By Ben Fischer © Cincinnati Enquirer — For one night, Clark Montessori High School’s eclectic array of student musicians will stretch the conventions of high school concerts even further. They’ll perform with a blind marching band. Clark’s steel drum bands, jazz band and choir – 165 students total – is preparing for a “collaborative concert” with students from the Ohio State School for the Blind of Columbus on Wednesday…. READ ARTICLE
WVTM-TV, Birmingham, Alabama — It’s an honor for any band to be selected to march in the Tournament of Roses Parade each New Year’s Day in Pasadena, California. Each of the bands taking part is unique in its own way. It’s a little different for one band from Columbus, Ohio. All of its members are blind. The Ohio State School for the Blind marching band was formed about 4 years ago. They are still the only blind marching band in the world. All 32 members are very talented musicians and can learn most of their music in mere weeks. It took a little more creativity though to show them how to march and place their feet correctly…. READ ARTICLE
By Robert Celaschi © Business First, Columbus, Ohio — Good lighting and acoustics play a crucial role in any classroom. They take on even more importance at schools for the blind and the deaf. Bright, glaring backgrounds or bold color patterns can interfere with a deaf student trying to read sign language, for instance. The student in the next seat might have a cochlear implant, which means good acoustics are crucial, too. Likewise, classrooms for the blind need good lighting and visual cues for those students with partial or blurred vision. SHP Leading Design in Columbus tackled these challenges and more as it drew up plans for new buildings for both the Ohio State School for the Blind and the Ohio School for the Deaf…. READ ARTICLE