OSSB Panther News
May 2, 2022
IMPORTANT DATES
MAY 2022
- 4 Senior Dinner at OSSB
- 5 OSSB Prom
- 11 Year End BASH! 5:00 - 7:00 pm
- 12 Dismissal at Noon
- 13 NO SCHOOL
- 20 Dismissal at 2:30 pm
- 26 Elementary Art Festival
- 27 Senior Graduation Practice
- 30 Memorial Day/NO SCHOOL
- 1 Lions Club Track and Field event 9:00 - 11:00 am
- 2 OSSB Graduation 10:00 am
- 2 Last Day of School/Dismissal at Noon
Ohio School Bus Drivers Appreciation Day - May 2, 2022
Today is School Bus Drivers Appreciation Day!
Please join me in taking a minute out of your day to thank our bus drivers, Mr. Antonio Newsome and Mr. Jim Merwin! Thank you for all you do which goes far beyond driving a bus!
~Mr. Danny Ransey, Director of Facilities
Unique Boutique's Mother's Day Sale
EDGE Students Gain Confidence at Scioto Audobon Metro Park
Remembering OSSB students, Andrew and Aidan
Important Survey for Families Regarding After School Programming
As we finish out another school year at the Ohio State School for the Blind, we are looking to receive Family Feedback on our current after-school program provided by the 21st Century Community Learning Centers. ALSO, what programming would you like to see for your student here if given the opportunity at OSSB in an after-school setting? Even if your student did not attend after-school programming, we would love to hear from you!
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey in the link below so we may look at better ways of serving students here at OSSB. Ohio State School for the Blind Parent Survey
Thank you,
After-school team
It's Not Too Late To Order Your OSSB 2021-22 YEARBOOK!
Just a reminder that yearbooks can still be pre-ordered on the Treering website and the cost is $20.59. If you would like to order a braille yearbook, please reach out to Yearbook Editor, Mrs. Rachelle Smith
Here is the link and passcode for ordering:
passcode: 1015036723664214
Beyond Vision - OSSB Student Experiences Special Tactile Art Exhibit
Resources for Students and Families
Affordable Connectivity Program Reduces Cost of Internet Services
Internet access is now necessary for work, school, healthcare, and more. However, for many households, it remains unaffordable. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) wants everyone to access reasonably priced internet services. The FCC recently launched the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) to reduce the cost of getting online.
The ACP provides a discount of up to:
- $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households.
- $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.
Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 toward purchasing a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers. To qualify for this one-time discount, households must contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.
Any household with an individual who receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is eligible to receive discounted internet service through the ACP. Social Security doesn’t count ACP assistance as income or a resource for SSI purposes. Receipt of this assistance will not affect a person’s SSI payment.
Find out more here: https://acpbenefit.org/
Summer Camp and Sports
Smart Manufacturing Summer Camp - Ages 12-18
The Engineering program at Marion Technical College will be holding a smart manufacturing summer camp at the end of July (4 days) for ages 12-18. This includes two days working with drones, a day in their engineering labs as well as a day in their new e-sports arena. If anyone is interested, please contact Marie McCumber (mmccumber@osdb.oh.gov) and she will supply the information.
Envision Blind Sports Camp
Camp is being held on July 17th-23rd at Penn State Behrend in Erie, PA.
- Cost $500. Financial assistance is available.
- Camper Application: https://forms.gle/YdwvipLJCFa9KuLz8
- Counselor Application: https://forms.gle/LuQ1FsF7n6rbzTMYA
- The application deadline for campers and counselors is Friday, June 17, 2022. We will need time before camp to confirm facilities and order apparel so please make sure to sign-up ASAP
- for questions please contact Envision envisionblindsports@gmail.com
Blind Soccer Activities with Katie Smith
Blind Soccer - Contact Katie Smith 513-460-9785
Blackburn Community Recreation Center, 263 Carpenter St. Columbus, OH 43205
- May 12th - 4:30pm- 5:30pm Youth
- June 9th - 4:30pm- 5:30pm Youth
Katie Smith
513-460-9785
Information courtesy of Katie Smith.
Workshops
Virtual Parent Support Group - The Chicago Lighthouse - Wednesday, May 4th 7:30 EST
Wednesday, May 4th from 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm Eastern Time via Zoom.
APH FamilyConnect and The Chicago Lighthouse are pleased to offer this virtual support group for parents and families of children who are blind or visually impaired. These monthly sessions are for families to connect with and learn from each other about the joys, challenges, and adventures of raising children with visual impairments and blindness. These sessions are open to families.
This group will provide parents the opportunity to connect, learn, and discuss in a virtual setting and also help them to:
- Develop strategies to support their children through their diagnosis
- Receive support from other parents who share their experiences
- Address parenting challenges in a positive way
Facilitated by: APH FamilyConnect and staff from The Chicago Lighthouse including Dr. Michael Smith, PhD and Marla Garstka, MA.
