[blindkid] Braillist as TVI

[Carlton Anne Cook Walker]

Traci,



Note my title of this email, "Braillist as TVI." From your description of
the situation, this is what appears to be happening, from my point of view.
Most braillists do not having teaching certification. Thus, they are
ill-equipped (and likely under-trained, under-supported, and under-paid) to
take on the responsibility of teaching any student.



The school will likely claim that the braillist is only providing support
and is not teaching your child. However, it always raises red flags when a
teacher asks another individual to interact with a student instead of
interacting with the student directly. As both a mother and a teacher of
blind students, I have seen this time and time again. The teacher does not
form a bond with the blind student as one of his/her "kids"--and this is
destructive to the learning environment.



First, we need to determine if your child can independently and efficiently
gain access from the tactile graphics provided. If yes, then there is no
need for the braillist, and the matter should be settled.



If no, we need to know why. Are the tactile graphics of reasonable quality?
(If they are thermoforms in textbooks, your child will need to know how to
read them independently and efficiently sometime. Better now than later.
This is an area of need which should be documented on the IEP. Based upon
that documented area of need, the IEP team should craft some
accommodations/modifications requiring direct instruction in the reading of
tactile graphics (and pre-viewing curricular materials is a good way to do
this). The IEP team may, but need not, add a tactile graphic reading goal.
This change can be a modification to the IEP and does not require a
full-blown meeting with reports, etc. In fact, if you and the school agree,
the matter could be handled via email and over the phone.



If the graphics (either from the textbook or homemade) are of poor quality,
remediation must be made. Unfortunately, many textbook graphics are of
minimal use because they exclude important information or are simply not
present. If this is the case, the TVI needs to pre-view the tactile
graphics independently and make certain that all relevant information is
included (by adding it, if necessary. If the problem is with homemade
tactile graphics, the quality of those tactile graphics must be immediately
improved--otherwise, your child is not receiving the same quality of
graphics as are the non-disabled peers--which is a clear violation of FAPE
(free appropriate public education).





Regardless, your mom-radar is fine-tuned, and you are completely correct ot
be concerned about these issues. The teacher needs to gains confidence with
interacting with your child. Your child needs to be able to independently
and efficiently read tactile graphics. Your child must be provided with
quality tactile graphics with complete information.





Carlton




-- 
Carlton Anne Cook Walker
Attorney at Law
105 Creamery Road
Boiling Springs, PA   17007
Voice: 717-658-9894
Twitter: braillemom


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