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Independent Living Skills Team Activities

MSB-LIO contracts with a group of individuals who have skills and interest in the area of independent living skills (ILS) for students with visual impairments. Team members for the 2009-2010 school year include: Lori Bashore, Micah Bormann, Cindi Dail (parent), Shana Davis, Daryl Dawe, Amanda English, Shelly Houghtaling, Shawnese Laury-Johnson, Becky Keusch, Nancy Ozinga, Lynn Pensari, and Amy Shepherd (parent).

The team is focusing on the following areas for the 2009-2010 school year:

  • Continuing the implementation of the ILS pilot project in partnership with an ISD or LEA.
    • The goal of this program is to work with a program for students with visual impairments to assist them in addressing the unique need of providing independent living skills (ILS) to students with a visual impairment. The project will be a comprehensive approach to providing promising practices in the Expanded Core Curriculum for students with a visual impairment in the area of independent living skills.
    • Components include student assessments, self studies for educators and parents, collaborative team process, analysis of assessments for students and program improvement, staff training, and parent training.
  • Under the ILS Pilot Project program, the MDE-LIO ILS team is currently providing training to three ISDs/LEAs.
    • Kalamazoo, Saginaw, and Genesee ISDs – this is the second year of the program for these particular school districts.
    • Kent ISD has completed its three year ILS program with MDE-LIO.
    • Developing and teaching regional on-demand independent living skills (ILS) classes for parents and educators of students with a visual impairment.
    • Topics for the classes will be developed from the ILS Checklist that the team created in 2006.
  • Continue to research and create “how to teach” tip sheets that address the unique independent living skills for students with visual impairments.
    • These tip sheets will be available in a variety of formats i.e., video, DVD, online.
    • Notice of tip sheets will be posted on the V.I. listserv.
    • Explore and create webcasts that depict independent living skills being taught to students.
    • Maintain an ILS listserv specifically to share information with parents as well as afford parents an opportunity to network with one another.
    • Development of a “frequently ask questions” link on the MDE-LIO website that pertains specifically to independent living skills.

For more information about the ILS team and planned activities please contact Pat Love-Sypho at 888-760-2206 or 810-760-2735.

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