Register in advance for this program at: https://aph.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0rcOyhrzgrHNKIcMlgqoSgQtAOxsHjbKX3
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Information courtesy of the Chicago Lighthouse
APH Webinars: ExCEL Academy Schedule
May 11, and May 25, 2022, 6:00 – 7:00 PM EST
College Prep Series
Academy Audience: High school and post-high school students
May 11: College Prep – How to Determine if You’re REALLY Ready
May 25: College Prep – How Do I Chose a Major and Other Important Questions
When you’re asked the question, what do you want to do after high school, it might be easy to say, “I’m going to go to college.” But just what IS college in 2022? And how can you make sure you have the knowledge and skills to really prepare for the changes that college-and life after high school, will ask of you. We will explore this and more in this Excel Academy series.
Attending college and entering the workforce with vision loss requires that you work now, to be the advocate and student that colleges assume you’re going to be. There are many ways to think about your post-high school education to help you meet your goals. This series will help you understand how to search for a college (they are not all the same!), consider the skills (academic and blindness skills) you need to meet the demands, and explore the pros and cons of college, including other ways to prepare for your life after high school, and entering the workforce. Topics will include college search, financial aid, choosing a major, the change in support from high school to college, and work, The key to all of it? Your own knowledge, skills, and determination to do hard things.
Register Here for College Prep Series
Delaware County Board of Developmental Disabilities Offers Workshop
Special Education Free Legal Clinic - Parental/Professional Communication
May 9
7:00 p.m.
The Clinic is a public-private collaboration between three independent organizations, including Disability Rights Ohio, the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children With Disabilities, and Albeit Weiker, LLP. The Clinic is staffed by volunteer attorneys, advocates, law students and interns.
Join Disability Rights Ohio for their next FREE Special Education Legal Clinic. This clinic will cover Parental/Professional Communication, with an informational seminar, panel discussion, and opportunities for individual guidance sessions.
Learn more and register at lawyers4students.com/legalclinic.
Courtesy of DCBDD Perspectives newsletter
TechSummit 2022
August 12, 2022
The Ohio State University Nisonger Center, in partnership with Assistive Technology of Ohio and the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, present TechSummit 2022 – an in-person event conveniently held in central Ohio. At this event, attendees can hear from experts, hear from individuals who have adopted technology solutions, and explore technology solutions for themselves. We encourage you to mark your calendars and forward this to a friend. For the most up to date information, click here.
Courtesy of DCBDD Perspectives newsletter
Transition Information
American Council of the Blind of Ohio Scholarships - Apply Online
***APPLY NOW FOR ACBO SCHOLARSHIPS
ACB-Ohio will offer three scholarships for the academic year 2022-2023. The application and reference forms may be downloaded from www.acbohio.org or requested by calling our office at 614-261-3561 or 800-835-2226. We have scholarships for entering freshmen, undergraduates, and graduate students.
An applicant must be an Ohio resident or attend an Ohio school in a two-year or more post-secondary degree program, be legally blind, have a 3.0 or higher GPA on a 4.0 scale, and be willing to attend the 2022 ACB-Ohio convention in the fall. Send the completed application packet to ACB-Ohio Scholarship Committee, 3805 N. High Street, Suite 305, Columbus, OH 43214, or via e-mail to acbo.director@gmail.com with “Scholarship Application” in the subject field.
The scholarships include:
- $1000 FRIENDS OF FRESHMAN SCHOLARSHIP
Presented to a blind or visually impaired entering freshman in any field of study. - $4,000 MAX EDELMAN-DAVID NEWMEYER SCHOLARSHIP
Presented to a legally blind undergraduate student in any field of study. - $5,000 JOANN FISCHER-LINWOOD WALKER SCHOLARSHIP Available to a legally blind graduate student in any field of study.
The scholarship application deadline is June 15.
Information courtesy of ACB-Ohio.
Visionary Scholars Program Scholarships
Great news! The application deadline for the Visionary Scholars Program has been extended to April 30, 2022. Clovernook Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired has teamed up with Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired (CABVI) to create the Visionary Scholars Program, which offers educational scholarships for students with vision loss who are planning to attend an accredited university/college. The program will offer up to 10 scholarships — five $5,000 scholarships and five $1,000 scholarships in its inaugural year. Learn more about the scholarship on WVXU 91.7.
They will be offering up to 10 scholarships — five $5,000 scholarships and five $1,000 scholarships to those who meet the following criteria:
- High school junior or senior
- An individual diagnosed as legally blind or severely visually impaired; or a team of individuals at least one of whom is legally blind or severely visually impaired
- Resides in one of the following counties in Ohio: Adams, Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton, Highland, Warren OR one of the following counties in Kentucky: Boone, Campbell, Kenton
Information courtesy of CABVI and Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Ohio State School for the Blind
Michelle Wagner, Director of Teaching and Learning
5220 N. High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43214
614-752-1359
Questions about this newsletter? Please contact Lauri Kaplan, Parent Mentor at 614-806-2651 or lkaplan@osdb.oh.gov