Parent to Parent For Parents and Families of Students in Kentucky who are Blind and Visually Impaired Winter 2010-11 Kentucky School for the Blind Family Support Center Member of Parent Resource Centers of KY Kentucky Braille Challenge was Smashing Success By: Mitch Dahmke, KSB Family Support Specialist A terrific day awaited 32 Kentucky students who are blind and visually impaired at the 2011 Kentucky Braille Challenge. The event was sponsored by the Braille Institute Auxiliary and was hosted by the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) and the Kentucky School for the Blind (KSB). All activities were held at KSB and APH on Thursday, January 27. The Kentucky Braille Challenge overall reading comprehension award went to Ashley Alvey, an Atherton High School student in Jefferson County and the overall high scorer in all categories went to KSB elementary student Shane Lowe. The Braille Challenge is an academic competition. This contest is designed to motivate students who are blind to emphasize their study of Braille. The Braille Institute works with agencies and individual teachers across the U.S. and Canada to encourage students to participate in the preliminary round. Contestants in the Braille Challenge may take the preliminary contest anytime during the first two months of the year in one of two ways: the student may attend one of the many Braille Challenge regional events (such as the Kentucky Braille Challenge) in their own state or region, or students may take the Braille Challenge individually, if the contest is administered by a teacher of the visually impaired. Either way, everyone can be a part of the preliminary round. The tests cover topics such as Braille spelling, charts and graphs, proofreading, speed and accuracy and reading comprehension, with students being grouped by age and abilities. Editor’s Note: There are six Kentucky Braille Challenge photos in the print edition. Photo #1 shows Gary Mudd and Louisville Mayor at a podium during the Awards Celebration. Mudd is presenting a Braille business card embosser to the mayor. The caption reads: Gary Mudd, APH Vice President for Public Affairs presents a braille business card embosser to Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer during the Kentucky Braille Challenge Awards Ceremony. Photos #2-6 show individual Braille Challenge winners at the Awards Ceremony upon receiving their award. They are all standing facing the audience. The caption for these photos read: These photos show some of the top Kentucky Braille Challenge winners at the Awards Ceremony at APH following the competition. From left to right: KSB’s Shane Lowe was the top overall winner in all categories. He received a Victor Stream Reader. Allie Johnson, Pulaski County, was the second place finisher at the freshman level. Mason Tilley, Trimble County, took first place at the freshman level. Cheyenne Harper, KSB, checks out her third place medal. Ashley Alvey, Jefferson County, was the overall winner for reading comprehension at all levels. Editor’s Note: There is a list of the Kentucky Braille Challenge Winners in the print edition. The list follows: 2011 Kentucky Braille Challenge Winners Apprentice Level 1st ~ Mari Durrett/KSB 2nd ~ Jessica Van Bruggen/KSB 3rd ~ Danielle Hardiman/KSB Freshmen Level 1st ~ Mason Tilley/Trimble County 2nd ~ Allie Johnson/Pulaski County 3rd ~ Alex Stine/KSB Sophomore Level 1st ~ Shane Lowe 2nd ~ Justin Hedges/KSB 3rd ~ Eric Scott/Hardin County Junior Varsity Level 1st ~ Damon Boards 2nd ~ Ashley Alvey/Jefferson County 3rd ~ Cheyenne Harper/KSB Varsity Level 1st ~ Danielle Burton/Elliott County 2nd ~ Bobby Townsend/KSB 3rd ~ Brooke Berger/KSB Winter is Good Time to Check Out Summer Programs for Students Who are Blind/VI By: Mitch Dahmke What better way to attack those winter doldrums than to sit down with your child and discuss the options for summer activities. My family always did this at this time of the year. It gave us all something to look forward to. Listed below are summer programs that my boys participated in and some that sounded so good that I wanted to include them for your consideration. The first is the INSIGHT Post Secondary Preparation Program. I encourage every high school student who has a visual impairment to participate in this program. It is open to students in grades 10-12 who want to attend college after high school. My son and others that have participated in INSIGHT are very enthusiastic about this program. INSIGHT applications are available on the KSB website http://www.ksb.k12.ky.us/Resources/INSIGHT%202011.htm. The application deadline is March 15. INSIGHT takes place on the Morehead State University campus in Morehead, KY on June 2-11. A summer camp that my boys attended and that has been in existence since 1982 is the Kentucky Lions Youth Camp for Visually Impaired Students. This camp is for boys and girls who are blind or visually impaired, ages 6-15 and who are Kentucky residents. The date for this year’s camp is July 4-8. It is located in Lebanon Junction (approximately 25 miles south of Louisville) off of Interstate 65 at exit 105 (north of Elizabethtown and south of Shepherdsville. Students participate in many activities, some of which are swimming, boating and fishing. A nice feature of this camp is transportation. If needed, it is provided to and from the camp by Lions Club members. For additional information, contact Will Mayer at w.mayer@lions-campcrescendo.org or Christina Turpen at c.turpen@lions-campcrescendo.org, or call 502-833-3554. The KSB Summer Enrichment Program will be held June 19-July 1. Held on the KSB campus, this program was enjoyed very much by my two sons. Many activities and learning opportunities are provided. At this time, registration materials are being printed. Information regarding this program will be posted on the KSB website in the near future. You may also call the school at 502-897-1583 for more information. A week long sports camp, such as those