Reaching Out Newsletter #69
February 2010
Through the Eyes of a Teenager
By: Alexandra Engraf
Life isn't easy especially when you're a teenager. There's always a person trying to tell you how to dress, speak, and conduct yourself in society. Through all the constant peer pressure from peers as well as the mountains of classes and extracurricular activities, it often seems surprising how we manage to find time to learn how to encounter our own personal obstacles.
My first personal obstacle started for me the first day I was born when the doctors awarded me an APGAR score of eight. I had inherited a genetic dermatological condition which I share with the women on my mom's side of my family. Incontinentia Pigmentia, commonly referred to as IP, affected most of my physical appearance. I had blisters on my skin, and when my parents took me to the dermatologist, an intern noticed my peculiar eye movements. It turned out I was one of the less than 90% who experienced vision loss from IP. My optical condition is ocular sequelae, common in premature infants, which I wasn't. Doubtful doctors and many surgeries later, I am now 17, and considered legally blind.
I don't consider this an obstacle for all the pity that was placed upon it, but rather the neon yellow highlight that has been so unmistakably soaked into my disorder. There were the more simple things such as wearing glasses from two through twelve years of age, when the doctors decided they no longer provided necessary assistance. Then, there were the tough times such as walking out to recess on the first day of kindergarten to the greeting of a first grade bully, “Hey four eyes” or the judgmental glares from junior high girls, because I didn't always notice my blotchy makeup. As a teen, I have learned a lot when it comes to dealing with these situations. It has been a long process, but it gets easier everyday.
Through the years, my parents, family, friends, and teachers have encouragingly tried to introduce optional adaptations in my life. It was always an experiment, and with a little time, I found the adaptations I prefer. Using a magnifier, I read everything from my anatomy book to Seventeen magazine. My classmates are in awe by my huge, large print papers, and somewhat envious of my books on CD/tape. Even though my vision has been stable for quite some time, I began to learn Braille in the second grade. I also have a case manager who works at my school and an outreach vision teacher who comes to see me once a week.
When I was younger, I thought I was the only one with a vision problem. Of course, most of my world at that time consisted of a school of less than 200 people. I eventually came to the realization that I wasn't the only one. When I was 12, my case manager took me to North Dakota Vision Services/School for the Blind. I was nervous, because I didn't know how people would treat me or what they'd act like, but it turned out there were a lot of people there with various types of vision perceptions. I really enjoyed the week, and, needless to say, I went back again. I still go to NDVS/SB a couple times a year. After all, if I never had attended, I never would have believed that I was truly not alone and developed the confidence I have today, knowing that everyone is different and there are people who will accept me for who I am. I never would have had the chance to play goal ball, and I never would have met my two best friends.
I do a lot of things like any other teenager. I like to stay active by running, biking, and swimming, and my recreational schedule is filled with shopping, friends, and movies. I am dedicated to many extracurricular activities such as choir, swing choir, drama, dance, Science Olympiad, and FBLA. Also a member of honor society, I am ranked number one in my class, hoping to accomplish one of my goals and graduate as valedictorian next spring.
My first obstacle started the day I was born, and I am well aware that it is not going to subside anytime soon. Looking at my life, I refuse to change a thing, because if it weren't for this obstacle, I wouldn't be who I am today. Through all obstacles that I have and will face in life, I plan to enjoy every moment. After all, no one said life was easy, especially when you're a teenager.
Clippings from Carmen
by Carmen Grove Suminski, Superintendent, NDVS/SB & NDSD
Happy New Year Greetings!
2009 has been a year of transition for me professionally. As of July 1, I have served as superintendent, not only at the NDVS/SB but also at ND School for the Deaf (NDSD).
Organizational changes were made at NDVS/SB, and my schedule includes time at both schools. My thanks to the staff at NDVS/SB for their support in this transition! I currently reside in the superintendent's house on the campus of NDSD. It is a comfortable home, and I have enjoyed entertaining there plus hosting a variety of team meetings.
During this academic year, the NDSD is undergoing a Future Services Plan. The primary goal is to develop a plan to provide comprehensive services to all persons who are deaf and hard of hearing who reside in North Dakota. This is being coordinated by the Department of Public Instruction and is comprised of NDSD parents, alumni, and staff, personnel with local education, vocational rehabilitation, higher education, legislators and community members. For information regarding this process, please refer to the North Dakota School for the Deaf website www.nd.gov/ndsd.
