OSSB Panther News
May 9, 2022
IMPORTANT DATES
MAY 2022
- 11 Year End BASH! 5:00 - 7:00 pm
- 12 Dismissal at Noon
- 13 NO SCHOOL
- 19 Superintendent Coffee Chat with Families 6:30 pm
- 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 Elementary event 9:00 - 11:00 am
- 2 OSSB Graduation 10:00 am
- 2 Last Day of School/Dismissal at Noon
Soon To Be GRADUATES Celebrated with Special Senior Dinner
A big shout out and thank you to Ms. Kirk for assisting with the preparation of the desserts. I want to especially recognize Miss Honse and Miss Emily for preparing the main dishes. I want to also thank Mrs. Peirano and the 3D model club for making our Senior music note phone stand souvenirs. Also thanks to James and Henry for setting up tables and ceiling decorations and to Mrs. Kallstrom for taking student pictures. It was a wonderful evening. ~ Mrs. Swisher
OSSB Women's Goalball 2021-22
The 2021-2022 Goalball season was moved to March and April. Usually, goalball is in the fall. This change by the league, NCASB, allowed OSSB’s goalball teams to travel to the championship tournament held on the campuses of the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired and the Illinois School for the Deaf.
The OSSB women’s Panther goalball team consisted of returning Seniors Maddie, Sumaya, Sara, and new member, 7th grader Kynnedi. Playing their first game on Friday after a long van ride, that began early in the morning, these Panthers did not disappoint! They took the win at 14-4 against the Iowa Rams. Saturday proved to be a very long day of intense competition. The Panthers began with the second game of the day and ended with the last. They took the Tennessee Tigers in a 13-6 victory. The Panthers gave their all against the first-place team, the Missouri Mules, but ended in a 7-2 loss. With some hard knocks and balls to the face on both teams, the Panthers took the Indiana Rockets with a score of 10-0. The final game, and the one to decide our final fate, was against the Illinois Warriors. And Warriors they did prove to be, as they took the Panthers in a hard-fought battle, 5-3.
The OSSB Panthers ended the championship by receiving their trophies for 3rd place! This great finish was truly a team effort. Team Captain and MVP, Maddie, scored a whopping 25 points and blocked countless shots on goal over the five games. The Most Improved, Sumaya, scored 13 goals and showed an amazing improvement in her defense this year. Sara and Kynnedi both scored 2 points and defended their goal with vigor and pride. I am sad to see these seniors go, however, I look forward to watching Kynnedi lead our future Panthers Women’s Goalball team to victory! ~ Coach Debbie Grim
Next Week - Virtual Coffee Chat with Superintendent Maynus
OSSB - Under The Sea Prom!
Special thanks to Rachelle Smith and all of her art students for making some decorations for us. We would also like to thank Michelle Wagner, Alison Brewer, Michelle Tolle and Steve Grim for all their support and for helping us pull this all together. A shout-out goes to Henry and James for setting the multipurpose room up for us for dinner before Prom. I would like to give a special thanks to my Prom Committee team Cindi Swisher, Emily McLaughlin, and Adam Schwamburger. A thanks goes to Jennifer Riggs, Yolanda Johnson, and chaperones Erin Sansone, Natasha Knight and Ashley Traucht as well!
Getting ready for Prom
Prom King and Queen are Crowned
After-Prom Bowling with Friends
Ms. Marie graduates from Indiana Wesleyan University. Congratulations!
Marie recently graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University with her Master of Social Work degree on April 30th. She has been a wonderful asset to the students and staff of the Ohio State School for the Blind, and we hope our paths cross again one day!
Resources for Students and Families
Georgia Academy of the Blind Graduating Seniors Receive Special 3D Yearbook
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
NFB BELL Academy in Ohio
The NFB BELL Academy is back in person this year, 08/07/2022 thru 08/12/2022, and provides children with braille and nonvisual skills instruction through fun, hands-on learning activities. The NFB BELL Academy—which stands for National Federation of the Blind Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning®—is a nationwide (United States and Puerto Rico) summer program that prepares blind and low-vision children to grow into confident and independent blind people who live the lives they want.
Who Should Attend?
Blind and low-vision children, ages four through twelve, who:
- Do not receive enough Braille and nonvisual skills instruction in school
- Could benefit from more Braille exposure over the summer
- Would enjoy connecting with blind role models
The Ohio NFB BELL Academy will offer a residential program from August 7-12, 2022 in Columbus. The registration fee is $100 per student. Meals will be provided. Scholarships are available to families who cannot afford the fee. Please contact Eric Duffy for more information.
To apply for this location, please visit the national NFB BELL Academy page.
Interested in volunteering? For older students who are blind or visually impaired, please contact Eric Duffy about volunteer opportunities during camp!
Program Coordinator: Eric Duffy
Phone: 614-377-9877
Email: peduffy63@gmail.com
Click to fill out online Application
Information courtesy of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio.
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.
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
Workshops
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
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
Webinar: Ohio Housing for People with Disabilities May 17th, 6:30pm
Virtual Meeting
May 17th, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Come and learn from our panel of experts as they share their organization, resources, and who may qualify for their housing services.
Panel Members
Jeannette Welsh Ohio Housing Manager, Department of Development
Kevin Clark Project Portfolio Manager, Ohio Housing Finance Agency
Critty Buenconsejo Creative Housing President/CEO, Creative Housing/Creative Renovations
Jeff Pattison Assistant Director of Service Coordination, FCBDD
Rachel Rubey MSW, LISW-S Supportive Services Director, Community Housing Network
Reasonable Accommodations must be requested by 5/10 to Deb at dpetermann@disabilityempowerment.net or 614-575-8055
ARC of Ohio Summer Conference 2022 Free to Family Members
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/Scholarship 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