Tuesday, July 11: TECH TUESDAY - SESSIONS WITH … wildcat... · Web viewFrom observation? We will investigate how to initiate conversation and in-turn develop meaningful shared experiences.

MAY 2017This publication highlights the monthly activities and

events that take place on campus and across the state.

May, 2017 3 Wednesday Prom

5 Friday No School KSB (Derby)

9 Tuesday KSB Founder’s Day, 175th Birthday Dinner and Celebration 6-8 PM

19 Friday Low Vision Clinic, KSB

24 Wednesday 8th Grade Graduation, 12:00 PMHigh School Graduation, 6:30 PM

25 Thursday Field Day and Last Day of School for Students

4th Quarter Grading Period Ends

26 Friday No School for Students (Closing for Teachers)

It’s Party Time; KSB to Celebrate 175

It’s time to celebrate and what a celebration it will be as KSB reaches another milestone.  On Tuesday, May 9, KSB will celebrate 175 years of service to Kentucky students who are blind and visually impaired.  A Celebration Dinner and Founder’s Day Program will take place on Tuesday, May 9 from 6 PM-9 PM on campus in Hartford Hall.

The highlight of the evening will be the awarding of the 2017 Paul J. Langan Distinguished Service Award and the award presentation of the winners in the Countdown to 175 Statewide Essay Contest.  Musical

selections will be provided by current and former KSB students. 

175th ANNIVERSARY

The Wildcat Monthly

TO REGISTER, VISIT: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gateways-2017-tickets-33399067510

Welcome to registration for Gateways 2017. Gateways is a Professional Development for Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVI), Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS) and Service Providers Working with Students who are Blind and Visually Impaired

Gateways will feature:

Tuesday, July 11: TECH TUESDAY - SESSIONS WITH APH, BRIAN GOEMMER & GERALD ABNER – INCLUDES A MAKE AND TAKE IT 

Wednesday-Thursday, July 12-13: ROUTINES, ASSESSMENTS, CALENDARS & INTERACTIVE EVALUATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH COMPLEX NEEDS

Have you ever considered how a person with DeafBlindness, or MIVI, establishes the concepts that you and I (as sighted hearing people) learn incidentally, through our distance senses…. From observation?  We will investigate how to initiate conversation and in-turn develop meaningful shared experiences. Strategies for developing and implementing routines and calendar systems as part of a holistic “communication system” will be shared so that participants can infuse the ideas discussed in meaningful programming for their students.

Chris Montgomery, Education Consultant with the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired Deaf Blind Outreach Team, will be presenting a 2-day workshop for students with complex needs including Deaf-Blindness.

Learning Objectives: Human Connectedness - Participants will gain understanding of the importance of Co-

presence, mindfulness, and moments of joy, and learn strategies for incorporating them into their daily programming.

Participants will gain understanding of the importance of “significant emotional moments”, and how these relate to a person’s sense of self, and sense of place (one’s life story).

Participants will gain an understanding of the tactile learner’s perspective – typical vs. sensorially impaired learners.

Language vs. Communication - Participants will gain an understanding of the student’s communication vs. the Adult’s  formal language, and what this may mean from the Deafblind perspective/concept of the world – how does your student communicate? And, how do I introduce my  formal language?

Routines for conceptualization: a framework for life - Participants will learn basics of the Interaction model and how this fits with the ideas of conversation as a routine, greeting rituals, “acknowledgement of the you”. We will discuss how to organize and design routines for the classroom, and discuss how routines fit within the framework of a holistic “Communication System”.

Participants will gain an understanding of the importance of the calendar system as tool for literacy, gain understanding of the concepts of “time frames”, and how to design and setup a calendar system for the home and classroom.

GATEWAYS 2017 – REGISTRATION OPEN

BIOGRAPHY

Chris Montgomery went to Austin in 1993 to play guitar and make his way as a professional musician. He began substitute teaching at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired to supplement his income. It didn't take long until he was hooked and applied for a full-time job as a teaching assistant. During his first three years, he worked in a self-contained DeafBlind classroom. 

