New York State School for the Blind (NYSSB)
E-mail Monthly Newsletter – July 2003
(See archived issues at http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/lsn/resourcetoolbox.htm)

From Our Superintendent…

• Jennifer Spas Ervin, Superintendent, NYSSB

The New York State School for the Blind will be renovating our main educational building, Severne Hall, beginning this fall. The building was built in 1949 and needs renovations to meet the needs of our current population of students who are blind and also have additional disabilities. When the renovations are complete, Severne Hall will have:

• A large new elevator, accessible from the front of the building
• 14 wonderful new classroom spaces
• 3 Art and Shop spaces – 2 for instruction; 1 for machines
• Central air conditioning
• New improved adjustable lighting
• An evaluation suite
• Student Assistive Technology Center (SATC)
• Media; Library; Braille instruction room; OT/PT area; Music room; Vision Training Room

Meanwhile, we will continue to construct our plans for the future, including:

• Opportunities to expand our Outreach Programs
• In-services on topics identified through the recent survey
• Methods to assure that every student in the state has appropriate materials and textbooks available in a timely fashion
• Methods to assure that every student’s annual review includes discussions on testing accommodations and essential materials and texts

Due to the downsized staff and quarters of the Resource Center and the construction in Severne Hall in September, we are clearing out our inventory of APH materials. On July 17^th and 18^th from 8 AM until 4 PM, we invite New York State TVIs to come and help reduce our inventory by taking much-needed educational materials to students who will use them! Come to the main door of Severne Hall, sign in, and someone will accompany you to the best moving sale you ever attended!

A heartfelt thanks goes out to each of you who have completed our Patron Survey! The preliminary results are in, but we are still entertaining any additional surveys that may be returned during the summer, so if you have not yet sent yours in, there is still time to do so!

At the close of business on June 18^th, 63 individuals have responded to the survey. The vast majority stated that researching and providing textbooks, library books and other educational materials in braille, large print and other adapted forms are our most essential services.

The areas of training most requested include assistive technology (especially Braille notetakers and JAWS), assessments (including alternative assessments and functional vision), and alternative formats (including tactile graphics). We hope to offer trainings in a number of these areas throughout the 2003-2004 school year, and the surveys indicate that the training modalities most preferred are the provision of a training manual with a file or PowerPoint presentation e-mailed to the trainees. We also hope to offer a workshop or two at NYSAER.

Newly Approved Teaching Assistant Program at Genesee Community College! This new A.A.S. Degree Teaching Assistant program will prepare individuals to fill the growing number of instructional support positions present in school districts throughout the Western New York region. The program will help students prepare to meet the new state and federal regulations that are going into effect in 2004 and 2006. For more information, contact Joann Cepelak (585) 343-0055 ext. 6445 jmcepelak@genesee.edu.

Grants for Community Technology Centers
The Community Technology Centers (CTC) program of the U.S. Department of Education provides $24.3 million to assist eligible applicants to create or expand community technology centers that will provide disadvantaged residents of economically distressed urban and rural communities with access to IT training. Go to: http://www.eschoolnews.com/resources/funding/opps.cfm?#354. The deadline is July 7.

The Emergency E-mail Network

To receive Emergency Email notification of natural disasters or other emergencies in your area from your local, regional and national government sources, or to get breaking weather and Homeland Security information sent to your wireless, cell, pager, Palm, fax or e-mail, go to http://www.emergencyemailnetwork.com.

Schools and education agencies can also receive emergency and weather notification services and messaging. Sign up by going to http://216.205.75.2/add2.asp.

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) You can find all NCLB NYS field memos about teachers and paraprofessionals and related information at http://www.highered.nysed.gov.

Data Conversion Laboratory's Books2Bytes Service converts printed books and typed manuscripts into electronic files. Go to http://www.dclab.com/dclnews0504.asp#plus1.

This contest is conducted for young people 11 to 13 years of age through the Lions Club in cooperation with local schools and organized sponsored youth groups. Each school or group that wants to participate receives a kit from the participating Lions Club and the students each make a poster to be entered into the contest. The contest requires a chairperson who will serve as the main contact for the school/group and who will coordinate sending in the entries.

