IESBVI News FALL 2020 VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 1

4PLUS transition students from last fall make their way from recreation time to the classroom on the Council Bluffs campus.

“No matter the circumstance, our staff is responsive,” said Gwen Woodward, Iowa Educational Services for Blind and Visually Impaired (IESBVI) regional director for western Iowa.

That responsiveness is apparent as staff serve a number of school districts, all which might be in a different form of hybrid, virtual or in-person learning in any given week.

Staff anticipate virtual learning needs by delivering adaptive equipment to students’ porches, handling vision assessments through videos and Zooms, or meeting early childhood families in open spaces. For a family caregiver in charge of a student’s schoolwork, IESBVI staff offer training on

Finding the positivein a pandemic

various types of computers and learning platforms so families can help their child keep up in class. Staff also offer strategies for students with multiple impairments.

Even as staff constantly adapt to new conditions, Woodward says silver linings are emerging.

“We have more parent contact now,” she said. Under usual circumstances, IESBVI staff are working in the schools with students and providing consultation for teachers and paras. Now, in hybrid and virtual situations, parents are being trained in hand-under-hand techniques

What is your child doing after high school? IESBVI’s free 4PLUS transition program focuses on building

independence. Students may hold paying jobs, attend college classes, volunteer and more. Contact details are inside this newsletter.

More flexible than a gold medal gymnast. Able to leap

tall-order IEPs in a single bound. Not a bird; not a plane. It’s the staff of IESBVI.

and strategies for multi-impaired children. “Parents have more opportunities to learn and understand their child’s instruction, which better meets the needs of their child,” Woodward said.

(Continued on p. 3)

IOWA EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED

Celebrating White Cane Safety DayA symbol of blindness and a tool of independence

October 15 is National White Cane Safety Day, a recognition of individuals within the Blind and Visually Impaired community for their declaration and pursuit of independence.

IESBVI students celebrate National White Cane Safety Day with a video in which their perspectives about white canes are shared.

During years where in-person celebrations are possible, Iowa Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired students celebrate White Cane Safety Day in their local communities by visiting municipal buildings, attending local attractions or engaging in other activities with built-in orientation and mobility lessons.

Short clips of these and

more students’ statements may be

accessed here.

Chat CappelleKittrell Elem

Waterloo

Bode BrunsvoldAlgona

Middle School

Draven MarquetteRiver Hills

Cedar Falls

Collins WeitlTerrace Elem

Ankeny

Finn SchulzCarlisle High

Carlisle

Tayler SoppeTable Mound

Elem, Dubuque

Jordyn RobbinsSE ElemAnkeny

Did you know?IESBVI staff attend monthly professional development focused on staff needs, using the

Teachers Learning and Collaborating model. This year’s professional development is targeted at helping teachers become more effective with implementing virtual learning strategies,

instruction, assessments and consultation, to improve student and family outcomes.

Welcomed mental blocks

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IESBVI teachers now have access to 152 sets of Lego bricks molded with studs to correspond with numbers and letters in the braille alphabet. The bricks are used to support lessons in STEM and literacy, develop problem solving, inspire creativity and more. There are 307 Legos in each set.

Thanks to the Lego Foundation for donating these special blocks throughout the world, and to the American Printing House that aids in distributing the Legos.

Nathan Deeds, a freshman from Williamsburg, was one of 50 preliminary Braille Challenge winners across the country who competed last spring for the chance to advance to national finals. Nathan earned an invitation to Los Angeles for two days of national competition, but in the wake of COVID-19, the event was canceled and finalists were instead sent prizes.

IESBVI student is national finalist

Nathan was awarded special recognition for his performance in the tables and graphs category in the preliminary Braille Challenge, hosted by the Iowa Department for the Blind Feb. 29. The Braille Institute sponsors the Braille Challenge.

IOWA EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIREDFALL 2020

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1c42ASq1B1NXTV6Mh_20TzCjwvHw2Zc09/view?usp=sharing

If your child or student has unmet transition needs, IESBVI 4PLUS just might be the answer. This no-cost program focuses on goals of paid employment, college exploration, increasing social skills and independence with daily living skills as students transition from high school to the adult world. To find out if the program might be right for your child or student, click HERE for 4PLUS details or contact Gwen Woodward, IESBVI regional director, at gwen.woodward@iaedb.org.