While working as a teaching assistant, he enrolled at Southwest Texas State University and obtained a Masters degree and teaching certificate in Special Education. In 1999 he became a certified teacher and taught in a self-contained deafblind classroom working with emerging language students. In 2001 he obtained my certification in Visual Impairment (TVI) and went on to teach DeafBlind and multiply impaired students whose focus was on transition to adult life. This program, called the “Exit Program”, is for students ages 18-22.

In 2006, he became a DeafBlind education specialist with the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired Outreach department, as a member of the Texas DeafBlind Project.

Get your tickets now! Please register by June 1. Registration is a little different this year. You can register online with a CC or mail us a check or invoice. Your ticket options are 1-day (Tech Tues); 2 days (Chris Montgomery) or Full Conference. If you are a KSB employee, please use that ticket option. 

After June 1, a $25 late fee will be added to the ticket price. 

Two Braille Challengers from Kentucky qualified for the 2017 Braille Challenge finals, held by the Braille Institute in Los Angeles on June 16 and 17. Calli Larison of Kenton County (first photo) makes her second trip to nationals, competing in the Freshman category, and Carmynn Blakely, from Jefferson County (second photo), competes in the Apprentice category.

The Kentucky Braille Challenge is a joint project of the American Printing House for the Blind and the Kentucky School for the Blind. Best of luck, Calli and Carmynn!  http://www.brailleinstitute.org/braille…/2017-finalists.html

BRAILLE CHALLENGE 2017

Congratulations to the 2016-17 NCASB fifrth place Forensics team and seventh place Swim team! Coach Jessica Belcher says, “ I cannot begin to express how proud we are of this group. They represented Kentucky well! “

CONGRATULATIONS!

PHOTOS: Students pose in front of school bus with their metals.

Residential Program Receives New Washer/Dryer Unit Donation

General Electric, and the FirstBuild design department, donated brand new washers and dryers to both the middle/high school boys’ and girls’ dorms! These new machines are specifically designed with auditory software to help the blind and visually impaired. They come with a volume-controlled audio box that announces the main settings when selected.

Not only do the machines speak, but they are also bilingual, offering both English and Spanish. Students and staff reviews have been great. The students and staff continue to work closely with the design team to give helpful feedback towards improving the accessibility of the machines.

For more information go to https://cocreate.firstbuild.com/u/Joe/talkingwasher

Photos: Zach tests out the new units with a load of laundry

Elementary Boys Go Fishing

RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM

Elementary boys in the Oaks dorm and their houseparents, Charity Woolums and Jake Harmon, had a wonderful fishing adventure on Monday, April 25 when they traveled to Thurman Hutchins Park on River Road. Hayden Ashley did not catch anything but he had a good time trying and would laugh when he got nibbles. Gabe Romero did not catch a fish but was surprised when he hooked a turtle instead. The great fish story of the day went to Nick Runyon as he caught his very first fish. Be sure to ask him about his fish story when you see him at school.

Photo: Nick Runyon shows off his catch

Scouts and Venture Crew Go Rock Climbing

On Tuesday, April 18, select members of the KSB Scouts and Venture Crew made a trip to Rock Sport Climbing Gym to test their skills at rock climbing. Despite some initial reservations by some, everyone made it halfway or higher up the wall, including the KSB Institutional Recreation Leader, J.P. Pullens, who almost made it to the top of the wall. By the end of the evening, all students were expressing how happy they were to have tried and succeeded in this new experience and stated they cannot wait to go back and climb the wall again. Troop and Venture Crew climbers included Willie Barksdale, Justin Hedges, Shawn Smith, Haley Hall, Jasmine Johnson, and Nicole Arnett.

Photo: Justin Hedges scales the rock wall

Breaking Barriers Spotlight Awards

KSB Residential Houseparent Coordinator Donald “Chip” Carpenter and elementary student Hayden Ashley were presented with the 17th annual Breaking Barriers Spotlight Awards on March 20 held at the Rudd Heart and Lung Center. The awards, presented by the Metro Disabilities Coalition, aim to

help those overcoming adversity by recognizing various people in the Louisville community for their hard work despite their disabilities or for those supporting those with disabilities.

The Metro Disability Coalition is a non-profit organization of individuals and agencies in the Louisville Metro area. It was born from the desire for a better quality of life for people with disabilities.

Photos: Hayden Ashley and Chip Carpenter pose with their awards.

