Students and teach-

ers know that Jonas is

working when his

leash is on. But, Drew

has created an incen-

tive to encourage stu-

dents to be more con-

sistent with their cane

use. They can pet Jo-

nas all they want if

they use their canes

properly.

On January 16th, the

LA School for the Deaf

student-body was invit-

ed to an assembly

where they met Drew

and Jonas. Having lost

his vision just six years

ago, he shared with

them how he has

adapted. While walk-

ing with Jonas, a GPS

system guides him. He

uses public buses, tax-

is, and/or vans for

people with special

needs. To read labels,

identify objects, and to

know colors he uses

phone apps.

Drew will graduate in

May. He plans to work

in the field of O & M

and also become certi-

fied in APE (Adapted

Physical Education).” I

have been guiding stu-

dents to advocate for

themselves when

shopping so the clerks

will talk to them as

they would as if the

student had sight,

too.” Students at LSVI

are enjoying this new

venture with Drew and

Jonas!. They are quite

a team!

NEW DOG IN TOWN

TROJAN TALK January 2015 Vol. IV, Issue 6

FEBRUARY 11TH

Braille Trivia:

Who was the first

young man to

have a seeing

eye dog guide?

What was his

dog’s name, origi-

nally?

Email answers to

agayle@lsdvi.org

Many on the LSDVI

campus have noticed

a new dog in town.

With the dog, Jonas, is

a person whose name

is Drew Bernet. They

are living in the duplex

on the LSDVI campus.

He cooks, shops, and

travels just as he does

back in Texas where

he is a student at Ste-

phen F. Austin. While

here, he is shadowing

Mary Van Antwerp, Ori-

entation and Mobility

(O&M) instructor.

“When he is shadow-

ing me, Drew uses his

cane and Jonas is on a

leash. I am getting tips

from him how a blind

instructor teaches an-

other who is blind.”

Drew

working

with Troy

on cane

travel

Prior to entering the educa-

tion field as a vocation, Brandy

Washington worked as a bank

teller and later in the casino

industry. Neither job was ful-

filling for her. Later after

achieving her college degree,

she was working as a teacher’s

assistant. “I realized I was do-

ing a lot of work [and though] I

was receiving recognition, I

wasn’t being compensated.”

While working in a school sys-

tem in Texas, she ‘found my

niche, but needed formal train-

ing.”

Mrs. Washington became a

certified teacher. She taught in

Tensas Parish, the Natchez Ad-

ams School District in Missis-

sippi and most recently at the

Jetson Center for Youth near

Zachary, Louisiana.

When asked about her favor-

ite part of teaching, she re-

plied, “ ...when students have

‘ah-ha’ moments. Nothing can

compare to helping students

make connections to class-

room skills and witnessing

when they know they have

learned a skill. It is a proud mo-

ment for both of us!”

Mrs. Washington is married to

her high school sweetheart and

they have three sons, ages six-

teen, thirteen, and three. She

enjoys cooking, watching drag

racing, playing board games,

and hosting parties.

Her life-motto is: “Today I shall

behave as if this is the day I will

be remembered.”—Dr. Seuss.

Hats off to Mrs. Washington

for guiding her students to their

“ah-ha” moments.

Page 2

OFF-CAMPUS ATHLETES

Volume 1, Issue 1

Congratulations, TEACHER OF THE YEAR: Brandy Washington

First place free-throw winner, Austin Dugas with

Knights of Columbus 13632 members: Dr.

Thomas Oswald, Mr. Edward White, and Dr. Irby

Dupont

Fourth place winner,

Gianni Toce, in the

113 weight class .on

January 17th.

Rayne High School

held an open tourna-

ment for students

with disabilities to

compete in wrestling.

Both teens are sports

enthusiasts and enjoy com-

peting whenever and wher-

ever they have the oppor-

tunity. Austin is a seventh

grader and Gianni, a ninth

grader at LSVI. They play

fall baseball with a local

Baton Rouge organization

called Miracle League.

Austin and Gianni are also

involved with LSVI team

activities of wrestling,

track, and drum line.

LSVI is proud of both ath-

letes on and off-campus!

Mrs. Washington

with students,

Allie Turner &

Josiah Singleton

LSVI’s Outreach Department

headed up by Blanche Faulk

sponsored the fourth annual

low-vision workshop for teach-

ers of the visually impaired

(TVIs), who work with students

within the public schools

across the state.

Seventy participants gath-

ered to network and gain infor-

mation about tools to enhance

student learning. Consultants

in the field who spoke during

the day were Shane Neal and

Meg Wilson of Apple, Kathy

Foster with Enhanced Vision,

and Chip Farrington and Mi-

chael Elliott, Emerald Coast

Low Vision Aids.

Vendors and consultants

presented items for teachers to

take or sample. Those present

were: LA Lighthouse for the

Blind, LA Library, LA Council for

the Blind, Affiliated Blind of

Louisiana, Families Helping

Families and Southern Assis-

tive Technology. LSVI’s braille

instructor, Anna Gayle, and

school counselor, Jennifer Tra-

han, shared information about

UEB changes and the school’s

annual career day.

“It is important to let the

itinerant teachers know there

is support for them and that

assistive devices for their stu-

dents are accessible.” -Blanche

Faulk, LSVI Outreach Director

Pa

LOW-VISION WORKSHOP

JANUARY STUDENTS OF THE MONTH

Braille Trivia: When was Louis Braille’s six-cell braille set accepted in

America?

Claiborne Constance Andria Moore Rasheeta Williams Noah Mobley

Elementary Middle School High School Alternate Track

Rouge and learned his trade on-the-job. He began as a groundskeeper for LA School for the Deaf over twenty years ago. When a lay-off oc-curred, he transferred to the LSVI campus once located on Government Street. Later, he returned to the LSDVI cam-pus now on Brightside, where he has worked as a Custodian 2 inside LSVI buildings. Mr. John keeps up with trash, floors, and all rooms/offices.

In his spare time, he enjoys fishing and watching football. He admits to having been a Cowboys fan during the Rog-

On any giv-

en day, one can find a cart full of cleaning supplies near doorways in the halls of LSVI. A peek into the room will find Mr. John busy cleaning floors and emptying ever-full trashcans.

Besides the required uni-form, Mr. John likes to add team spirit by wearing a cap with the Saints logo on it. Sometimes, when the school is wearing a special LSVI t-shirt or sweatshirt, Mr. John will have his on, too.

Mr. John grew up in Baton

er Staubach era, but assures the Trojan Talk editor he has reformed. Believe it or not, Mr. John has been known to ‘hang out ‘ with Prince and Earth, Wind, and Fire. He can also be seen at the Essence Festival.

He has his eye on retiring to Jarvis Island where the build-ings do not have floors.

LSVI hopes he waits several more years for that to happen as his friendly presence and work ethic make him a popu-lar fellow at our school.

SPOTLIGHT: ‘Mr. John’ Gaines

DROP EVERYTHING AND BRAILLE

Every Wednesday during the last half of first period, everyone in the academic

building, drops and braille. ‘Everyone’ includes even the custodian. Much like the

‘Drop and Read’ concept, LSVI’s braille instructor thought this would help teachers

be able to spot-check braille goals, give teachers learning braille an opportunity to

practice, and the administrative staff time to observe how students are improving on

braille skills.