During the 2009 Legislative Session, NDVS/SB was allocated funding for a full time position for adult services and a halftime position for the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS). We welcome Jesse Sherek as the new vision rehabilitation specialist and Lori Foley in the NIMAS position.
The NDVS/SB Advisory Team continues to meet twice per year; namely, in January via Polycom and in June face to face. If you are interested in being part of this team, please let me know. Your support and input are important in providing statewide services.
After 33 years of teaching at NDVS/SB, Diane Mihulka has notified us of her upcoming retirement in June, 2010. We commend her for her dedication and commitment and congratulate her on this important milestone. Please join us for a Retirement Recognition in her honor at the school on Wednesday, May 19, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Please feel free to contact me
csuminsk@nd.gov at
701-665-4410 (NDSD) and
701-795-2708 (NDVS/SB)
Enjoy this issue of “Reaching Out” and Warmest Wishes for 2010!
The Real 6th Sense - A Sense of Purpose
By Paul Olson—Program Director
Welcome to 2010! Are we all excited about the start of a new decade?
I'd like to believe that we all are optimistic and look to the future with a positive attitude in spite of various troubles in the world. We can't ignore the bigger issues of war, global warming and the ups and downs of the economy. Nevertheless, what we are most able to control are our own daily decisions and actions in our lives. In our personal lives and work lives we strive to have good relationships and to be productive members of society. Most people want to have fulfilling jobs that not only provide for their wellbeing but also have a deeper meaning or purpose. Our happiness can be greatly affected by how we perceive our work, because work is typically a huge factor in one's life. Our outlook for the future is often tied to the work we do.
As we start the new year and decade, the media reported a recent survey indicating that only 45% of Americans are satisfied or happy with their jobs. Obviously some jobs provide larger salaries and benefits, but there are many more factors that can affect satisfaction. People are asked if they are interested or enjoy their job tasks, but responses from one person to the next can vary greatly. Some people enjoy tasks that others view as repetitive or monotonous. So what is the missing link that causes a lack of satisfaction? My theory is that dissatisfaction occurs when one does not have a solid “Sense of Purpose.”
In the field of visual impairment, we put a great deal of emphasis on the senses. Children and adults who are visually impaired are taught how to maximize the senses of touch, smell and hearing. Most of us take our senses for granted until one or more of these senses falter. When someone does experience a vision loss, there is a period of uncertainty and sometimes fear. With time and training, children and adults with varying degrees of visual impairment gain confidence in the use of their other senses and come to realize that a positive attitude along with personal goals are the key ingredients to success. I would call these two ingredients together the "sense of purpose." This truly becomes the 6th sense that we here about. This is a play on words, but there is this mysterious 6th sense that is just a little different than the other senses. It is an internal feeling that gives us drive as well as satisfaction. More than anything else, this sense of purpose is what will keep an individual moving forward, learning and recognizing that we are all part of something important in this world.
Those of us who work in this field are so lucky to have a ready made "sense of purpose." It is an honor and a privilege to work with people who are learning, braille, daily living skills, technology, mobility and other skills to enhance their independence and become active and productive members of society. It is actually very exciting to witness both the small steps and the huge leaps that people make along the way. We must recognize that not everyone progresses at the same rate. In fact many of our students experience struggles and difficulties. Ironically, it is even more satisfying for us as professionals when an individual ultimately overcomes these challenges over time. Either way, our sense of purpose remains the same; we are helping people along their road to independence and reaching their individual goals. There is something so deeply satisfying about this, it is hard to describe.
For those who are less certain of their own “sense of purpose,” it is certainly worth some self-reflection as we go into 2010. Whether that sense of purpose comes from helping your co-workers accomplish goals or simply helping your neighbor, we should remember how important it is to think about how we can help each other. Sometimes even the smallest acts have the biggest impact on the lives of others. Regardless of what the next decade brings us, we all have a much higher likelihood of success if we share a common purpose.
At North Dakota Vision Services/School for the Blind, we look forward to new challenges confident that we will know our “sense of purpose.”
Parent Weekend
ND Vision Services/School for the Blind Families United Again in 2010 is the theme for our annual Parent Weekend, to be held on April 30-May 1, 2010 at the Minot Grand International Inn in Minot, ND. Friday night's activities begin at 6:00 P.M. with a “no host” social and family swim. Saturday morning, while children participate in a wide range of recreational, social and craft activities, parents will have an opportunity to share experiences with other parents from around the state. Featured speaker for the morning will be Kevin O'Connor from Chicago, Illinois. Kevin is a professional speaker, teacher, consultant and author. He is the father of a 21 year old son who is blind and attends George Washington University in Washington DC. Kevin is a past president of NAPVI (National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments) and a frequent speaker for AER and COSB (professional organizations for the blind). He was also a contributor to the American Foundation for the Blind's book “Skills for Success”.
