4/4/13

Today was my last visit to the middle school. We reviewed routes the students use within the school such as going to their classes, the gym, the front office or the clinic. I am sad this is my last visit but had a wonderful experience!

3/30/13

Due to the illness of the student normally seen on this day I decided to make a game for the student. The student really loves the Jeopardy Game so that was the basis of the game. I used numbered sections-100 through 500 and categories such as orientation skills, cane skills, transportation, and the address system. I brailled the information on cards to be used with the felt portion of the Wheatley map maker.

Today we went on a community field trip to a descriptive movie with the entire middle school vision group. Only to find out that the ear phones were not working so the adults had to be the descriptive narrators! what fun-poor kiddos! On the way to the movies and back to school we discussed the travel-for example the expressway and other roads-what they were...streets, highways or toll roads and which cardinal direction they were going. Fun and informative trip for all of us.

3/21/13

Today was observation at the middle school. We used the Wheatley tactile map to discuss the area near one of the student's new home. We discussed reference point, major intersections, nearby major roads, cardinal points on the map, what the lights mean on the traffic signal, and nearby stores and restaurants as he put markers on the map. then reviewed the map once it was complete. Also discussed what the students did on the weekend- one student asked what a garage sale was because it family had had one the week before.

3/20/13

Today we attended a field trip to a local recreation center with the county's other vision students. We played relay races, played beep kick ball, and had a beep egg hunt all while practicing our O&M skills! Eggciting day!

3/7/13

Todays observation was at the middle school. One of he students had trouble earlier in the day on his route. We reviewed the location he should square off at in the courtyard in order to complete his destination to his class. Afterwards we played a game with the other vision students called "knowing your surroundings". We used the "that was easy" buttons from office depot for the students to ring if they knew the answers to questions about their surroundings.

3/6/13

Today I visited the high school with the student who is a senior. We discussed the remainder of the year and what mobility skills that still needed to be addressed. We planned out the remainder of her lessons including making community shopping trips for things she needed for graduation and prom. Also we discussed her plans for after leaving school and services she will need.

2/28/13

Today we worked with the middle school students on an outing to the local grocery store- Publix.
The student were making a strawberry dessert later in the week and needed the purchase the items for it. The instructor reviewed the list with the students and the items were divided up so the students knew what they were each going to purchase. The instructor used the Wheatley tactile map to show the students the route we would be taking- discussing the directions, street names and landmarks we would be passing. When we arrived at the store the instructor discussed parking lot safety and the layout of the store. Each student had an item to find for the cooking lesson. We shopped as a group and discussed how the store aisles and items were arranged in the store. once the students found all the items we proceeded to the counter where they individually purchased their items so they could each work on money skills. When leaving parking lot, safety was again discussed and reversal of the route back to school. Finally, the strawberry dessert was fabulous!

2/21/13

Today I worked at the middle school. Again with one student only because the other were testing. The instructor felt this was another great opportunity to work out in the community. The TVI has been discussing personal hygiene with the students so that was the focus of our trip- to purchase some personal hygiene items at a nearby Wal-mart. The O&M instructor used the Wheatley tactile map to discuss our route before leaving the school. Then once inside the Vision program van the instructor sat next to the student with the map to discuss the route, cardinal directions, and landmarks that we passed on the way. In the parking lot, the instructor reminded him of safety concerns in the parking lot and crossing from the parking lot to the store. Once we arrived at the store the instructor verbally gave a layout of the store  and asked leading questions of the student such as "what area of the store do you think the shampoo and body wash would be in?" After the student located the correct department of the store the instructor discuss prices and types of products that he could purchase. Before heading to the checkout he rounded up the total price of his items. The student made his choices and located the checkout aisle independently. He independently paid the cashier for his items and then we exited the store. Again when exited the store the instructor discussed parking lot concerns. Great experience was had by all!

2/14/13

Today I was working at the middle school with the O&M instructor. We could only work with one study today as the other 2 were testing. To also allow the room to be more quiet for the 2 testing we decided to take this student out into the community. Since it was Valentine's Day, the student wanted to purchase some gifts for his family. The student chose the store we were to visit and then verbally gave directions to the Vision program driver as we headed to our destination of a nearby CVS store. This was the closest store with a variety of items. The student independently entered the store from the van. He located the card section after some verbal guidance from the instructor on the layout of the store. The instructor read a variety of Valentine cards to the student and the student chose a musical card for his parents. The student then decided to purchase some Valentine candy for his sister. Again with some verbal descriptions of the store layout, the student independently located the candy aisle. The instructor gave him verbal descriptions of the various candy items and he student decided  purchase a large chocolate Hershey kiss. Once he chose his items the instructor took him to a  nearby counter where he tallied up a general estimate of the cost of the items and then the student counted out his money to have ready to purchase it. Once he had it counted he went to the cashier and paid for his items. Then on the trip back to the school he was able to correctly reverse the route verbally to the driver. Another successful trip!