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 2006-2007 school years include: Marsha Beare, Micah Bormann, Cindi Dail, Dan French, Shawnese Laury-Johnson, Lynnette Norton, Lynn Pensari, Kathy Schmidt, and Amy Shepherd.

The team is focusing on five areas for the school year.

1. Implementing an 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.
2. 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 this past school year.
3. Research and create “how to teach” tip sheets that addresses independent living skills for students with visual impairments.
   • These tip sheets will be available in a variety of formats i.e., video, DVD, online, etc.
   • Notice of these tip sheets will be posted on the V.I. listserv.
4. Research and create an ILS resource guide that details how and where to locate ILS products for students with visual impairments. This resource guide will also have helpful ILS website addresses.
5. Development of a “frequently ask questions” link on the MSB-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 lovep@michigan.gov.