ISVI Happenings
November, 2007
Teachers of the Visually Impaired Visit ISVI
On Wednesday, November 14, 2007, Pat Hall, Program
Administrator for Visually Impaired Programs in the Joliet area visited ISVI
with 14 teachers for the visually impaired from her area.
They arrived at 10:30 am and started their tour of the campus. They were guests in Mr. Dan Thompson’s class, where new assistive technology devices were demonstrated. They visited Mrs. Miller’s junior high class. Several students had a wonderful discussion about what ISVI has meant to them and their education. Later they visited Mrs. Serena Preston’s classroom. Two students gave demonstrations of the Liberty Solo magnification device. At lunch they were able to spend time with their former students who are now attending ISVI.
Both students and teachers were very excited to meet and have time to catch up on all that is happening at home and at ISVI. After lunch they continued their tour of the campus visiting the TLC, teen center, and Mrs. Frisch’s class. After the tour, they gathered in the Media Center to hear a presentation about ISVI’s transition program from Mrs. Linda Strader and about ISVI’s GATES program given by Mr. Todd Williams. Many positive remarks were given about ISVI. One that was conveyed many times was how everyone at ISVI should be very proud of their school.
ISVI Students Mentoring Day ActivitiesThe session began with the student showing Mr. Atkins some of her characters, and telling him the story behind the characters. Mr. Atkins advised her that by creating the story line first the characters can and will develop. The story line is the most important part of the process. He mentioned that if she were to keep drawing characters that is all she would do, and that the story would never unfold. But by creating the story first, the characters can develop and come to life and out of the story other characters would evolve. The characters may even take on new character traits and new dimensions.
The student got to see various "tools of the trade" and how to create different dimensions in the artwork itself. She asked about the type of pencils and paper that were best for the type of work she would be doing. Mr. Atkins advised her of several options in pencils for black and white sketching, and steered her away from color pencils that are of a wax base, stating the chalkier the pencil the better the quality.
They discussed ink drawings, water colors, and even sculpting as art forms that would add dimension to her work. Mr. Atkins advised the student further that getting a degree in art would not make her an artist. What would make her an artist would come from her passion to draw and create her characters. He further stated she has potential to be successful as an artist with or without a degree. He then advised her of classes that would be beneficial to her and invaluable in creating her dream.
Mr. Atkins showed his art work for doing a layout for a comic book. He showed what the layout looks like from start to finish. He then scanned it into the computer and brought the draft up on the screen where he added the dimensions in shadow and color to the various characters. Having a computer is not the most important part of the art work. The most important part is creating the work on paper. Until it is on paper, it cannot be scanned into the computer. When we left the studio, she was filled with new hope and ready to begin her life as an artist.
Student Visits Passavant Hospital for
Mentoring Day
Passavant Area Hospital Ragiology Department welcomed
an ISVI student for Mentoring Day. The student’s career choice was Radiation
Therapy. Mr. Dwayne Ronholm, Director of the Department, met us and advised us
that the Radiology Dept. did not perform Radiation Therapy, but there were
various forms of radiology. She began with a Fluoroscopy, then a CAT scan, and
finally, how x-rays are done, put on computer and sent to and from other
hospitals, doctors and medical facilities.
During the procedures at the hospital, she was given a lab coat and the lead
apron used by technicians and doctors alike. She looked and conducted herself
professionally as an honorary radiology technician. The student had a really
good time and continues to have a desire to work in the medical field.
Students Mentor at Various Businesses in
Jacksonville
A female student mentored at Presbyterian Day Care
Center. She met with Kathy Fellhauer at the day care where she was escorted to
the 2-year-old room. She enjoyed the kids and the kids enjoyed her. She played
games, sang songs, and coaxed some of the new little ones to enjoy their new
environment. The ISVI student has a dog named Lillie. One of the children’s toys
was a frog named Lillie. She thought this was really a fun coincidence and on
the way back to school she began a children’s story about a frog and a dog named
Lillie that met and formed a friendship based on their names.
For mentoring day another student went to the Jacksonville YMCA from 9-11:00 a.m. He learned about the weight room, where patrons come for weight workouts, and the gym. He learned about how the Y is set up and operates. He grew up near the Y and spent a lot of time playing soccer and thinks he would like working at the Y.
Another student went to DRS, and met with Joyce Brewers O&M Rehab Instructor in the Jacksonville office. He is interested in being a Braille teacher. Mrs. Brewer gave him some information and instruction about teaching Braille. She had just come back from a Braille workshop and had a kit that she shared with him. In the kit was a Braille One, Braille Scrabble, and other aides for helping with visual impairments.
Halloween Fun
The night ended with lots of dancing and a costume contest. Prizes were given for the scariest, funniest , and most-original costumes. The students had great fun with all the Halloween activities and are looking forward to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.