Meet Our Students, Meet our Achievers

At the heart of Overbrook School for the Blind, is our stories. Stories of accomplishment, achievement, growth, heart-ache, grit, triumph, determination and real, stories that demonstrate why we do what we do. We believe our students should be celebrated from the rooftops. We believe our students are incredible, unique individuals who deserve the best education possible.

OSB Student Grows in Leaps and Bounds

Dr. Beth Ramella, Superintendent of Overbrook School For The Blind and its CVI Specialist, uses one word to describe OSB STRIDE student, Aeryn E. “She’s a superstar," says Dr. Ramella. “Watching Aeryn grow and develop into a capable young woman over the last few years has been an honor and a privilege.”

OSB STRIDE TVI Elizabeth L., who modifies Aeryn’s learning and work materials specifically for her CVI needs, uses a similar description. “She is wonderful,” she says. Their comments came after Dr. Ramella observed part of Aeryn’s day, one that included collecting recyclables. On another day she might have found Aeryn folding towels or doing laundry at the Kappen Aquatics Center. On still yet another day, she might watch her put together toiletry kits or school supply kits.

Overbrook, like many schools, is working to adjust curriculum to improve outcomes for all students. Long before she was an employee at OSB, Dr. Ramella was asked to provide a CVI Range assessment for Aeryn. Using CVI strategies, Aeryn, who is deaf and visually impaired, began learning each of her work-oriented skills a few years ago.

Once susceptible to inactive periods due to light gazing, she is now more task oriented. Those who spend time with her, such as Elizabeth L. and her intervener, Susan W., have noticed a greatly increased ability to do them independently and remain on task for longer periods of time. Through the years, Aeryn has made steady gains.

“Really, I could go on and on,” says Elizabeth L. “I could write a book about her.”

Students Use White Cane Skills in Real-Life Settings 

One way capable students at OSB are taught to use their white canes effectively is through practical real-life application. Primary student Carly and Secondary student Journey recently applied their skills to safely navigate to a local McDonalds restaurant and Giant Supermarket.

Both skilled cane users, they were tasked by O&M Specialist Tevis W. with selecting a destination, researching how to get there (through public transportation and phone maps) and getting to and from, with their instructor, as independently as possible.

White Cane Becomes Means to Artistic Expression

STRIDE students in Susan DiFabio's art class were introduced to the "action" painting style of Jackson Pollock, a major figure in the abstract expressionist movement, who was widely noticed for his "Drip Technique" of splashing liquid household paint onto a horizontal surface, enabling him to view and paint his canvasses from all angles.  

Pollock did not use paint brushes -- he used sticks and spoons and other tools to create his action paintings.

As part of the class, STRIDE student Sydney A. took a stab -- actually many stabs -- at Pollock's action painting style, dabbing the canvas with a white cane, using different cane tips to create action paintings. "I told the students, `I bet he never painted with white canes like we did!' " quipped DiFabio.

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