Some companies at which students have worked while in 4PLUS include Fareway, Kohl’s, Cheddar’s and Omaha Steaks.

4PLUS offers job, social and independent skills after graduation

Positives in a pandemic

After school activities go on for IESBVI students

Continued from front page

Forensics, track, wrestling, cheerleading, swimming and goalball are offered through IESBVI.

Another bright spot in the COVID conditions is the

increased number interactions

IESBVI staff have with students and classroom teachers.

considering continuing some facet of this scheduling even beyond the pandemic.

Today, staff are flexing their responsive muscle, jugging delivery methods, and even adding virtual learning sections to every child’s IEP. Tomorrow? They just might be a superhero to a student or teacher in need.

Sierra Schmidt (above) of Arthur joined the 4PLUS IESBVI program fall of 2019. After learning job skills, drafting resumes and practice interviewing, Sierra has had several work experiences. Currently, she works Saturdays at Ida Family Chiropractic in Ida Grove, answering phones and scheduling patients. Sierra will soon begin employment with Fat Brain Toys in Omaha.

IOWA EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED FALL 2020

Virtual extracurriculars are nothing new to IESBVI students and staff. As a statewide system, they are experts at holding practices across the state and coordinating team details- even when teams have barely met each other before competition.

Some changes are in store for activities this year. The North Central Association of Schools for the Blind competitions (NCASB) will hold its forensics competition virtually. Track teams will report their times, as this event will also be held virtually. Wrestling and cheerleading decisions have not yet been made. Plans are to progress with spring goalball and swimming (in person).

To find out how your child or student can join these teams contact crystal.beighley@iaedb.org.

Increased time with teaching staff in local school districts is the result of less time needed to travel between districts. Staff are able to provide consultation and attend IEP meetings via Zoom.

“They can get so many more meetings in; sometimes, back-to-back,” Woodward said. IESBVI is

LET’S GORAMS!

IESBVI NEWS PAGE 3

https://www.iowa-braille.k12.ia.us/vnews/display.v/ART/5706fc43e4235

Parents and caregivers learned more about the way their child experiences the world,” said Susan Rolinger, IESBVI director of extended learning. She was referring to IESBVI’s unusual 2020 summer camp format.

Plans for 2020 summer camps began in November, with 12 camps and 77 campers registered by the time COVID caused IESBVI staff racing to whip up engaging summer activities for students. The solution? Nearly 20 free camps-in-a-kit were created and delivered to students’ front doors. Themes varied from kitchen, dressing and other independent skills, socialization games and activities and sensory kits.

FALL NEWS

COVID’s silver linings

Student stories about White Cane Day

IESBVI student is national winner

46,664 Legos for learning

3501 Harry Langdon BlvdCouncil Bluffs, IA 51503

Contact us:712-309-0678

iowa-braille.k12.ia.us

Kids flippedfor IESBVIcamp kits

Justine Yang, a 2020 graduate of Cedar Falls High School, wrote this statement as part of her application for the McGregor

“I know that my limitations mean I am not like every student, but I also know I work hard enough to be competitive with any student. “

Scholarship, which she was awarded. The scholarship is managed by IESBVI and was set up on behalf of Eudora F. McGregor for college-bound Iowa students who are blind or visually impaired. Justine is attending DePaul University in Chicago, studying business. Her career goal

is to start a business which employs individuals with disabilities. Justine was one of 19 students awarded the scholarship in 2020.

Interested in applying for the 2021 McGregor Scholarship? Contact cindy.bryan@iaedb.org.

2,500 items purchased and assembled

“

17 different learning kits offered for all ages

6 weeks was amount of time between planning and shipping kits

2 formats offered- group/Zoom or within families

113 students in 9 Area Education Agencies participated

From providing family games to training

kitchen ninjas, summer programming didn’t miss a

beat this year.IOWA EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED FALL 2020

IESBVI NEWS PAGE 4