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Dave MontrealCan - Good evening, welcome to my session
Dave MontrealCan - Thank you all for coming
Dave MontrealCan - Does anyone have any concerns or questions about including a sight impaired or blind child in your classroom?
Dave MontrealCan - We can also talk about other disabilities as well
Dave MontrealCan - Carol and Donna what grades do you teach?
Carol/pre K - I teach 3-5 years enrolled in head start
Dave MontrealCan - I am sight impaired and had the good fortune to be mainstreamed in the regular school system from K through University
carolina jj - Dave...I have a "legally blind" child coming into my computer class next semester...what are some strategies I can use to help her on performance tests?
Dave MontrealCan - Carolina first do you have any large print screen programs ready to help this child when they start in your class I can advise you of a good program to use
carolina jj - I already have the Duxbury software and a Braille writer, but am feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all...oh yeah, and they bought a copy of JAWS
Dave MontrealCan - Carolina excellent do you know if the student is already trained to use jaws?
carolina jj - no, to the large print screen program, although we do have a large key keyboard & touch screen
carolina jj - ...I don't think so
Dave MontrealCan - Carolina that could be a problem if the student has had no training with the jaws software
Dave MontrealCan - There is also Window Eyes as well
carolina jj - I haven't even taken it out of the box yet...I still need the training myself
Dave MontrealCan - Donna hello what grade do you teach?
carolina jj - I heard there are workshops/training on this software, and am trying to get training on it
Dave MontrealCan - Carolina maybe I can help please take down my e-mail address here melanson@teachers.net
carolina jj - ok
Dave MontrealCan - Carolina I can hook you up with a gentleman who is currently using jaws who can direct you where to go
carolina jj - sounds good
Dave MontrealCan - Carolina his name is Hal and he will be able to give you info vie e-mail addresses phone numbers and in general where to go to get training for jaws
furball - I teach all grades-behavior disorders in an alternative school
Dave MontrealCan - Furball where are you located and what are some of the more difficult students you have had to deal with?
Donna - I wrote a long post and sent it to Jabip. I'm in a home based program (early intervention.)
carolina jj - if someone just pm-ed me, it came up as garbled...sorry
furball - What's the topic?
furball - I am in Illinois. I can't quite tell yet whether the ED kids or the BD kids are harder!
Dave MontrealCan - Furball we are talking about children with many different kinds of disabilities and how to best include them in a regular classroom environment
Dave MontrealCan - Carolina did you get my e-mail addy?
furball - Probably Junior high Behavior Disorders (but then I think Jr. High kids are the hardest no matter what! LOL
Dave MontrealCan - Hello Welcome teacher in training nice to see you again
Teacher In Training - Hello Dave
carolina jj - I have it already at school...you gave it to me in a previous chat in room1
Dave MontrealCan - Furball I agree those are the rough teen years and the kids are usually very challenging to teach at that age
furball - This is my second year teaching, but I've been with Special needs kids for about 10 years
Donna - I work with a five yr old who has multiple handicaps. She has a trache, doesn't make any sound and is in bed most of the time. Last year, through use of mirrors, she really "saw who she was." Her eyes used to bulge and she didn't seem to use them. Now she is getting her eyes under contro.
Dave MontrealCan - Teacher in Training welcomeand good luck I know you are going to be student teaching soon and you will do great
furball - Right now I've been working with 4-5-6th grades and they are so much easier, but then the reg. classroom teacher is AWESOM
furball - Oops-awesome!
Dave MontrealCan - Furball I agree I work with regular elementary teachers and I want to say this honestly elementary teachers have been so rewarding to work with
Teacher In Training - I have a question... I know of a 9 yr old boy that has had serious brain trauma from an accident....he is now much slower in his thinking process and is to have modified homework. He is still bringing home 7-8 pgs of homework a night and he is unable to even get half of them done. This is the regular classroom teacher and is very much aware of this boy's limitations but will not modify the homework anymore. What should the parent do now?
Donna - oops "control." I want some toy ideas. I have my mind made up she's going to get her brain in touch with her hands.
furball - I agree too. The teacher I work with always has treats and praises the kids. They just LOVE her. She is even rewarding toward me!
Dave MontrealCan - Teacher in Training does she have a social service worker who looks after certain situations?
furball - Teacher in Train-I read your post yesterday-The parent should put up a HUGE fuss regarding this. This should be illegal. I always modify stuff for my kids, b/c I WANT them to pass not fail!
Dave MontrealCan - Furball well teachers like that need to know that they are making a difference every day and are very special
furball - Yep-she's rubbing off on me
Donna - She needs to sit in such a way that she can't see her tray. We need to rig up a mirror system so she can see what she's doing.
carolina jj - I try to treat my three "special" 6th graders when they reach a personal goal...like opening their program by themselves, with no help at all...they love stickers
Dave MontrealCan -Furball that is great
furball - She said today that it cracks her up that she gets so many letters from the kids
Teacher In Training - no...she is completely new to the whole special needs program and as it is the doctor required an aide for him but now the school is even trying to take that away from this boy....the doctors have told the family that if he gets hit one more time it could kill him.
