Virtual Expanded Core Education Learning (ExCEL) Academy for Students with Visual Impairments

The Virtual ExCEL Academy ran for 10 great weeks from March 23-May 29, 2020.  We are grateful to Cheryl Kamei-Hannan, whose brainchild this was, and to Leanne Grillot, who hosted us with APH (American Printing House for the Blind.  We are also especially grateful to over 50 instructors, who made the time to rise to the challenge of providing direct instruction to students with visual impairments, just as the pandemic began.  AND we are grateful to YOU, our students, teachers, families, and the many others who joined in for the live webinars, and watched the recordings.  You made it all worthwhile!

Recordings of Past Sessions

All presentations are recorded and are posted on this Virtual ExCEL Academy Playlist.

Links to Past Presentations (listed in order of presentation date).  Please note that this is not a complete list!

• Self-Awareness Success (Part 1) with Robbin Keating-Clark
• Marvin’s Market Adventure and Grandma’s Special Birthday Picnic with Gwyn McCormack (Parts 1 and 2)
• Self-Awareness Success (Part 2) with Robbin Keating-Clark
• Fun with Braille with Tammy Reisman
• Time for Tots with Renee Ellis, Kathi Garza, Mary Shore, Deanna Peterson, Kate Borg
• Marvin’s Market Adventure (Parts 3 & 4) with Gwyn McCormack
• Staying Home: How to Communicate and Act on Our Wants and Needs with Everyone at Home with Kate Katulak
• Light Box Story Hour! Literacy activities for students with visual impairments and additional disabilities with Adam Wilton
• Staying Home: Making Connections in the Face of Social Distancing with No or Limited Vision with Kate Katulak
• Intro to Infant Massage for Kids with Visual Impairment: Shared Joy, Body Awareness, and Touch Communication with Kimala Rein
  • Handout on Infant Massage
• Multiplication on the Abacus with John Rose
• Using a Mac with VoiceOver: Getting Started! with Belinda Rudinger
  • Handout:  Getting Started with Mac OS & VoiceOver (Powerpoint)
  • Handout on Mac OS & VoiceOver (Word Version)
• Online Voice Lessons
  • Download the lyrics.
• Abacus Addition and Subtraction with Synthesis with Leanne Grillot
  • Abacus Handout
• Know Your Rights: How to be a Self-Advocacy Super Hero! with Rebecca Sheffield & Mark Richert
  • Handouts for Know Your Rights: Google drive folder that contains our original handout and .brf file versions in contracted and uncontracted UEB
• Writing with a Slate and Stylus with Leanne Grillot
  • Handouts for Slate and Stylus: 
    • Who Are You?
    • Virtual Slate
    • Braille Trail Activity Book
    • Braille Quick Reference Guide
• Basic Coding Part Two with Robin Lowell and Beth Dudycha
  • Basic Coding powerpoint
• Three Determined Students: Laura Bridgman, Anne Sullivan, and Helen Keller with Jennifer Arnott
  • Handouts:  PDF Version  RTF Version
• Reading Connections and Writing Companions with Cheryl Kamei-Hannan and Leila Ricci
  • Handout: Reading Connections and Writing Companion By Cheryl Kamei-Hannan and Leila Ricci
• Virtual Family Drum Circle with Steve Turner
• My Neighborhood: What’s Around Me? with Consortium of Creative Orientation & Mobility Specialists (CCOMS), JoAnne Chalom, Jessica Kaplan, Diana Herrera, Nicholas Casias
• Independencia en Casa with Conchita Hernandez, Kenia Flores, Will Klotz, and Alex Castillo

Podcasts About the Virtual ExCEL Academy

• Making a Difference During the Coronavirus Crisis;  Change Makers: A Podcast from APH
• Resources for Teaching Online with Charlotte Cushman (A Step Forward, Apple Podcasts, Anchor;  March 27, 2020)