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Dave MontrealCan - Hello Msdtchr welcome to my session
Dave MontrealCan - Msdtchr what grade do you teach nice to meet you
msdtchr - I teach K-8
Dave MontrealCan - Hi Bluette welcome to my session
Bluette - I am in NYState and I am a substitute teacher, all grades and subjects
msdtchr - hi bluette
Bluette - thanks Dave
Dave MontrealCan - Msdtchr do you have a sight impaired or blind child you will be teaching in the new year
msdtchr - yes, and I have had several over the past few years
Dave MontrealCan - Msdtchr what has your experience been like teaching them ?
msdtchr - pretty good
Bluette - we have a boy in 5th grade in Sept in the school where I am most of the time, school goes through 6th, then its off to the BIG school of 500 students
Dave MontrealCan - Msdtchr that is excellent to hear many sight impaired and blind childrne will often work twice as hard to achieve their goals
Bluette - I am always surprized at how the other students are with him, very considerate and helpful
Dave MontrealCan - Hello Pauline welcome
msdtchr - that is true Dave.
msdtchr - except when they move to high school. I have had students who refuse to use equipment and such.
Dave MontrealCan - Msdtchr did you know that i was mainstreamed as a sight impaired student from K through University and i had to work twice as hard it taught me values and how ot be responsible for my education
Paulie - Forget the n I am just Paulie Ü
msdtchr - no, I did not.
Dave MontrealCan - Msdtchr could this be because the students are afraid that they will stand out or look different in highschool and are afraid of not being accepted with the "in crowd"?
msdtchr - usually is the case. I had one student who wanted to put paper on the door so that no one would see him using his special equipment.
Dave MontrealCan - Paulie what grade do you teahc welcome
Bluette - I am concerned that MS and HS will be hard on my student, confusing with classes changing, new environment
Dave MontrealCan - Msdtchr how did you handle that situation?
Paulie - I don't teach a grade when I teach , it is kids
msdtchr - Bluette is he totally blind?
msdtchr - We just encouraged him to use the equipment.
Bluette - science labs, tech classes etc, wonder what modifications they were have for him
Bluette - blind from birth
Dave MontrealCan - Msdtchr and did he finally start to use the equipment
msdtchr - Does he use braille?
Bluette - this student does
msdtchr - yeah he used the CCTV, but hated Zoomtext. He loved the fact that I taught him how to make the computer accessible without using Zoomtext.
Dave MontrealCan - The CCTV is an excellent device for partially sighted students to use
msdtchr - From my experience Bluette and I have taught several totally blind and visulaly impaired kids is that if the teachers work with a vision teacher the student usually does well. Expecially if there are no additional disabilities
msdtchr - There is a special science curriculum that can be used with kids with visual impairments.
Bluette - I have always wanted to teach one on one with a blind or deaf student, need special training
Paulie - I had a group from 5th gr be our penpals I visited their class once and the girl who was using her Braille machine was not self conscious we enjoyed her letters/translation in our pen pal journies
Dave MontrealCan - Has anyone here ever heard of the Freedom Box?
msdtchr - I had a student with very low vision take biology and she was pretty successful.
Bluette - what is that Dave?
msdtchr - we paired her with a sighted student and she was successful.
Bluette - have a teacher in elem who just retired, very low vision
Bluette - she was for special ed I believe, pull out, push in
Dave MontrealCan - Bluette it is a device that a sight impaired or blind person cna hook up to a computer it has a microphone and basically you speak to it it askes you in voice "what would you like to do now" and you tell it go shop and it goes to the shopping section and then you specify what section of shopping you want and it goes there you can go to entertainment and do many things with it
Bluette - how do CCTV and Zoomtext work
msdtchr - the CCTV magnifies print and Zoomtext is a computer program that enlarges text and also reads what is on a screen.
Bluette - Freedom Box sounds wonderful for elderly users as well
Bluette - does Zoom have a voice?
msdtchr - They are more for kids with vision. I usually recommend Zoomtext for my students with low vision and JAWS for my totally blind students.
msdtchr - yes, ZT does.