Easter Egg HuntThese pictures say it all, the students had a blast! Thank you to everyone for your kindness and helpfulness.

Photos: Students search for Easter eggs in the Rec Building

“Your Medium, Your Message: Expressing Yourself through Art” was the theme for the annual Weekend Retreat sponsored by the Short Term Program. The event, which took place March 24-26, engaged 25 students who are blind and visually impaired in a variety of art experiences. The middle- and high school participants came to KSB from across the State. The event was organized as a series of “Art Cycles.”

Friday evening offered the students the opportunity to explore the art of others in a “Tactile Museum,” made

up of pieces by local artists. Students with vision could look over the art works while those who were blind could explore them tactually. They shared their experiences and discoveries. This was followed by the first Art Cycle in which the students could be creative through origami, papermaking, and t-shirt painting.

Saturday morning offered more chances to be creative. Two two-hour Art Cycles taught by local artists were scheduled. In one, the students made “Broom Portraits” using small broom heads and a variety of other materials from cloth to bottle caps. Plaster casting was the focus of the second workshop. The result: a collection of whimsical characters and unique, personal casts. In the first half of the afternoon, the group was divided into three teams; each developing a “sound sculpture.” An electric floor fan, a portable drying rack, and a backyard umbrella were transformed into sources

of sound that could be experienced by touching and moving. Here again, a collection of different objects were used.

The group encountered art in performance by attending a Stage One performance of James and the Giant Peach, at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts. In a post-performance seminar, the students had an up-close look at the hand puppets created for the production. Sunday’s Art Cycles focused on wearable art. The students created

SHORT TERM WEEKEND – EXPRESSING YOURSELF THROUGH ART

decorated caps in one and made jewelry using beads of different colors, textures, and types in the other. These could be appreciated visually and by touch. The art theme was present in other activities as well. Three groups each shopped for and cooked food for a potluck brunch on Sunday morning. They were assigned the task of making dishes that

showed different colors: a salad of red-colored fruit, “rainbow” taco shells, chocolate cupcakes, and a large cookie frosted to look like an artist pallet. The meal was, in fact, a pallet for the palate.

Thanks go out to the Fund for the Arts, the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft (KMAC), the American Printing House for the Blind and the Kentucky School for the Blind Charitable Foundation all of whom offered financial support for the event. Thanks also go to the artists who made this a great experience for the participants: Liz Richter, Joe Autrey, Michelle Amos, Gwendolyn Kelly, and especially Ramona Lindsey of KMAC, who coordinated the art instruction.

By: Tabathia Roark, Arts and Humanities Teacher

Tuesday, May 23 12:30 PM KSB Elementary Recital (followed by the Elementary Awards Ceremony)All elementary students will be performing on their musical instrument (piano, strings, percussion).

InSights is an art competition and exhibition for visually impaired and blind artists of all ages. The exhibition will be shown in Louisville, Kentucky and worldwide on APH’s website. Works in the exhibition will be selected from entries submitted for jurying. Award winners will be selected from the juried exhibition. The following pieces were submitted from KSB Students:

Sculpture animals by Abdulrazzak Dalati (horse), Jaden Smalley (horse), Raymond Gonzalez (Rhino), Michael Davis (yellow lab), Justin Hedges (lizard), and Heather Anthony (sheep).

ART NEWS

A photo of a plant shoot in a field at sunset taken by Corbin Gravil and a painting of grassy hills and the sun by Haley Hall

A painting of Yoshi from Super Mario Bros by Willie Barksdale

They are all fabulous entries!  We are very proud of our students!

YOU ARE

INVITED!Side by Side: An Exhibition of Artistic

Collaborations

April 19 – May 20

The Lou Tate Gallery at The Little Loomhouse

Gallery Hours: Wed-Fri 10am-2pm & Sat 11am-4pm

Artist Reception, free and open to the public, Thursday, May 11 6:30-8:00 pm

“Cubism” clay by KSB Student, Daniel Flynn with Sarah Pierce This Side by Side exhibition is made up of sixteen groups of art – one made by the student artist, one made by the professional artist, and one collaborative piece. Each design represents a lively interaction between youthful spirit, and the experience of professional working artists.

