Winners of the 4th Annual Ohio Braille Accuracy and Creative Writing Contest
Congratulations to all of the participants of this year's 4th Annual Ohio Braille Accuracy and Creative Writing Contest. The winners of each age grouping are below. We hope to see everyone from this year and more come back for next year's contest.
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Grades 3 – 6
- 1st place: Jocee Janicki (4th grade - OSSB) - $25.00
- 2nd place: Olivia Bump (4th grade - OSSB) - $15.00
- 3rd place: Crayton Benner (4th grade - OSSB) - $10.00
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Grades 7 – 9
- 1st place: Ashley Ellis (9th grade -Goshen, OH) - $75.00
- 2nd place: Michelle Motil (9th grade - OSSB) - $50.00
- 3rd place: Hannah Seimer (8th grade - OSSB) - $25.00
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Grades 10 – 12
- 1st place: Ja’Leesa Spradling (11th grade - Sidney, OH) - $150.00
- 2nd place: Tamas Geczy (11th grade - Hunting Valley, OH) - $125.00
- 3rd place: Tamara Batchelder (10th grade - OSSB) - $100.00
Cleveland LBPH to Serve Entire State of Ohio
The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County will be closing the Cincinnati Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped effective July 1, 2009. On July 1, 2009, the Cleveland Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped will absorb Cincinnati LBPH patrons to provide braille and talking book service to the entire State of Ohio. The new name for the merged LBPH service for the State will be the Ohio Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled. Cleveland LBPH is planning a seamless transition for all Cincinnati LBPH readers and to provide uninterrupted service to the entire State. Cincinnai and Cleveland Regional LBPH libraries have been working very hard to plan and make the arrangements to ensure that starting July 1st, all Ohio LBPH patrons will be receiving their books.
The good news for LBPH patrons is that you do not have to do anything. In fact, arrangements are being made to transfer all of Cincinnati patron files to Cleveland, including application information, books currently out or books that have gone out, reading preferences, reserve and requests, etc. Likewise, there will be more t han enough b ooks to satisfy the reading needs of the entire State of Ohio. All that we ask is that you continue to be patient with us as we work through the next few months during the transition. As always, if you experience any problems with your service during the transition or even after the merger, please contact Cleveland LBPH at 216-623-2911 or 1-800-362-1262 or by email at lbph@cpl.org, so we acn fix whatever problems you may be having with your service. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through this service merger.
OSSB Summer Camps 2009
The Ohio State School for the Blind, in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Education Office for Exceptional Children, Center for Instructional Supports and Accessible Materials (CISAM), Braille Excellence for Students and Teachers Project (BEST grant), the Ohio Center for DeafBlind Education, and the Ohio State University, will be hosting a series of summer programs. Through this collaboration, we will be offering educational experiences to school age students who are blind or visually impaired.
The following camps will be offered this summer, 2009:
| Enrichment Camp | Dates | Student’s Grade & Ages |
| Braille Immersion | June 15-19, 2009 | Grades 3-7; Ages 8-12 |
| Technology Exploration | June 22-26, 2009 | Grades 9-12; Ages 14-18 |
| Daily Living Skills and Lifetime Leisure and Recreation | June 22-26, 2009 | Grades 4-8; Ages 9-14 |
| Sports and Track Camp | August 3-7, 2009 | Grades 7-12; Ages 13-18 |
This year there will be a cost of $75.00 per camper to cover room and board. Please share this information with school staff and families of students who are visually impaired or blind. Feel free to reproduce and distribute as necessary.
Camperships (partial/full scholarships) are available for those in need. Please contact Ann Pilewskie at 614-728-8742.
For information on individual camps click onto Outreach and then Summer Camps. Applications can be filled out and submitted on-line (via email to address below), or printed off and sent in to OSSB.
The application forms must be completed and returned to the Ohio State School for the Blind by May 22, 2008. Participants will be notified by mail along with a registration form, medical form and payment information.
Please visit the Summer Camps webpage for complete information and camp descriptions.
If you have any questions please contact me for more information.
Ann Pilewskie, Transition Coordinator
Ohio State School for the Blind
(614) 728-1961
FAX: (614) 752-1713
apilewskie@ossb.oh.gov