By Tuesona Tungwenuk
an article from American Association for Deafblindness

I am Tuesona Louise Marie Tungwenuk, a 17-year old junior in high school. I have lived in Nome, Alaska my entire life. Nome is a small town just below the Arctic Circle, and it has permafrost and snow for most of the year. People cannot drive to Nome, but they can fly there. I live with my mom and 13-year old brother. Two wheelchairs, one power and one manual help me get around.

I enjoy traveling and have been to Anchorage and Seward in Alaska, California, and Seattle, Washington. I took the train from Anchorage to Seward which had some accommodations. In the back there was wheelchair seating by a big window where I could look out at the scenery. In Seattle, I took the ferry to Bainbridge Island. It also had wheelchair seating, and I could fit my chair under a table.

In Nome I get around by bus or van. The school bus has a lift and space in the back for my wheelchair. My mom owns a van with a lift. I am unable to go in my friends’ cars because they are not equipped for my wheelchair. Nome can be hard to get around, especially during winter because of the deep snow. Some places are accessible but they may not be in the winter if snow gets on the ramps.

I take regular classes at school but with a reduced schedule. I have four classes instead of six (since it takes me longer to get work done). My classes this year are Computer Applications, United States History, Physical Therapy/Swimming, English 3, Geometry, and Study Hall. My favorite class is swimming because it makes me feel good and I enjoy it. I can swim the length of the entire pool. My least favorite is Geometry because it is hard for me to understand. I am on the honor roll and try my best in every class. Next year, I will get my diploma, since I am on track for graduating from high school in 2010.

Vision and hearing impairments require me to use assistive technology. (I am still able to see and hear some.) I use a computer to do my schoolwork, and enlarge my work on a Xerox machine. I use an enlarged book as a modification when I take standardized tests.

On my computer, I have ZoomText, a program that enlarges the screen and makes it easier for me to see. I use an Acrobat Camera to enlarge materials (such as books); the camera creates a big picture of them on my computer screen.

Due to my impairments, I am taking orientation and mobility lessons. I am learning how to navigate my wheelchair on streets and how to cross them independently by learning to watch and listen for cars. I am also practicing how to use a white cane, so that I would be safer crossing streets.

In addition to my studies, I am involved in a few extracurricular activities. They include volunteering at KNOM (the local Catholic radio station). I have helped there since September 2008. I record radio spots on such topics as identity theft and health. I have my boss enlarge public service announcements and I read while she records them.

I have been active in the drama club for the past two years. Last year we did a play called “Fairytale Courtroom,” in which I played the Wicked Witch and Little Red Riding Hood. The audience got to decide if my character was guilty. If she was, I disappeared under the judge’s stand while casting a spell. My wheelchair was also hidden there. Glow-in-the dark tape was placed on the floor so I could see where I had to go for the scenes. This year, I play a monkey named Kafka in “Words, Words, Words” about monkeys attempting to type and understand Shakespeare.

I have also been involved with the student council since sixth grade, when I was the president. My duties then were to run meetings, give advice and speak at certain assemblies. In seventh through tenth grade, I was the class representative. This meant I voiced the concerns of the other students. Now, in eleventh grade, I am secretary (I take notes on my computer and call the roll). I type the notes on my computer and ask for items that I do not hear to be repeated and clarified.

I have already accomplished many milestones. They include speaking at the governor’s council for disabilities, being on the honor roll, and winning the local spelling bee. When I was in the ninth grade, the governor’s council came to my town. I made a speech about having a disability when they visited. Since junior high, I have been on the honor roll every quarter. In eighth grade, I won the local spelling bee and went to Alaska’s largest city, Anchorage, to compete statewide with 150 students. They assigned a volunteer to help me get on stage, sit by me, make sure I was able to see everything, and help me through the wheelchair entrance (the regular entrance to the stage was not accessible).

I wish to achieve many goals in life. I want to go to college and major in psychology. Hopefully, I can become a child life specialist, counselor, or disability advocate. I hope to travel the world to raise disability awareness as a motivational speaker. I plan to make a documentary about life in a wheelchair.

Despite my handicaps, I live each day with a positive attitude. It can be frustrating at times, but I do my best not to let things bring me down. I smile and make each day count.

John Conrad

I became a low vision driver 10 years ago when I was 31. Being older and more mature helped me to become a more responsible driver. I never allow myself to feel overly confident, this keeps me more alert. When I first started driving there were many things I discovered that could impede driving such as:

• Dirty windshields
• Motion blur
• Heavy rain storms
• Brightness and glare from snow

Additionally, I discovered there were many skills that were important to master in becoming a successful and safe low vision driver. These skills include:

• Learning to spot quickly with bioptics
• Avoiding eye fixation
• Trip planning
• Learning defensive skills
• Practice in a variety of settings before hitting the road with both high and low traffic flow.

Learning these skills and overcoming obstacles helps develop a more confident, safe driver. The most important question I asked myself when I became a driver was “Is it safe for me to drive?” After learning all of the above, I was able to easily answer yes to that question.

