THE BESB BUZZ…. A Newsletter for Families of Children who are Blind or Visually Impaired Volume 20 Spring 2018 Published by the State of Connecticut Department of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind (BESB) Feature Articles: A Day at the Slopes, CT NAPVI and NEC, Preschool Staff Test New APH Product, Space Camp, Rock Climb Fairfield, Community Service, Fire Is So Loud, Prison Braille Program, Let’s Get Moving In an effort to provide you with faster delivery of our newsletter and program flyers, save paper, and contain printing costs, we are now posting an expanded electronic version on our website: www.ct.gov/besb. (Newsletter is also available in Spanish on our website) If you provide us with your e-mail address, we will send a copy of the newsletter directly to you by e-mail. Please give your preferred e-mail address to your child’s TVI. Feel free to contact the newsletter’s co-editors with any suggestions at lisa.pruner@ct.gov or tina.gutierrez@ct.gov We welcome your comments and ideas for future newsletter topics. A Day at the Slopes: BESB Takes Students to Ski Sundown By Alaya Conaway NEW HARTFORD, CT — Snow-covered hills, icy streets, and a chill breeze in the air - it was a perfect day for a trip to the ski slopes. On Saturday, February 3, the Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind (BESB) took students to Ski Sundown. Participants had the opportunity to ski and snowboard, along with time to catch up with friends. Lessons were provided for first-time skiers. The trip is done annually, providing students with a fun activity to do in the chilly winter. Ski Sundown is one of Connecticut’s most popular ski areas. Located in northwestern New Hartford, it attracts skiers of all ages and is one of the state’s most popular winter attractions. At the end of their runs, skiers warmed up with hot chocolate and cookies. All in all, memories were made and everyone had a good time. If you missed this program and would like information about scheduling your own adaptive ski or snowboard lessons, call the welcome center at Ski Sundown- (860) 379-7669 or visit: http://www.skisundown.com/Lessons-Packages/Lessons-Packages/Pri vate-Lessons-Packages/Adaptive-Lessons. CT NAPVI Parent Group with NEC Just a reminder that CT NAPVI (National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments) and NEC (New England Consortium for DeafBlind Technical Assistance and Training) joined forces and offered two wonderful family outings this school year. In October, the groups sponsored an apple picking outing and in March, a trip to the CT Science Museum. Consider joining in the fun! Contact Shanda Easley for information on CT NAPVI at: NAPVICT@gmail.com For additional information about registering your student who may have both a hearing and vision impairment with NEC, please visit: http://www.nec4db.org/ Preschool PreschoolStaff StaffField FieldTests TestsNew NewAPH APHProduct Product Preschool Preschoolteachers teachershave havebeen beenhard hardatatwork workfield fieldtesting testingaanew newmath math product being developed by American Printing House for the Blind product being developed by American Printing House for the Blind (APH). (APH). Five FiveLittle LittleSpeckled SpeckledFrogs Frogsisisaastory storybook bookwith withprops propsand and activities activitiesdesigned designedfor forteaching teachingemergent emergentnumeracy. numeracy.Four Fourpreschool preschool TVIs at BESB were selected to participate in field testing this TVIs at BESB were selected to participate in field testing thisnew new product, which should be available to students within the next product which should be available to students within the next year. year. My Experience at Space Camp By Lizzy Cappelli This past fall I had an extraordinary opportunity. I was able to attend Space Camp for Interested Visually Impaired Students (SCIVIS) at the U.S Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. While I was there I experienced so much and accomplished more than I thought possible. The week was designed for students with vision impairments so everything was accessible with large print and Braille. Mentors understood that you couldn't see, but that you still had a courageous vision. Everyone used a white cane, so I was not alone. During my week at Space Camp I was able to try out simulations of the International Space Station (ISS), mission control, and an orbiter. For our first mission I was in the I