The posters submitted will go through several levels of judging, including the local, district, national and international levels. At each level the posters are judged on originality, artistic merit and expression of theme. One grand prizewinner and 23 merit award winners are chosen during the final international judging. The grand prizewinner receives a trip to Lions Day with the United Nations in New York City with two family members and the sponsoring Lions club president. At this event the winner is presented with US Dollars $2,500 (or local country equivalent) and an engraved commemorative plaque. The 23 merit award winners each receive US Dollars $500 (or local country equivalent) and a framed certificate. After the international judging the 24 posters are displayed at children's museums and attractions around the United States. To view winning past posters, obtain additional contest information or to send a Peace Poster e-mail postcard, visit the Peace Poster Contest section of the Lions Club International Website: http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/youth_peace_poster.php3

Submitted by MaryJoan D'Amore,
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor,
NYS Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped

The Role of the Rehabilitation Counselor in Transitioning Youth with Disabilities to Postsecondary Education and Employment Preliminary findings are discussed at http://www.rrtc.hawaii.edu/products/phases/phase2_02.asp?studyNumber=21 or http://www.rrtc.hawaii.edu/documents/products/phase2/pdf/062b(1)-H01.pdf (direct link to .pdf file)

Large Print Books! Huge Print Press and The Large Print Book Club each offer catalogs of books that feature Arial non-serif font. Huge Print Press will print any book you want to buy, in a requested font size from 16 to 36 point, if you supply the book. Contact Huge Print Press at (800-825-0057) or www.hugeprint.com. The Large Print Book Club is a lending book service for a fee. A wide variety of titles, for both children and adults, are available in 18 to 24-point size print. The club has monthly or yearly rates, and will lend a member three books at a time. Contact the Large Print Book Club at (877) 587-4377 or visit the club's web site at www.LargePrintBookClub.com.
Submitted by Judy Strauss-Schwartz, TVI/COMS.

Book Port Now Available on Quota! The new APH Book Port features both text-to-speech capabilities and digital audio support to read electronic files and books. You may read electronic files (with synthetic speech) or digital recorded books (with human speech). Order catalog number 1-07440-00, $395.00 on federal quota. For additional information, click here: http://www.aph.org/products/bp_bro.html

Book Courier
is another digital eBook reader. For information, go to http://www.bookcourier.com.

ZoomText Version 8 Released by AiSquared
ZoomText 8 comes as stand alone magnifier and magnifier / screen reader for those with some usable vision. Go to http://www.aisquared.com.

PDF Solutions: Both Adobe Acrobat 6.0 and Premier Programming's PDF Magic are now self-voicing. A variety of approaches may be necessary to access different PDF files, and I suggest one of these two new programs may be a good tool to have in your toolbox of solutions. For information about PDF Magic go to www.premier-programming.com/pdf_magic.htm. For the Adobe Access Page http://access.adobe.com. A free downloadable file from LeadTools entitled ePrint is available at: http://download.com.com/3000-2064-10187281.html?tag=lst-0-1.

ePrint is a PDF file converter utility that can be used to access PDF files that are inaccessible via the normal Adobe interface, as well as converting other text and graphics file formats.

For TVI’s Only
(Suitable for Sharing!)

Low vision can be a significant barrier to accessing the Internet effectively. Many of today's typical web sites combine text and pictures sized for people with perfect vision, together with multiple links, complex formats, fill-in text boxes, multimedia, animated features, frames, and pop-up windows.

PnC Net helps people with low vision use these features by first enlarging the web page to fit the user's needs, then making it possible for the text to be spoken. In addition, PnC Net provides special controls for navigating around the web page, downloading links, changing magnification and speaking rate, and dealing with pop-up windows. For more information, contact Jim Bliss at JBliss Imaging Systems, (888) 452-5477 or go to http://www.jbliss.com.

The Braille Bug™ Reading Club
http://www.afb.org/braillebug/readingclub.asp now features two new books for discussion. Featured selections are award-winning books that are obtainable in print from libraries and bookstores, and are also available in braille and electronic formats.

The Braille Bug's "Book Schedule" Page http://www.afb.org/braillebug/ReadingClubSchedule.asp has more information on these and other Braille Bug™ Reading Club books, helpful ideas and activities for using the Reading Club in your classroom, and links to related web sites.