Dave MontrealCan - Donna does she have a moveable desk that you can adjust the table?
Dave MontrealCan - Teacher in Training who hits him some other students?
furball - This year has been particularly difficult b/c the population I work with is extremely difficult and she just makes things so much easier for me
Donna - The problem is more that she has to be suctioned so much when she is sitting....and she needs to lean back to tolerate sitting at all.
furball - Teach in training-does this kid at least have a 504 plan or is he just getting started with IEP's? This is very upsetting b/c they need to do something NOW!
carolina jj - Teacher ... do you think he could qualify for a special needs IEP...to get the modifications he needs...
Dave MontrealCan - Donna how about putting a mirror slightly above her facing downwards toward her face so she can see it
furball - That's what I was wondering too- It sounds like a really tough situation!]
Teacher In Training - no he has not been hit yet thank goodness...but he is in a modified PE program so that they can take extra precautions. The aide though helps this boy with things that he is regaining memory of and the aide is helping explain things to this boy because his memory is short term mostly now
furball - What do the parents think of all this, teach in train?
Dave MontrealCan - Donna how do the other children treat her ?
Donna - One of us has been holding a mirror in that way, while the other works with her. I want to find some things that are easily activated (that the family can get her) that aren't baby toys.
Donna - We see her at home. She's alone in a room with family coming and going (foster family first--recently adopted.)
Dave MontrealCan - Donna how does she respond to you and your colleagues when you are working with her?
carolina jj - donna...is there a wall nearby where you can mount one of those swing arm mirrors, to free up your hands?
Dave MontrealCan - Good idea Carolina
Teacher In Training - Carolina...he does have an IEP....the accident just happened about 6 weeks before school started and they started an IEP immediately after the boy was released from the hospital (which was just a couple of days before school started)....he is relearning his cursive writing but he says that the reading makes absolutely no sense to him because he cant remember any of it if he puts the book down. I have already suggested a writing journal to help him remember what he has already read. The parents are furious. They are desperate and I am trying to help them the best that I can since I have a little bit of background in special ed thanks to my autistic sister
Donna - I worded that wrong. She's always been with one family. They are seeing that there's more to her than anyone thought. They were always told she was blind...........not so.
Donna - Carolina: where can I see a picture of one?
carolina jj - ...not sure...I've seen them in department stores
Dave MontrealCan - Donna how old is this girl?
Donna - Carolina: Oh I know what you mean. I'm thinking about that.
Donna - five she just got teeth last year
furball - Well then they can't take the aide away from him and they HAVE to HONOR the IEP-maye it needs to change-that the teacher has to modify the assignments.
furball - What is the teacher's attitude? She's against the law
Dave MontrealCan - Donna I am thinking she may like toys that are educational maybe something like a child's calculator to teach her math for example
carolina jj - Does his IEP state modified assignments? If so, this teacher is not complying with LAW...
Dave MontrealCan - Furball I agree if the teacher is not willing to cooperate by modifying the work for this child it is not right at all
Teacher In Training - that is what the family is fighting for....but the school has called a special IEP meeting about the aide and is going to request from the doctor an explanation of why exactly the boy needs the aide...this school has put all special needs families through a lot of heartache, the mother has tried to contact the state office to have them check everything out.
Dave MontrealCan - I think you could refer to sections of the ADA Law here to prove that this is against the law
Teacher In Training - well the parents don't really know all of the laws but I am in a special ed class in college and I am copying all of the information for them
Dave MontrealCan - Teacher in Training have you ever consulted the ADA Law (Americans with Disabilities Act) ?
Teacher In Training - I haven't personally and I am not sure about that family
Dave MontrealCan - Teacher in Training try to consult the ADA you are in the Us right?
Dave MontrealCan - Hello Mom welcome
carolina jj - ...the family may want to contact someone familiar with educational laws...sounds like the school is looking for a lawsuit
mom - hi all
carolina jj - hi mom
Teacher In Training - hello mother....mom is my mom
Dave MontrealCan - Carolina I agree and I am sure they could win this case if they have the right support
Dave MontrealCan - Mom welcome what grade do you teach
mom - hi
Dave MontrealCan - Mom welcome
mom - don't teach am a mom of a 21 years old austic daughter
Teacher In Training - Mom is a mother of an autistic child but does not teach....she is my mother
Dave MontrealCan - Mom nice to have you join us here
Teacher In Training - We were just talking about Christopher and about the school
carolina jj - teach in training...I get it know...I'm a little slow today
Dave MontrealCan - Hi Teacher in Training's Mom
carolina jj - know=now
Teacher In Training - mom tell them about how we had to fight with the school with just sis
Dave MontrealCan - Mom I know that Teacher in Training will make a wonderful teacher
Carol/pre K - mom You have been teaching for 21 years; you are the most important teacher there is
Dave MontrealCan - Hello Topanga welcome
Topanga - Hi Dave
Dave MontrealCan - Mom my parents had to fight too in the 1970's to keep me in the regular school system
Topanga - Is this discussion on sp ed.
mom - I had 13 years of IEP meetings
Dave MontrealCan - Mom I am sight impaired and in the 1970's it was almost taboo for a sight impaired child to attend the regular school system
carolina jj - mom...and I complained about having to sit through 1 day of meetings...
