the maryland school for the lind w indow...the maryland school for the blind w indow fall 2014 m s b...
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The Maryland School for The Blind
WINDOWFALL 2014
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THE
ON THE PATH TO ACHIEVING INDEPENDENCE
Chanta Brown has been a student
at the Maryland School for the Blind
since she was six years old. In addition
to her visual impairments, she was
diagnosed with autism and when
she was very young, didn’t talk much
at all. You would never know that
to meet her now at the age of 20.
Chanta is very expressive and is never
at a loss for words.
Her mother, Liza Brown-DiCostantino,
an occupational therapist who worked
at MSB at one time, has been her
biggest advocate and along with
the staff at the school, has been
instrumental in the tremendous
progress she has made in her
communication skills over the years.
Chanta would not be where she is
today if it weren’t for the strong
support system she has had at home
and at school. And although Liza has
taken another position in occupational
therapy, she has been an active
member of MSB’s parent community
for many years. She currently is
President of the PTSO and serves on
the MSB Board of Directors.
Through her years at MSB, Chanta
has grown and thrived, especially in
the arts at MSB. She plays the piano
by ear, loves to sing and has recently
taken up the drums. Her musical
talents have landed Chanta a lead
singing role in MSB’s jazz ensemble,
the Blue Duffs, and she has appeared
in many of the school’s musical
productions. She shares her love
of music with her father, Randy
and according to Liza “things can get
pretty lively at home.”
In looking ahead to the future,
Chanta definitely sees her music as
a marketable skill, having expressed
an interest in using it to “make a lot
of people happy in senior nursing
homes.” But in the meantime, she
is enjoying her last year at MSB. She
is preparing for graduation in the
spring, an event she says she’s ready
for, thanks to solid support from the
MSB staff and her family. According
to her teacher David Green, “Chanta
will be well prepared to enter the
workforce when she graduates. She is
very involved in our Career Education
Program. She not only works in the
school’s Rock’n’ Roll Cafe but also
off campus at the Cromwell Center,
helping with activities for senior
citizens. Next semester she will
be starting an internship in the
horticulture program at St.
Elizabeth’s School.”
Chanta has become a
leader among her peers
and was recently
Chanta belts out a tune
with the Blue Duffs.
elected as the secretary of the Class
of 2015. Yet while Liza believes that
her daughter is becoming more
independent and learning to advocate
for herself more effectively, she’s not
quite ready to live on her own. So for
now, Chanta splits her time between
dorm life on the MSB campus and
home life in the “in-law” suite that her
parents have provided for her in their
home. The skills (especially cooking)
that she has learned at MSB are
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S P O T L I G H T O N C H R I S W E L L M A N N
For Chris Wellmann, MSB is a family tradition that began with his father some 40 years ago.
“Although my father started teaching here when I was just a kid, I
didn’t consciously plan to follow in his footsteps. I just kind of fell into them because of a college paper I was writing that required a field observation, which my dad arranged for me to do at MSB. I loved the school, and apparently the physical education department was duly impressed with me, as well, because two weeks later, they offered me a job as a paraeducator.”
Chris met his wife Sandy at the school. Sandy was also a paraeducator at the school, whose daughter, Jeannette, was a student until she graduated in 2005. After they married, his new role as husband and father provided yet another perspective on the MSB experience.
“Sandy and I not only know what it takes to teach a child who is blind with multiple disabilities, we also know what it means to parent one. This unique perspective helps us to both assist our colleagues, as well as our families work through some of the challenges they face. That special insight has also made me more effective as an educator.”
So effective, in fact, that in October, Chris received the 2014 Outstanding Paraeducator award from the Principals of Schools for the Blind (POSB) at the Council of Schools for the Blind Institute in Louisville, Kentucky.
“I was more than a little shocked when I heard that I’d won; but I was certainly proud to represent MSB in the national spotlight. This is a unique school, full of happy students, and after 27 years, I still enjoy every moment that I’m here.”
M E S S A G E F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N T
At the Maryland School for the Blind, we have a great deal to celebrate.
With our school year now off to a great start, our students are happily
settled into their classes, as well as their extracurricular activities,
embracing life with the same energy and enthusiasm they have always
demonstrated, turning challenges into opportunities. As always,
our staff does a wonderful job of assisting our students to be successful.
We have also made significant headway on our multi-year campus master
plan, thanks to tremendous support from the state of Maryland legislature
and the Governor’s office.
On November 17, we will cut the ribbon on our new 22,550 square foot
Learning Activity Center and 19,000 square foot residential cottages
facility for students with multiple disabilities. The academic building is
designed for 60 students. The cottages include eight double occupancy
bedrooms with accessible bathrooms.
That same day, we will break ground on the second phase of the project, a
state-of-the-art complex for students, like Chanta Brown, in the Autism Blind
program. It will include a two-story, 35,000 square foot academic facility,
along with two adjacent residential facilities totaling 32,000 square foot.
In keeping with our campus master plan, we recently dedicated a
wonderful new pavilion, built with funding from the District 22A Lions Clubs
and the Lions Clubs International Foundation. Named the “PaviLION,” this
beautiful structure will be used by MSB students and staff for special school
functions, events and picnics. It also serves as solid evidence of
the Lions’ support of our school over the past 50 years.