Side by Side is an annual program offered by VSA Kentucky in partnership with KSB, and The Little Loomhouse.

Before they partnered with a professional artist, the student artists took a series of art classes, at KSB, taught by VSA KY Teaching Artist Michelle Amos.  Art classes are provided free of charge as is the mentoring session with the professional artist, making this program an exceptional opportunity for participants.

About VSA

VSA Kentucky is a statewide, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting arts education, and creative expression for all, with an emphasis on persons with disabilities. For more information visit the website at www.vsartsky.org.

On Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) Friday the focus was Recreation and Leisure. It was an awesome afternoon

The elementary group worked on our Orientation and Mobility skills.

By: Robbin Cox, Outreach Consultant

New teacher Jennifer Starks of Christian County presented her story box and talking book at KAER Conference this month in Lexington. Her story was Pete the Cat Rocking in My School Shoes.

OFB-Paducah & KSB Presents iTeam Events We invite you to join us in our events this year. You will learn life skills as you are having a fun time.

May 13, 2017** Public Transportation (Bus & Trolley) with a Scavenger Hunt

June 20th ** Murray State University – Campus Day

July 18th ** Baptist Health of Paducah

August 1st ** Dinner & Walk – Lowertown Paducah at Night

September 21st iTeam PASSPORT – Build Inclusion training at MSU Paducah Campus

October 15 White Cane Event

If you have any questions, please call us.

KY Office for the Blind 416 South 6th Street

Paducah, KY 42003 270-575-7315

ELEMENTARY

WKEC (Western Kentucky Educational Cooperative)

KY School for the Blind Outreach Robbin Cox

[email protected] 270-994-3395

Group picture of opening with Dr. Greg Batts, O.D. talking about bioptic driving.

Students learning independent skills chopping fruit for salad.  This session was led by Nancy Harper from the OFB Paducah office.

Student in the Technology for Transition session led by Karen Perry from the OFB office in Bowling Green.

Students talking with vendors in lounge area at Murray State University Paducah campus

Jennifer and Jake Saylor from Henderson County and Breanna Coleman with her father, Dwight Coleman from Livingston County reconnect after first meeting at the birth of these students.  

KSB Outreach presented the book I Can Hear You Just Fine in honor of the two Western KY students who were authors. Tonya Griffey, Director of Special Education in Hopkins County is receiving the book from Robbin Cox, KSB Outreach Consultant. The book honors Selena Tirey and will be placed in Hopkins Central High School library.

Accepting the book in honor of Cherish Willis is Selise Ridolfi, Director of Special Education for Graves County. It will be placed in Graves County High School library. Western KY was pleased to have two published authors in this project with KSB students and Louisville Story Program.

By: Wendy Strode, Outreach Consultant

The third annual Eye Can Derby was a huge success! The event was held at Phil Moore Park in Bowling Green. The districts that participated were Meade, Warren, Owensboro Independent, Simpson, Daviess, Elizabethtown Independent, Larue, Caverna Independent, Allen, Bowling Green City, Monroe, Ohio, Breckinridge, and Hart.

The students experienced activities such as cooking from Connie Hill; Low Vision Specialist at KY School for the Blind, new products from the American Printing House, Technology from Office for the Blind, portions and foods with the Warren County Extension Office, self-advocacy skills with Jamie Dennis, relaxing with yoga,

GRREC (GREEN RIVER REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL COOPERATIVE)

face painting, listening to guitar playing, Early Intervention Consultation Services and enjoying a variety of animals from Kentucky Down Under!

Kentucky Down Under showing Brandon Cutright-Head a snake at the Eye Can Derby

Students enjoyed working with the Joy Player from American Printing House for the Blind

A group of students listened to Jamie Dennis speak about self-advocacy skills.

By: Teri Ritchie, Outreach Consultant

NORTHERN KENTUCKY EDUCATORS CREATE BOOK ABOUT CINCINNATI ZOO ANIMAL

NKCES (NORTHERN KENTUCKY COOPERATIVE FOR EDUCATIONAL SERVICES)

The Cincinnati Zoo's premature hippo has inspired hashtags, T-shirts and even cookies — and now, she's the star of a children's book.