Dave MontrealCan - Topanga yes it is
Topanga - Dave, it still isn't that common
mom - we were the first one in our country to use the handicap law to make them have a class for our daughter
Dave MontrealCan - Topanga yes true where are you located?
Topanga - speaking of I.E.P.'s I have a bunch to prepare for!!!
Topanga - Dave, I am in Topanga, CA, but I teach at a fantastic school in Woodland Hills.
carolina jj - good for you!!
mom - they have great ways of covering themselves if you don;'t know how to watch out for yourselves
mom - they have great ways of covering themselves if you don't know how to watch out for yourselves
Dave MontrealCan - Topanga do you get a lot of support from your Principal?
Carol/pre K - isn't a sad state of affairs when schools still try to exclude the special needs child and give parents the run around been in the same situation with myself and my son
Topanga - Dave, I haven't ever heard of a principal that gives much support to special education.
mom - the SEpical Ed Director has no training in Special ed
Dave MontrealCan - Teacher in Training you are a wonderful person
Teacher In Training - and had top ask our family what an IEP was
carolina jj - no way!!!
Teacher In Training - thanks Dave
mom - when we first started SHE asked us what an IEP was that is how bad she is
Dave MontrealCan - Teacher in Training i have the belief in you, you will make a wonderful teacher
Topanga - Mom, many times schools have hard times filling positions with qualified teachers, many people can't afford to support themselves on a teachers salary..
Teacher In Training - I hope so....
Dave MontrealCan - Mom that is unbelievable she should not even have this job
carolina jj - mom...is this Special Ed director still in this position?
Topanga - Mom, no way!!
mom - they didn't want her riding the bus or anything like that
Dave MontrealCan - Mom that is awfull
Teacher In Training - This director is not really qualified as a regular teacher....both herself and her children have caused great problems at the school
mom - YES
Dave MontrealCan - Teacher in Training I am sure they hired her to save money they do not have to pay a professional professional salary
carolina jj - ...can't people document what she is doing, and have her fired? or bring legal action against her?
Topanga - Mom, it could be that they felt the child was unsafe on a bus without a one-on-one . They won't do anything if they feel that they could be liable for an indury to a child.
mom - that is why my neice is having me go with her because this woman is afraid of us because we know how to get around her and know the laws
Topanga - Dave, down here in So. Cal, they can't even get qualified people even if they do pay the appropriate salary.
Teacher In Training - we have tried...she covers up when the big wigs come in
Dave MontrealCan - Topanga wow that is too bad I am surprised though I thought there would be a large group to choose from in a field like that
carolina jj - wow...after listening to you guys, I feel very blessed to have the director we have...if we messed up on following someones IEP, they would put us (the teacher) out so fast our heads would spin...
mom - the Principal told them they could put a set-belt on the bus and that she would be just fine and they did and she rode all the rest of the years ok
Teacher In Training - your school is very lucky Carolina
Dave MontrealCan - Teacher in Training what grade do you hope to teach when you student teach?
Teacher In Training - I will be teaching either 4 or 5th grade
carolina jj - don't get me wrong, there are still a lot of teachers in my school who think handicapped/disabled children need to be in a "special" school...but I would give up my three for anything
Topanga - It is hard to be a teacher here, we are liable for everything and also responsible for everything.
Topanga - got to go, helping my own child with home work.
mom - our daughter went from mid-school into high school with the SAME IEP and they got mad because I called the state dept. about it
Dave MontrealCan - Teacher in Training please take down my email address and anyone here if you want to email me you may do so at : melanson@teachers.net
Teacher In Training - bye topanga
carolina jj - ...that was supposed to be would NOT give up...
Teacher In Training - oh thanks Dave
Dave MontrealCan - Topanga bye and thanks for comming tonight
carolina jj - you had every right too!
mom - have to run bye all
Dave MontrealCan - Teacher in Training you can also look at the articles I have written for the teachers net Gazette as well
carolina jj - bye Topanga & mom
Teacher In Training - okay thanks Dave....
Dave MontrealCan - It is now 10 pm and I want to thank Teachers Net for allowing me to conduct this session this evening have a wonderful eveng everyone and thanks for comming tonight
carolina jj - thank you, Dave!
Dave MontrealCan - Thank you all for being so devoted
Carol/pre K - thanks dave have a good night
Teacher In Training - good night all...I have to be going
Carol/pre K - good night to all
