVIs can, sometimes, have travel issues and this can really
mess up a schedule.  Some cities and states have more problems than
others.  I am very happy it is going well for you and thank you for
sharing your good experience.  We don't say enough good things about
people sometimes.

On 5/28/14, Pui via blindkid <blindkid at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> I must be the most annoying parent ever because in my son's IEP notes it
> says 30 minutes pull out before school starts, then 30 minutes push in once
> class begins. Honestly, I am hands off and  let the service providers do
> their job once all the details are agreed upon and signed!
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On May 28, 2014, at 6:33 PM, "oandemom . via blindkid" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
>
>> 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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>>>>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
>>> Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
>>> (513) 607-6053
>>>
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>>
>>
>>
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>
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-- 
Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
(513) 607-6053




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