sponsored by Camp Abilities or the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes can open up worlds for your child. Camp Abilities is a one week developmental sports camp for children ages 9-19 with visual impairments or deaf-blindness. Camp Abilities will be held in Brockport, NY on June 26-July 2. This camp provides one-on-one instruction using an Activity Analysis Checklist (a breakdown of essential physical skills) developed to empower kids to be successful at sports. The camp teaches archery, beep baseball, canoeing, dancing, diving, fishing, goalball, gymnastics, horseback riding and more. It also features Paralympic role models who talk about nutrition, mobility, health, socialization and advocacy. Registration is on a first come, first serve basis. If you have any questions, call Dr. Lauren J. Lieberman at 585-395-5361 or email llieberm@brockport.edu. You may also want to check out Camp Abilities at www.campabilities.org. Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI hosts three sports education camps. The Junior Camp, for ages 10-12, teaches basic athletic skills. The Senior Camp, for ages 13-16, provides a series of clinics that teaches intermediate athletic skills. Students can compete individually and on teams in sports such as goalball, judo, ERG rowing, spinning, swimming, tandem cycling, track and field, weight training and wrestling. For more information and dates for these camps, call Mark Schwerin at 269-387-8400 or email mark.schwerin@wmich.edu. You should seriously consider a summer program for your child. The need to keep your child engaged in activities and educational opportunities should be high on your priority list. Take advantage of what is offered. Your child will benefit by participating in a quality summer program! Editor’s Note: There are three photos in the print edition regarding summer programs. Photo: #1 shows four HS students listening to a Morehead State University teacher in a campus classroom containing lots of computers and technology. The photo caption reads: Access to technology is one of the many subjects covered in the INSIGHT Post Secondary Preparation Program held during the summer at Morehead State University. Photo #2 shows students attending KSB’s Summer Enrichment Program boarding a city bus. The students, with their canes in hand are getting to step up into the bus from the curb on Frankfort Avenue in Louisville while an O&M teacher stands behind them. The caption reads: Students participating in KSB’s Summer Enrichment Program put their O&M skills to the test by accessing public transportation to attend outings throughout the community. Photo #3 shows an elementary male student in a swimming pool while wearing an inflatable ring. The caption reads: Students who want to improve their athletic skills, or explore a new sport, may want to check out opportunities offered through a sports camp. Bachman’s ACT Scores are Way up There By: Paula Penrod, KSB Public Relations Liaison “I was sicker than a dog, but I wasn’t about to let it stop me from taking the ACT [American College Testing exam],” said junior D.J. Bachman. “I was determined that I was going to take it.” KSB administered the exam on November 9-10. And, take it she did, in spite of being hounded with a miserable virus and running a temperature. “I just kept telling everyone that I felt fine,” said Bachman. How did that affect her performance? Even though she was feeling mighty low physically, there was absolutely nothing wrong with her mental well being, as she pulled off a composite score of 31 and aced the reading portion with a perfect score of 36. Her composite score ranks in the 97 percentile and the reading among the 99 percentile nationwide. D.J. said she was shocked when she received her scores. “I can’t believe it,” she told her grandmother as she opened the letter containing her test results. “I had no idea that I would do that well.” D.J. is from Laurel County and is in her third year at KSB. She visited the school during the eighth grade and became a full-time student her freshman year. “I love it here. The staff is so understanding of my visual needs. It was hard for my teachers in my home school to understand that I needed help because I don’t look like that I have a vision problem. I was getting help from a teacher of the visually impaired once a week, but it just wasn’t enough.” In addition to taking classes at KSB, D.J. also takes math and history classes at Central High School for part of the school day. She likes being in the larger classroom setting and the fact that her teachers at Central understand her vision needs. She also feels that this arrangement will help her to adjust to college life. Next year, as a senior, she hopes to take some college level classes at Central. Out of the classroom, D.J. participates on KSB’s forensics team and works on the video yearbook. This year she is also cheerleading and is considering becoming a member of the swim team in the spring. Upon graduation, D.J. plans to attend college. As her favorite subjects are math and history, she plans to pursue a degree in the math or law field. She made it clear that she wants to attend an out-of-state college. Prior to getting her ACT results, she was considering Duke or the University of North Carolina-Asheville. However, her high ACT scores have opened up a lot more opportunities for her. D.J. has some educational advice for her fellow students. She says, “Don’t give up. You can still do well, no matter what, as long as you put your mind to it.” Editor’s Note: D.J.’s school portrait appears in the print edition. Surfing the Web? Check Out These Websites Gardening Tips for the Visually Impaired – www.gardenforever.com/pages/artVision Mitch Dahmke shares, “Oh, Oh! I am incriminating myself! My mind is wandering on this snowy day to my gardens and what I need to do this spring to make them ready. While doing so, I ran across this article about gardening for the visually impaired. The