Afternoon sessions will include the topics of daily living skills, vision simulation activities, literacy/adapted books, cortical vision impairment and active learning.
Any parent or grandparent that has a child with a diagnosed visual condition is encouraged to attend. There is a $10 registration fee for each adult registration. Please e-mail Linda Kraft at lkraft@nd.gov or call (701) 298-4428 with questions.
Getting in Touch with Literacy” Conference Review
By Candy Lien
Patricia Hill and Candy Lien, center base teachers at NDVS/SB, attended the 9th biennial “Getting in Touch with Literacy” conference in Costa Mesa, CA, November 12-15, 2009. Other participants at the conference hailed from all corners of the United States and Canada, and at least one other country (Sweden). Presenters at the conference included many well-known experts in the field of braille literacy, including Kay Holbrook, Diane Wormsley, Jane Erin, James Bickford, Frances Mary d'Andrea, Judy Dixon, and many other authorities in the field. A highlight of the conference was a talk by Dr. Abraham Nemeth during Friday's luncheon to commemorate the 200th birthday of our hero, Louis Braille.
Some of the topics covered during the various breakout sessions included the role of technology in braille literacy, tactile graphics, neurological aspects of vision, the ABC Braille study, and techniques for improving reading fluency, just to name a few. During one of the Showcase sessions, Dr. Ray Reutzel of Utah State University shared the findings of the National Reading Panel. Candy Lien participated in a focus group that evaluated the pros and cons of the Nemeth Uniform Braille System (NUBS), which is an alternative proposal to the Uniform English Braille system (UEB).
Many vendors from across the country displayed their wares in the Exhibit Hall, which provided an excellent opportunity for hands on examination of the latest products.
On Saturday evening there was a banquet. The food was delectable and the entertainment fascinating. One of the organizers of the conference, Cheryl Kamei Hannan, is native Hawaiian. She presented a group of children with visual impairments who performed a simple but eloquent hula. Cheryl explained that the hula is one of the earliest forms of literacy, since each dance actually tells a story. The audience enjoyed playing handmade Hawaiian percussion instruments along with the professional musicians who performed on stage.
The facilities at the Orange County Hilton were excellent and the organizers of the conference did a terrific job of keeping things running smoothly and providing accessible materials to all participants. By the time we boarded our planes for North Dakota, our heads were brimming with new ideas and fascinating facts concerning braille, vision loss, and reading instruction.
This conference provided an excellent venue for networking and professional development, and we hope that teachers from our school will be able to attend future "Getting in Touch with Literacy" conferences.
Close-Up Trip 2009
By Candace Rivinius
In March three students, Alexandra Engraf, Candace Rivinius, and Logan Berg, and their chaperone/teacher Cindy Williams had the opportunity to attend Close-Up in Washington D.C. It was a very fun, exciting, and educational weeklong trip. They got to meet and work with people from some other Midwestern states such as Montana and Nebraska and learn more about their states. The students also had guides who were available when they wanted a little more description of the sites or assistance getting around on the tours.
At the beginning of the week, the students were broke into groups of about twenty. They stayed with this group and group leader for most activities during the week. Each evening, after a day of touring, the students took part in discussions about different issues our country is facing and what they thought of some of the sites. One evening they even sat in on a debate, and participated in a mock congressional meeting where they had the opportunity to vote on bills.
Throughout the week the students toured, and then would talk about many of the sites in the Washington D.C. area. They got to see many of the monuments and memorials including the Lincoln Jefferson, FDR memorial, and the Korean and Vietnam War memorials. The students enjoyed seeing representation of the four different terms in FDR's presidency; each room represented a different term in office. Everyone also got a tour of the U.S. Capitol. The students were amazed to stand in the places, such as the capitol, that they have only read about in textbooks. As a group on our own we spent some time at the Holocaust Museum.
The students and Cindy also got to see some of the areas of Washington D.C. that are not as well known. One day they went to Adams Morgan, one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the city, and walked around to see what businesses the neighborhood offered. It was interesting to see how many locally owned businesses there were compared to just a few franchises. There were more venders in the streets in these neighborhoods. The students liked eating pizza at Froggy Bottoms in the neighborhood of Foggy Bottom.
