Rankin Inlet (Sep 22/04) - Going to class will be a little bit easier for five legally blind kids in the Kivalliq region this fall.

Two children in Rankin Inlet and three in Chesterfield Inlet started out their school year with a visit from the co-ordinator for the Blind/Visually Impaired Services Unit with Manitoba Education and Youth.

Alex Rudd received a vision assessment, as well as instruction on how to use specialized equipment. The Simon Alaittuq student doesn't let her disability stop her from enjoying activities like swimming. - photo courtesy of Donna Passey

It was the first time a trained professional has come into schools in the region, according to John Strutynski, student support consultant with Kivalliq School Operations in Baker Lake.

Donna Passey spent six days split between the two communities during the beginning of classes, doing vision assessments and program recommendations for the affected students at Simon Alaittuq school in Rankin and Victor Sammurtok in Chesterfield.

"The school and myself had concerns over one of our students who is legally blind," said Strutynski.

"We wanted some advice to see whether we were doing the right thing or the wrong thing," he said.

Strutynski called up Passey and she volunteered for the visit.

"My jaw dropped when she said 'oh, I'll come.' I never thought it would happen so quickly," he said.

Passey worked with student Alex Rudd primarily, but branched out to include other affected students.

Advice to teachers

Passey provided advice to teachers and the visually-impaired students to make the school year easier. It turns out they were doing most things right.

Passey's help included lending specialized equipment to the schools, such as a closed captioned television that can magnify books.

"We've found that it's quite successful," said Strutynski.

The Kivalliq School Operations has purchased another specialized television since Passey's visit.