article, written by Larry Caplan, Extension Educator, Horticulture, Purdue University, has some terrific ideas for the gardener who is visually impaired. No need to avoid gardening if you are blind! Larry has many useful tips for you to use to plant a flower or vegetable garden this spring. Wouldn’t you enjoy a nice summer evening eating a home grown salad while you sit on your porch smelling those petunias? Give this article a your attention!” Hadley School for the Blind - www.hadley.edu Do you wish to learn Braille? How about learning the Nemeth Code? Maybe you are interested in learning how to become a more effective advocate for your child. The preceding topics and many others are taught to parents via distance education through the Hadley School for the Blind. Many parents use this website to enable and empower themselves and their families in a variety of educationally relevant ways. My recommendation is that all families look at the course offerings. I’m sure something will catch your eye. A very nice feature of Hadley’s educational courses is that they are free. For those of you that do not have access to a computer, contact Hadley at the following address and/or phone number. Hadley School for the Blind 700 Elm Street Winnetka, Illinois 60093-2554 1-800-323-4238 The Braille Book Store - www.braillebookstore.com WOW! The Braille Book Store has anything and everything you could want and more. I originally came across this site while I was looking for Braille games. In fact, they do have a large selection of Braille games, beeper balls and other recreational items, Braille greeting cards, thank you cards, sympathy cards, Braille novelties, clothing with catchy little sayings in print and Braille, books, etc. You get the idea! Check out this website. It’s a must! Again, if you do not have access to a computer, call the Braille Book Store, toll free at 800-987-1231. Families Meet After Weather Delays The Owensboro Area Families of Children who are Blind and Visually Impaired held their first meeting of the year on Tuesday, February 8 on the Wendell Foster campus in Owensboro. While family attendance was low, as was the outside temperature, attendees were receptive to the resources available through the Kentucky Instructional Resource Materials Center (KIMRC) presented by Alexander Redden, KIMRC Program Coordinator. Caveland and River Region Consultant Dr. Betsy Flener also gave families a look at how students can chart their own course through self determination. Owensboro Independent and Daviess County Teachers of the Visually Impaired Rick Boggess and Kaye Daugherty led the program and provided a terrific snack bar. They were assisted by Betty Boggess who did a great job of setting everything up for the evening. The Northern Kentucky Families of Children who are Blind and Visually Impaired met on Thursday, February 10 at Ockerman Middle School in Florence. Michelle Litmer, a former Boone County student, shared her experiences as a student with a visual impairment and discussed some assistive technology that she uses. This group is also planning a spring meeting. The Madison County Families of Children who are Blind and Visually Impaired will meet for the first time on Saturday, February 26 at 10 AM in the Richmond Public Library, 507 W. Main St. All families in the Madison County area are encouraged to attend. For further information, contact Mitch Dahmke at 502-897-1583 ext 221 or mitch.dahmke@ksb.kyschools.us. Gina Fugate, Madison County Teacher of the Visually Impaired, is co-sponsoring this event. Childcare and refreshments will be provided. The Center for Courageous Kids near Scottsville is hosting a Family Retreat for the blind/visually impaired and the deaf/hard of hearing communities on March 4-6. Families may participate in indoor swimming, fishing, bowling, basketball, boating, cooking and much more. There is no cost to families. For more information, contact the Office of Camper Recruiting at 270-618-2912 or visit their website www.courageouskids.org. Editor’s Note: There are two photos from the Owensboro families meeting in the print edition. Photo #1 shows a Daviess County teacher of the visually impaired with a young male student at a table. She is showing him a word recognition sheet. The caption reads: Teacher of the Visually Impaired Kaye Daughterty shows a Braille word recognition sheet to Trey Mauzy, who is one of her young students, during the Owensboro Area Family Meeting. Photo #2 shows parents listening to a presentation while sitting at a table. The caption reads: Parents Billy and Mae Hayes and Pamela Roberts listen to a presenter during the meeting. For Statewide Students in Grades 6-12 KSB to Host Weekend at the Museum Here is some exciting news from KSB’s Short Term Program! A weekend retreat for statewide students in grades 6-12 will be held on March 18-20 on the KSB campus. Using the popular movie Night at the Museum as a foundation, the theme for the retreat is “Weekend at the Museum.” Students will visit several area museums, focusing on exploring the cultural and educational resources in Louisville. Along with an action packed schedule, students will have the opportunity to interact with other peers with visual impairments, share responsibilities and work together as a team. Components of the Expanded Core Curriculum for Students with Visual Impairments will be embedded throughout the weekend. Students will get the opportunity to prepare meals, dine out at local restaurants, use public transportation,have recreation with peers and more! The deadline for registration is Friday, February 18. You must act NOW to enable your student or child to participate in this wonderful experience. For more information, contact KSB Director of Instruction John Roberts, 502-897-1583, ext. 240 or john.roberts@ksb.kyschools.us. The retreat is funded by the Kentucky School for the Blind Charitable Foundation. Kentucky School for the Blind 1867 Frankfort Avenue Louisville, KY 40206