Karen Jacobs Costello and Missy Jones, visually impaired paraeducators at the Northern Kentucky Cooperative for Educational Services (NKCES), created a tactile book for students with visual impairments about the baby hippo.

"Fiona! The Baby Hippo" tells the story of the animal and her early birth. It includes Braille and incorporates textures into its colorful pictures.

"I have fallen in love with Fiona," said Jacobs Costello. "I've been in love with her since she was born."

Some of Jacobs Costello's and Jones' duties are to create books, games and Braille translations for students with visual impairments at NKCES.

This was the pair's first original book.

"We just thought it would be a great inspirational little story for the kids," Jones said. "Fiona can make it — it kind of gives the kids some inspiration."

CHECK OUT THE BOOK HERE: https://www.facebook.com/karen.costello.7/posts/1312593835473069

By: Pamela Howard, Outreach Consultant

LIFE SKILLS SYMPOSIUM – APRIL 201718 students in grades 7-12 attended. 

7 Teachers for Blind/Visually Impaired

5 Related Service Providers

6 Office for the Blind Counselors

5 Parents

15 Volunteers

56 TOTAL ATTENDEES

Session 1. Adapted Reality Fair

KEDC (Kentucky Educational Development Cooporation) Special Ed. Cooperative

Reality Fair materials and adapted for accessibility. There were pre-lessons that had to be completed in district. During lessons student had to choose a profession and a number between 0-3. 

Lessons included money folding techniques for people with visual impairments. 

During event session students were given their chosen profession "salary" in folded money and their chosen number represented how many children they would have.

There were 14 stations manned by local HS Volunteer students. Each station represented an area that you had to budget for.  Ex. Uncle Sam for taxes, Transportation, Housing, Furniture, Clothing, Personal Hygiene, Insurances, etc. There was also a Chance station and an SOS station. If you ran out of money you had to go to SOS station to figure out life changes so you have money to pay for needs (rather than wants). 

Students LOVED this! They do this program in schools but it's never adapted to meet the needs of our students and give them better understanding. 

Session 2 - Independent Living - OFB CounselorShared devices, etc related to attaining independence with various everyday tasks. Group discussions included discussing what students were in charge of at home and what they typically should be held accountable for according to age and physical ability. 

Section 3. McDowell Center - OFB Counselor and a ConsumerPlanned discussions related to Independent Living areas/skills. Consumer discussed her experiences and feelings related to learning at the McDowell Center. 

Session 4 - Assistive Technology. Hands-on with AT and Low Vision devices. Discussed life situations and scenarios. All participants got to handle and try out all AT. 

THIRD ANNUAL REGIONAL ACCESSIBLE EASTER EVENT & EGG HUNT WAS HELD AT THE KYOVA MALL APRIL 22.

A wonderful time was had by all! Families enjoyed the activities, food, AND the Easter Bunny. The most fun was had during the actual Accessible Egg Hunt! Eggs were big, little, blinking, talking, textured, or smooth hidden high and low, in sight and out of sight - meeting the physical needs of all participants! Thanks to all the volunteers, KEDC, CALEBS, KSB, West Carter High Y Club, and the KSB Charitable Foundation for making this extraordinary event happen for our children with more complex needs!

Photos: Students hunt for eggs – large, small, blinking, beeping, etc.

Kentucky School for the Blind1867 Frankfort AvenueLouisville, KY 40206

Phone: 502-897-1583Fax ~ Business Office: 502-897-2994Fax ~ Classroom Office: 502-897-2850Fax ~ KIMRC: 502-897-8737www.ksb.kyschools.us

We’re on Facebook! We would love for you to like our page!

https://www.facebook.com/KYschoolfortheblind

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KSB Mission Statement:

“The mission of the Kentucky School for the Blind is to provide comprehensive educational services

to all Kentucky students who are

blind and visually impaired, birth to 21.”

KSB Vision Statement:“Empowering Students who are Blind and

Visually Impaired to Command their Future”

KSB BeliefsWe believe students who are blind and visually impaired…

... can become college and career ready through world class instruction and services

… have unique needs that must be met… have a right to knowledge, tools and relationships necessary to build

successful lives… deserve to be taught in a safe and caring environment by competent

professionals… are meaningful contributors to society