Braille Book Reader with Full-page Refreshable Braille Including Tactile Graphics! An innovative technology recently developed by Tactile Dynamics, Inc. http://www.wyfiwyg.com/whitepaper.htm, makes multi-line refreshable Braille displays and tactile graphics displays feasible, practical, and affordable. An article (white paper) describing this new technology is available on the web site above.

Resources for Teaching Students with Visual Impairments have been compiled and annotated at http://www.tsbvi.edu/recc/index.htm.

My Future My Plan is a video-based curriculum designed to inform students with disabilities and their families about the transition planning process and encourage them to use this process to achieve their goals for life after high school. Students with disabilities who have an Individualized Educational Program (IEP) are required to have a statement of transition included in their IEP by the time the student is age 14, or earlier if the IEP team finds it appropriate. Produced by State of the Art, Inc., My Future My Plan encourages students to take a lead role in planning the life they want after high school. http://www.myfuturemyplan.com

Kids As Self Advocates (KASA) is a project of Family Voices:
http://www.fvkasa.org/forum.asp

eyes2eyes.com This new website for people who are blind and visually impaired and their families offers information on personal, medical, safety, employment, and vision issues. Visitors have the opportunity to submit articles and tips, voice their opinions and post messages to others. Access the site by going to www.eyes2eyes.com.

Low Vision Care…What's It All About? Eschenbach is sponsoring this hands-on workshop/seminar that offers 3 hours of continuing education credit through AER. For information about dates (July through September), locations (Ohio and West Virginia) and costs ($55-$75), call (800) 487-5389.

Low Vision Resource Guide from the National Eye Institute explains the major causes of eye disease and suggests products to compensate for low vision. The booklet is available free online at www.telesensory.com.

Cross-agency Transition Services Coordination provides families with a single contact to identify supports by focusing on person- and family-centered planning, inclusion, and self-determination. Emerging practices, Web sites, and additional resources can be found at http://www.ncset.org/topics/coordination/default.asp?topic=35

Scan and Say Talking Barcode Program http://www.barcode-solutions.com/scanandsay.html.

Through the Looking Glass (TLG) is a nationally recognized center that has pioneered research, training, and services for families in which a child, parent or grandparent has a disability or medical issue: http://www.lookingglass.org

The purpose of the National Parent-to-Parent Network at Through the Looking Glass is to connect parents, as well as those who are considering becoming parents, with others who may have shared similar experiences or faced common barriers as parents with disabilities.

BVI-Parents@yahoogroups.com is a listserv support group for parents of blind and visually impaired children. To subscribe to BVI-Parents, send a BLANK emessage to:

This National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 studies factors that affect the educational and transition experiences of youth with disabilities: http://www.ncset.org/publications/viewdesc.asp?id=1008

Draft - Family-Centered Practices for Infants and Young Children with Visual Impairments is a proposed position statement developed by the Division on Visual Impairments, CEC, February 15, 2003. See the Spring 2003 issue of DVIQ, pages 41-46.

Understanding University Success - read at http://www.s4s.org/03_viewproducts/ksus/intro.php

Internet Audio Reference Cards Keyboard commands in braille for RealPlayer 8, Winamp 2.75 and Media Player 7.0 are available from National Braille Press for a small charge (800) 548-7323, FAX (617) 437-0456 or e-mail orders@nbp.org.

NYSSB Highlights

Due to the reduced staff and quarters of the Resource Center and the construction beginning on Severne Hall in September, we will be moving the Resource Center APH and library materials to temporary storage, and will need your assistance in minimizing the number of materials that need to be moved. We have lots and lots of APH materials, some old and some not so old, that we are offering to TVIs who are willing and able to come to the School and help themselves to whatever their students can use. This "moving sale" will take place on July 17^th and 18^th between the hours of 8 AM and 4 PM. We hope to see you here!

Meanwhile, due to the move and the lack of a librarian, we have not yet decided what we will do with some of the library collections. These include:

• the braille and large print literature books for students
• the professional reference books
• the assessment and curriculum collections
• the video collections, including recreational and descriptive videos for students as well as professional development videos for staff and family members.

We have decided to discontinue the assessment and curriculum collections, as most of the materials we had were outdated.