My advice to the new driver with low vision, learn the above skills and make note of obstacles before you ever get behind the wheel. Ask yourself that same question and remember, you not only want to keep yourself safe, but your passengers and other drivers as well. Also, you should have normal or close to normal field of vision otherwise you may have great difficulty functioning with bioptics when driving. Lastly, it is illegal for low vision drivers to drive at night in the state of Alaska, so please, do not try it… 

Anne Freitag

Each student with a dual-sensory impairment is unique, and has unique needs. The Dual-Sensory Impaired program has a special collection of materials housed in the SESA library that were written and selected by specialists in the field.  Some of these materials specifically address the concerns of parents, while others are for teachers or paraprofessionals.

The SESA Library has resources in a variety of formats, including journals, books, DVD and VHS videos, assessments, equipment, and software. We also have materials in Braille, and tactile learning materials.  The equipment includes switches, communication devices, and battery-operated toys.

A few notable items in the DSI collection include:

Welcoming students who are deaf-blind into typical classrooms: facilitating school participation, learning, and friendships. Paul Brookes published this book, edited by Norris Haring and Lyle Romer, in 1995.  It discusses practical solutions for mobility, behavior, adapting a classroom, and accommodating medical needs so that students can be included in schools.

Tangible symbol systems, by  Charity Rowland and Philip Schweigert, who are two well-known educators in the field of dual-sensory impairment.  There are several versions of this title, including books and videos, designed to help children get started in communication skills.

Symbol communicator for the blind. This communication device (made by Enabling Devices) has six squares, six levels and six tactile symbols. [pictured] It can be set to vibrate when a square is activated. You can record a message for each square.

Beyond needing a book or piece of equipment, you may have a question about a syndrome, a teaching technique, or some related assistive technology.  You can email or call me; I have access to medical and educational databases on the web, and I can share that information with you. If you’re interested in something that we don’t have, I always pass that request on to the SESA specialists so they can consider purchasing it, and I will also find you an alternate way to get the materials.

Many of SESA’s library patrons are located all around the state, so information on library resources is located on SESA’s website.  Go to www.sesa.org and click on Library to see options.  You can search the library catalog (which includes links to pictures of equipment).  Information about new materials will be listed as soon as they are entered in the catalog, under “New Library Materials”. There are bibliographies, including a selective list of the materials in the DSI collection.The SESA Library, like many libraries in the state, is linked from SLED (http://sled.alaska.edu), which is a valuable information resource developed by the State of Alaska and the University of Alaska. I encourage you to explore it.

Visitors are welcome to visit the library. If you’re coming to Anchorage and want to browse for books or look at some equipment, I’d love to see you.  Since I’m the only library staff person, it’s best that you call me and set up a time to come by so that I can be sure to be able to help you.  If I’m not here, I’ll set you up with an education specialist who will be here.

Contacting the Library

E-mail : afreitag@sesa.org

Phone: 907-334-1301.

SESA is located at 3501 Denali Street, Suite 101, near the corner of 36th and Denali.

SESA closes for a winter break and for five weeks in the summer (mid-June to July).

Then this is for you!
By Brenda Jager, Education Specialist

The Special Education Service Agency will be offering a Braille class throughout the course of the school year. It will be self-directed at your own pace with information available covering topics such as braille literacy, resources for braille books, and the history of braille development. A video introduction to the course will be available on the SESA website.

This class will be available for credit through UAA’s continuing education department. It is 3 credits and the cost is $109. You will register directly with UAA and registration should be available by early October.

We will be using Braille Codes and Calculations by Mary Ellen Pesavento, MA. The SESA library has a limited number available for checkout. If you wish to purchase your own copy, it is available from Exceptional Teaching Inc. (http://store.exceptionalteaching.net/bcc1.html) for $79.95. Braillers are available for checkout through the SESA library and consumable Braille paper will be provided as well. To check out materials from the SESA library you or your district must have a Library User Agreement on file: please contact Anne Freitag, SESA librarian, at afreitag@sesa.org

More information is posted on SESA’s website (www.sesa.org) including the syllabus, monthly reading topics, and an on-line class sign-up form. You can also contact SESA Visual Impairment Program at bjager@sesa.org or 907-334-1325.

To sign up, download and fill out the registration flyer and fax it to the VI Program at 907-562-0545.

By Patrick Pillai

In this edition of “Keeping in Touch” two individuals, who experience vision and hearing loss, share their wisdom with readers. We are fortunate indeed to have them take time to educate us on important topics. A sincere thank you also to Brenda Jager and Anne Freitag for making important contributions to this newsletter.

We will team with DSI consultant Jennifer White of Able Opportunities at the Alaska State Special Education Conference (ASSEC), to offer a pre-conference workshop (February 6-7, 2010) at the Anchorage Sheraton Hotel. An opportunity to apply for stipends, to attend the pre-conference workshop, will be provided to Alaskan parents, teachers, and paraprofessionals in the field of deafblindness.

E-mail [ppillai@sesa.org] for more information on the availability of stipends.

For information on the 2010 ASSEC conference visit the conference website at: http://www.assec.org/

As always, we sincerely hope you enjoy the newsletter and look forward to receiving feedback to improve project services.