Dave MontrealCan - Bluette it is the gentleman who invented this wonderful device is totally blind and lives in Florida he came up here to Montreal to demonstrate it for us several weeks ago i am writing an article with an interview with him for the august issue of teachers' net Gazette
msdtchr - I have a student who is going into 4th grade and she has zoomtext, scanner and a CCTV and getting pretty good on it.
Bluette - there is a lot out now that helps sight impaired folks, friend had something to help her read, lighted magnifier
msdtchr - a former student used those lighted magnificrs.
Bluette - must leave now, bye everyone
msdtchr - it helped her greatly. It was like a portable CCTV.
Dave MontrealCan - Msdtchr if you want to learn more about the freedom box please consult the august issue of the teachers' net Gazette
msdtchr - okay
Dave MontrealCan - Bye Bluette thanks for dropping by
Dave MontrealCan - Msdtchr where are you located?
msdtchr - in the united state.
Dave MontrealCan - Msdtchr do you want the toll free number for the American Council of the Blind
msdtchr - I have all that stuff-- I am certified in vision.
Dave MontrealCan - Paulie what have your experiences been like teaching sight impaired and blind children?
msdtchr - night
Dave MontrealCan - Night Msdtchr
Dave MontrealCan - Paulie here is the number for the American Council of the Blind Inc in Washington Dc 1 800 424 8666 if you ever need to call and ask information
Paulie - Thank u
Paulie - I feel badly that your chat had to be rescheduled -- because of techinical problems at T net
Dave MontrealCan - There is also a radio station here online run by the blind and visually impaired it is called ACB Radio
Paulie - and now all you have left is me who just came to listen
Paulie - radio . . . online?
Dave MontrealCan - Paulie don't worryI am sure there will be a few more dropping by here before the hour is up :)
Dave MontrealCan - The radio station I mentioned actually plays music written and sung by visually impaired and blind artists and has announcers who also have visual impairments
Dave MontrealCan - the url is http://www.acbradio.org
Paulie - Sounds like a neat project -- helps people to understand the talents of sight impaired people too
Dave MontrealCan - Paulie if you bookmark this site you will find there are several audio streams on it each one devoted to a different type of programming
Jeff Redding - Hi Dave and Paulie, are you still there
Paulie - Dave, I bookmarked the site and will check it out later thanks!
Dave MontrealCan - Jeff do you have a sight impaired or blind student you will be teaching in the new year?
Dave MontrealCan - Jeff interesting what is on your website?
Jeff Redding - No, I am legally blind myself
Paulie - Jeff what is the theme of your website? links?
Jeff Redding - Links to the personal websites of PEOPLE who happen to have a disability
Dave MontrealCan - http://www.linkable.org
Jeff Redding - I am working with other blind people on a distance learning project
Dave MontrealCan - Jeff congrats on putting that up
Paulie - neat idea Jeff (my old computer is really slow -- spilled water on new computer keyboard so . . . )
Jeff Redding - http://DistanceLearningClassrooms.com
Dave MontrealCan - Jeff excellent do you have a lot of contact with elementayr teachers?
Jeff Redding - have you been to www.audio-tips.com, and audio chat community for blind and sighted peopel?
Dave MontrealCan - Jeff yes I have been to both websites and they are excellent actually
Dave MontrealCan - http://www.audio-tips.com
Jeff Redding - I would be happy to work with any teachers at not cost to them that are interested in learning how to incorporate live audio chat into their distance learning lesson plans.
Dave MontrealCan - Jeff could you leave an email where they could get in touch with you ?
Jeff Redding - you may email me at jeffredding@comcast.net
Dave MontrealCan - Jeff was wondering if you have ever chatted with my friend Hal from Montreal on one of the lists he is a blind Jaws user?
Jeff Redding - No, I don't acutally chat very much
Dave MontrealCan - Jeff where are you located I have retroentalfobroplazia and am partially sighted here have been this way since birth
Jeff Redding - I have been in Sarasota, FL since losing my central vision in 1993 (Beste's Disease), macular degeneration, I am a disabled veteran
Dave MontrealCan - Jeff do you go to schools often to talk to children about what it is like ot be sight impaired it is important that we as sight impaired people get out there as much as possible and educate the general public
Paulie - I was born with left eye impairment also -- they called it lazy eye when I was growing up . . . I don't remember what the right term for it is
Jeff Redding - I have not been very active in the community lately, I was during my first few years of this new life
Dave MontrealCan - Paulie does that condition still bother you a little today?