As MSB continues to improve, we are constantly reminded of your
exceptional generosity over the years. Your steadfast support has made it
possible for us to provide our students with the exceptional service they
need and deserve; and we are deeply grateful for your many contributions
on their behalf.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Bina, Ed.D.President
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Dr. Bina and Youth Ambassador Laurel help dedicate the new PaviLion.
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October 15, 2014 marked the 50th
anniversary of National White Cane
Day in the United States and MSB
celebrated this special occasion with
a month long celebration.
The White Cane, which has become an
international symbol of independence
for people who are blind and visually
impaired, has historical roots at MSB.
The long cane technique used to teach
independent travel to the blind and
visually impaired was developed by
two former MSB teachers, Richard
Hoover and Warren Bledsoe, who were
recruited by the U.S. Army to assist in
the rehabilitation of war blinded soldiers
during WWII. Hoover eventually became
a world renowned ophthalmologist at
Johns Hopkins Hospital and served on
the Board of Directors of MSB along
with Bledsoe. The cane travel technique
of using a side to side sweeping motion
to detect obstacles and drop-offs in the
traveler’s path bears his name and is
used worldwide.
“The white cane is a tool that allows
individuals who are blind or visually
impaired to be more independent and
fully integrated in the community”,
said Dr. Michael Bina, MSB President.
“We are proud that Dr. Hoover and
Mr. Bledsoe used their experience
working with blind children here at
MSB to benefit war blinded veterans
and ultimately their cane technique has
been applied internationally.”
National White Cane Day was
signed into law in 1964 by President
Lyndon Johnson as an opportunity
to recognize the importance of this
tool of independence for the blind.
Traditionally celebrated annually on
October 15, MSB decided to devote the
entire month of October to the 50th
anniversary celebration. Events were
scheduled for each week of the month
and included daily announcements and
contests, including a statewide poster
contest. Other activities included
the sale of commemorative T-shirts,
earrings and long cane pretzels
designed by MSB students and the
orientation and mobility staff. The
celebration culminated with the formal
ceremony on October 29 and included
a proclamation by Senator Katherine
Klausmeier, an original song by MSB
students and the release of 50 white
doves. It was a memorable occasion
for all.
MSB CELEBRATES WHITE CANE DAY MILESTONE
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coming in handy in her “new
apartment,” as she proudly calls it.
As Liza puts it, “We cherish our family
time; but we also know that Chanta
needs her space. And this move is a
really nice compromise for everyone,
especially when she’s playing her drums.”
Left: Chanta and Liza enjoy their mother/daughter time.
Right: Chanta prepares a meal in her apartment.
Senator Katherine Klausmeier presents the proclamation to Dr. Bina.
MSB students and staff celebrate White Cane Day.
FOLLOW MSB ON FACEBOOK AT THE
MARYLAND SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND AND
ON TWITTER @MSB1853
The Maryland School for the Blind 3501 Taylor Ave., Baltimore, MD 21236 tel 410.444.5000 fax 410.319.5700
www.marylandschoolfortheblind.org
We are grateful for the support of the Lions Clubs of
District 22A, especially Past District Governor Dan
Scott, District Governor Doug DeWitt, Past International
President Clem Kusiak and the Ellicott City Lions Club,
for granting us with the funds to build our beautiful new
PaviLION for our students and staff. The pavilion, complete
with our own Lion statue, was dedicated at a special
ceremony on October 25. The Lions truly live up to their
motto of “We Serve.”
The Haloti Ngata Family Foundation
The Ralph & Shirley Klein Foundation
Midstate Federal Community Bank
I.O.O.F., Baltimore City Lodge #57
Mary Jean & Oliver Travers Foundation, Inc.
MSB Alumni Association
American Legion Northern Central Dist.
Dr. Frank C. Marino Foundation, Inc.
MetLife
Community Foundation of Carroll County
Rogers-Wilbur Foundation, Inc.
Ayers/Saint/Gross, Inc.
Carman Lay Foundation, Inc.
Rommel Cranston Construction Company
The Marion I. & Henry J. Knott Foundation, Inc.
Thank you to the following foundations, businesses, clubs and organizations for their support:
C O M M U N I T Y S U P P O R T
Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation
MSB has received a grant from the Cal Ripken Sr.
Foundation to build a state of the art sports complex on
our campus. The plan includes a beep baseball field with
dugouts and bleachers, a soccer field, basketball court
and a new track. We are seeking additional funding for this
project. If you are interested in making a donation, please
contact the Development Department at 410-444-5000
x1207.
MSB and District 22A Lions Clubs Dedicate New Pavilion
Support MSB in the United Way Campaign
UW Combined Charity Campaign for Baltimore City: #3051
UW of Central Maryland: #3051
UW Combined Federal Campaign of Central MD: #3051
UW of the National Capital Area: #7344
UW Combined Federal Campaign of the Nat’l Capital Area: #58365
Maryland Charity Campaign: #7176
CFC-Chesapeake Bay Area:#58365
1st VDG Larry Burton, DG Doug DeWitt, MSB Board Chair Edward J. Veilleux, PDG Dan Scott and Dr. Bina at the Dedication Ceremony.
The Paredes family and Dr. Bina unveil the PaviLION Statue.
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