We will do our best to provide materials ordered as far into the summer as we are able before the move, so please send your orders as soon as possible. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to continue library circulation beyond this summer. However, we will let you all know the status of the library services as these decisions are made and appreciate your patience throughout the coming year. We hope that the sacrifices we all must make during this time of transition will eventually yield very positive rewards in improved services in the future!

Hunter College of the City University of New York Department of Special Education was awarded a 5-year grant (2003-2008) for the preparation of Rehabilitation Teachers, Orientation and Mobility Specialists and Low Vision Therapists (RT/O&M) by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). Hunter was also awarded a 2-year grant from The New York Community Trust (2003-2005). These grants will enable eligible students to be waived from tuition and also receive a monthly stipend to assist with expenses. Hunter College is accepting applications for the fall 2003 semester until August 8, 2003.

Hunter College has been preparing teachers of learners who are blind or visually impaired (TVIs) for over 50 years and has other related program offerings including Teacher of Learners Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired and Teachers of Learners with Severe Disabilities including those who are Deafblind. Grant opportunities for these programs are also available.

These grants allow Hunter to continue to offer its State approved 48-credit Master's Degree in Rehabilitation Teaching/Orientation and Mobility. Students who already are certified in one of these areas can complete the required coursework in the other specialization.

Hunter College also offers certified Teachers of Learners Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired the opportunity to enroll in a 14-credit add-on certificate program in O&M. This program receives support from the Lavelle Fund and the New York State Education Department.

For more information about all of the Vision programs offered at Hunter College, you can go to http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/~edu/tvi.html or call Dr. Rosanne K. Silberman, (212) 772-4740 or Dr. Grace Ambrose Zaken, (212) 772-4741.

A memorandum regarding Alternate Strategies Approved to meet Teacher Certification Requirements is now available at http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/timely.htm.

July 25-29, 2003 > Advocacy - Everyone's Responsibility, Washington, DC, (877) 492-2708, e-mail aer@aerbvi.org or go to the AER web site at www.aerbvi.org

October 17-18, 2003 > Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged, Brockport, NY (518) 474-8889 or http://www.empirestategames.org/physical or (585) 395-5620 or e-mail smaxwell@brockport.edu

Dec. 4-7, 2003 > Getting in Touch with Literacy 2003 Westin Bayshore Resort and Hotel, Vancouver, British Columbia Canada (604) 822-2235 or e-mail cay.holbrook@ubc.ca or http://www.gettingintouchwithliteracy.org.

Share the Vision! is published monthly by the New York State School for the Blind. Subscription is free and articles and suggestions are always welcome. Archived issues of the newsletter are found at www.vesid.nysed.gov/lsn/resourcetoolbox.htm.

Judi Piscitello (585) 343-5384, Option 1 ext. 427
E-mail jpiscite@mail.nysed.gov.
FAX: (585) 344-7026

NYS School for the Blind
2A Richmond Avenue
Batavia, New York 14020

In providing Share the Vision! to its readers, the School for the Blind does not endorse any products or services to which the newsletter refers. The State Education Department does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, religion, creed, disability, marital status, veteran status, national origin, race, gender, genetic predisposition or carrier status, or sexual orientation in its educational programs, services, and activities.

Portions of this publication can be made available in a variety of formats, including braille, large print, or audiotape, upon request. Inquiries concerning this policy of nondiscrimination should be referred to the Department’s Office for Diversity, Ethics, and Access, Room 530, Education Building, Albany, NY 12234.

New Open eBook (OeB) Reader Application for Low Vision Readers - ION’s eMonocle™ Reader allows for text on screen to be resized from 4 point to 144 point size on demand. Installed as a downloaded application, it offers word and phrase search with keyboard or mouse commands. Any graphic can be enlarged or rotated for improved viewing at a click of a button to fill the entire screen or larger than screen size for full detail disclosure. For a free download and demonstration, click on www.ionsystems.com/emonocle.

(LOL) Lots of Links today!

 

Lots of Links is a Word file that contains a wealth of resources, is electronically searchable, has hot links to go right to the Internet without typing or pasting long URLs, and is updated almost daily by Share the Vision! Editor, Judi Piscitello.