Paulie - I can only see the big E on a sight chart I am right eye sighted don't use left much
Dave MontrealCan - Jeff have you ever heard of the freedom box?\
Jeff Redding - no
Dave MontrealCan - Jeff this is an excellent device that you hook up to a standard computer and it has a mic basically you talk ot the computer and it asks you where you want to go and what you want to do you cna control it completely by voice commands
Jeff Redding - What is the FreedomBox?
Dave MontrealCan - It was invented by a gentleman from Miami Florida and he is totally blind
Jeff Redding - Does it use standard speach recognition software? How much does it cost?
Dave MontrealCan - Jeff since it is relatively new technology it is a little on the expensive side if you want i cna give you the gentleman's name and phone info
Jeff Redding - do they have a website?
Paulie - my special edition iMac computer has a voice command function if I want to use it
Dave MontrealCan - The name of the company is Serotek Corporation
Paulie - but I never do so that kind of technology should not be so expensive for sight impaired, I would think . . .
Jeff Redding - I have never tried speach recognition software. I learnedhow to type several years before my eye condition developed.
Dave MontrealCan - The gentleman's name is Mike Calvo
Dave MontrealCan - here is the website
Paulie - You type better than I do
Jeff Redding - 12 years as a Yeoman in the Navy
Paulie - Thanks for serving our country Jeff!
Dave MontrealCan - http://www.freedombox.info.mcalvo@freedombox.co
Dave MontrealCan - Did you get the website Jeff?
Jeff Redding - Dave, link didn't work?
Dave MontrealCan - wow ok hang on I may be able ot get a phone number here fo ryou
Jeff Redding - Hi Paulie, your welcome, nobody has ever told me that before, I was in from1977 to 1989, all peace time, but it still counts
Paulie - You bet it counts! I am sorry no one else said thanks . . .
Dave MontrealCan - for Freedom Box info 952 831 3030
Paulie - Gosh, now you have me crying . . . I have two boys in the Navy also
Jeff Redding - thanks Dave
Dave MontrealCan - sorry this took so long my eyesight is so poor here
Paulie - The link did not work for me either wonder if it is just too busy?
Jeff Redding - live audio chat is much easier than doing all this typing and reading
Dave MontrealCan - People should really take the time to thank the war veterans who have served with honour for democracy
Paulie - not just war veterans all military
Jeff Redding - I am one of the lucky veterans, the VA has actully helped me
Dave MontrealCan - well I would like ot take this opportunity to sincerely thank teachers net for allowing me to have this session this evening
Paulie - ell, Jeff you are doing wonderful . . .
Dave MontrealCan - Thank you all for attending
Jeff Redding - I would like to also offer my thanks, I will join the next chat session
Paulie - Wonderful Jeff . . . o Is it time to sign off?
Paulie - I can't type but I try . . .
Dave MontrealCan - Jeff please try to write for the teachers net gazette you may have some interesting things to contribute
Jeff Redding - Ok Dave, I will try to put something together this week
Dave MontrealCan - Alison but there will be an archived transcript of the entire meetign that has taken place
Paulie - See? I said thanks Dave etc
Dave MontrealCan - Jeff please email Kathleen at editor@teachers.net
Jeff Redding - Dave, Is it appropriate if I write about the problems I have had with Voc Rehab and attending school?
Dave MontrealCan - Alison how are you besides that doing well ?
Dave MontrealCan - Jeff absolutely that would be interesting for many teachers for sure
Jeff Redding - Ok, bye bye,see you next time
Ali - Actually, I'm happy to be accomplishing several goals in the past week and half now that school's out
Dave MontrealCan - Jeff did you get email address editor@teachers.net
Dave MontrealCan - Jeff her name is Kathleen
Jeff Redding - yes, I will write something this week
Dave MontrealCan - Thanks Jeff have a great evening thanks for comming tonight
