Ringing the Bell in Houston

Ringing the Bell in Houston

American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
Future Reflections Winter 2016 PROGRAMS
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Ringing the Bell in Houston
by Kim Cunningham
From the Editor: Kim Cunningham currently serves in dual roles as president of Texas Parents of Blind Children (TPBC) and president of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC). In June 2015 she volunteered with the Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning (BELL) program in Houston. Here is her account of this exciting experience.
The National Federation of the Blind of Texas held the first of three BELL programs in Houston June 8-12, 2015. I have volunteered as the parent coordinator for Houston BELL since its beginning in 2010, working with Louis Maher, NFB-Houston chapter coordinator. This year our program enrolled fifteen students from Houston and surrounding areas.
The students entered this year's program at widely varied levels. Some were learning Braille for the first time, while others were experienced Braille readers working to increase their speed and efficiency. Some students received Braille instruction at school, but others were being denied services. As members of the NFB, we recognize the need for all blind children to have opportunities to learn Braille and other nonvisual techniques.
Emily Gibbs served as our lead teacher. Our team also included teachers Kayleigh Joiner, Mika Baugh, Daniel Martinez, and Kathy Mansfield, along with many enthusiastic volunteers. The team created rich learning experiences for the students throughout the week. Each day involved lessons in reading and writing Braille, work with technology, and practice using nonvisual skills. Docents from a program called Mad Science attended daily, teaching meaningful science lessons using sound, taste, and smell. All of the lessons were designed to accommodate blind students. Without even having to be asked, the Mad Science folks Brailled items the students needed to use in order to give them a richer understanding.
A nearby fire station hosted the children for our field trip. One of the firefighters let the students examine his full gear. The students learned about the equipment a firefighter uses, and they even sprayed water from the heavy fire hose.
Among the students in our 2015 BELL program were two deaf-blind children who attended with their interveners. The intervener used hand-under-hand sign language to communicate. Neither of these students had been exposed to Braille prior to the BELL program. The BELL teachers worked primarily with the interveners, who then interpreted the lessons to the students. Both interveners eagerly soaked up as much information as they could. They were learning the Braille code along with their students. Both deaf-blind students learned to scribble on the Perkins Braillewriter during the week.
One of the interveners was deaf, and the BELL teachers had to do some quick problem solving! They decided to use the computer screen reader JAWS to communicate the lessons. Where there is a will, there is a way! Recently I heard from the mother of one of the deaf-blind students, who announced that her daughter is now beginning to write Braille.
Two of our students had cerebral palsy in addition to their blindness, and both of them used walkers. One of the students had received her first long white cane during the BELL program two years ago. She has now become adept at using her cane daily. Our other student with cerebral palsy, who was new to us this year, received his first cane during the program. By the end of the first day, he was tap, tap, tapping!
Both of our students who use walkers were able to travel independently from one work station to another within the classroom. Lead teacher Emily Gibbs showed them how to place the loop of the cane over the handle of the walker. If the student lost hold of the cane, it could easily be retrieved. The students began by grasping the handle of the walker and the cane at the same time. They rested the grip of the cane on their fingers, allowing them to move the cane from side to side. Because the long white cane is lightweight, this method doesn't require much hand strength, and the students used it easily.
Our Houston BELL program demonstrated our belief that all children should be given opportunities to learn and grow. I am proud to be part of a team that thinks outside the box and isn't afraid to take on challenges. With love, hope, and determination, we find ways to work together.

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