When the week ended, the students couldn't believe how much they had experienced. It was awesome to actually experience and see the different historic sites. The students left with a new wealth of knowledge, excitement, and a few souvenirs.
Great News
The digital talking book machines have finally arrived. As of the end of January, over 100 machines have been distributed to patrons.
The response has been overwhelmingly positive to the new machines. We are hearing comments like “the voice quality is so much better than the C-1 (the yellow) machines”, and “the digitals are so much easier to use”.
We are working as quickly as possible to get the new machines to all of you who have indicated an interest in them. As most of you know, the problem is we do not have enough books on cartridge to go along with the machines as yet. But we are getting new books every month or so at the North Dakota State Library; therefore, we will eventually be able to supply everyone with a digital machine who wants one.
If you have any questions, or would like to add your name to the waiting list for a digital talking book machine, please call the North Dakota State Library in Bismarck at 1-800- 843-9948 or the Machine Lending Agency in Grand Forks at 1-800- 421-1181.
Vision Resource Center
The Vision Resource Center has been a hub of activity this past year. Circulation of books from our large print collection has increased along with the number of new adult and teen patrons using the library. We have added many popular book titles to our braille collection. These have been finding their way into patron hands as fast as they hit the shelves.
Students from across the state participated in library skill activities during programming weeks here at the school. In the midst of Poetry Month, a variety of poem types were read and written. Original Haiku, Cinquain, and Acrostic poems graced our hallway walls. This autumn students followed story clues on a “Mystery Trail” through the library. The answers found were traded for rolls of tissue used to wrap their team mummy. This became a very competitive activity. Our students read stories of "thankfulness and giving" during American Education Week, then thanked our school's support staff by preparing and delivering apples decorated as turkeys.
We expanded the summer reading program theme, “Be Creative at Your Library” with special activities. Story time led to fun time when our summer camp kids chose to be creative and "Step into the Spotlight". We read and discussed fairy tales. The campers rewrote them into fractured fairy tales and made props. After the transformation, they performed the tales.
We have had a successful and exciting year in the Vision Resource Center and are looking forward to the adventures of 2010. We wish the same for you. Happy New Year!
Donna M Metzger, Librarian
Dakota AER Conference April 7-9, 2010 Aberdeen, SD
The annual AER Conference will be held at the Ramada Convention Center April 7-9, 2010 in Aberdeen, SD. The conference agenda is packed with informative information for vision professionals, including teachers, rehabilitation counselors/teachers, Para educators, and Braillists.
The first day of the conference will focus on orientation and mobility. Presenters, who are noted for a wealth of experience, include Jane Mundschenk and Martin Pfotenhauer, Orientation and Mobility Specialists from the SD School for the Blind and Visually Impaired; Paul Olson, Orientation and Mobility Specialist and Program Director, ND Vision Services and School for the Blind; and Bob Smith and Ardell Fiedler, South Dakota Rehabilitation Center for the Blind. Sioux Falls, SD. Sessions will include “What is O & M and Why be Trained?", “A Review of Literature in Orientation & Mobility”, and “Orientation/GPS/Web-based Mapping”.
The second and third days boast math sessions, “Accessible Math Tools and Technology, Pre-K-12+”, by Susan Osterhaus, well known math teacher and consultant from the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Attendees will gain from Susan's 30+ years of experience in refining math teaching strategies and her creation of workable adaptations for youth who are blind or visually impaired.
Other presenters and presentations include: Robert A. (Bob) Prentice, motivational speaker, author, and publisher from Wessington, South Dakota, who will speak on “Time Management” and “Attitudes for Excellence”; Dr. Curt Wischmeier, Ophthalmologist, Aberdeen, SD, who will speak on “The Effects of Smoking on Vision”; Nancy Hartung, MSN, RN, Aberdeen, SD, who will speak on “Diabetes as It Relates to Vision”; and Candice Lee (SDSBVI Speech Language Pathologist) and Julie VanDover (SDSBVI Outreach Consultant), who will share their “Tactile Experience Books”. Attendees will also gain knowledge and inspiration from a group of panelists who are visually impaired.
For more conference details check the following websites: sdsbvi.northern.edu; www.ndvisionservices.com or contact Jodi Carlsgaard or Jane Mundschenk at 605-626-2580 or toll free at 1-888-275-3814.
Sumer Programming
Visions Forum
October 22, 2009
ND Vision Services/School for the Blind
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