Lisa’s California scholarship trip

 today I visited Lighthouse for the Blind in San Francisco. I had a tour of the building they have great facilities for reprographics, teaching O&M skills and cooking skills for adults (18 and over). I also got the opportunity to speak to the Low Vision Clinic residencies and doctors and also to Fernando the Assistive Tech Manager where we tried out different ways of producing graphics and documents using AI. Also fascinated to learn voiceover changes voice accents and languages depending on the text (the example was English with Spanish words). Lots of apps recommended for me to try out. Thanks to Crystal for facilitating my visit. View of city hall from one of the meeting rooms An area dedicated to Sirlin who donated $125 million to Light House Tactile BART map Tactile evacuation plan The MAD lab Main entrance to Light House on Market St

Outside the entrance to CSB High contrast signage for Low Vision students CSB tactile map My schedule for the day Tactile globe Some or the art equipment especially shape cutter More art cutters Tactile art created by students One of the CCTV’s which has a camera at the back (so it’s discrete) Magnifier with light Handy ‘fold away’ monocular Variety of tactile maps Well what a day I had a CSB. Sarah Blair the Principal organised a full day for me which gave me an opportunity to observe and participate in lessons. I observed a braille literacy lesson, then a careers session (where I was asked questions by the post 16 students) followed by a music and art lesson, assistive technology lab, low vision clinic then a tour of the building - a jam packed day! I was made to feel extremely welcome by staff and students and again noted how the US and UK use similar approaches in their VI instruction, we’re using the same technology and pedagogy is at the heart of what we do. I thoroughly enjoyed ...

The school of Special Education at SFSU Today I visited  Adam Graves, TVI Assistant Professor/Program Coordinator  Graduate College of Education  Program in Visual Impairments at  San Francisco State University. We chatted about the course in the US and the UK and they sound very similar in how they’re taught. The SFSU program’s specialist curriculum (ECC) is infused throughout the modules which aligns to the UK with the CFVI. However, one of the modules on the VI program at SFSU is on assistive technology and that module is taught by California School for the Blind.  SFSU VI Program students do not have to have a teaching qualification to do the course just a Bachelor's degree, whereas I explained how in the UK you could only do the course with qualified teacher status.  Other similarities are around philosophical and theoretical concepts that weave through the program modules, which is similar to the UK.  We then discussed some of the challenges we’r...

Today I visited the Disability Cultural Center in San Francisco. A fantastic center that cater for all disabilities, including VI. I was impressed to find out they provided audio descriptions of the art work, orientation and mobility assistance if needed, and they even have braille books (see pictures below) with tactile pictures. Me outside the SFDC  One of the braille books with tactile pictures Braille books Wearable artwork from the pop up artist They had a pop up artist sharing their work 'Shared Skins' at the DCC. As they say, “Wearable art but make it community-engaged, participatory, and can be remade into thousands of different arrangements.” Visitors can create wearable art from the pieces crafted. The artist said how the pieces are tactile using poppers, different materials and paints so it is accessible for Vision Impaired visitors (see pictures). Here is their instagram page for those interested https://www.instagram.com/blinkpopshift?igsh=MXE3bndrM2ZsdnRyNw==

Today I had the pleasure of meeting Dr Orel-Bixler at UC Berkeley Eye Centre. I observed (and assisted as her helper) in her clinic with two MDVI students one foundation phase and one high school (with ASD and ADHD) the techniques used to assess are more or less the same as the UK but Dr Orel-Bixler uses a tv and vhs so her patients can focus on something while she assesses them - genius! A few different assessment tools particularly the LEA symbols (picture attached) similar to our Kay Picture test (both crowded and single) she even uses Cardiff Cards and knows Maggie Woodhouse (the VI world is such a small world) followed by a tour of the eye centre and lunch at the faculty dining room. Dr Orel Bixler and I with Cardiff Cards - yes they use them in California! LEA symbols test Outside UC Berkeley Eye Center

 Can you guess where I am in California 😊

Arrived safely last night, later than planned. Here is the view from the plane when landing