Hands-on reading

By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
POLAND -- Shortly before the noon lunch period at Poland Union Elementary School, Jenna Sefcik, a Poland Middle School seventh-grader, prepares to read to a third-grade class as part of Celebrate Reading Week.
Jenna takes a seat at the head of the class and announces the book to be read -- "The Ginger Bread Man." She allows each of her hands to glide at a steady pace over each page while she reads, pausing to allow the captivated pupils time to admire the pictures that accompany the words.
The faces of all 23 pupils in Ruthie Titus' third-grade class are trained on the front of the room, most with expressions showing that Jenna, a petite girl with a blue hairband and Mickey Mouse embroidered shirt, is the center of attention.
Jenna can't see their eager faces. She relies on the complete silence in the room and occasional enthusiastic "ooohhh" to gauge her audience's level of interest.
Special books: She's been blind since birth and learning to read Braille since she began her education. She read to kindergarten through fourth-grade classes Thursday using dual-vision books.
Alice Colella, special education teacher and coordinator for Celebrate Reading Week, said the goal is to open pupils up to reading. Community volunteers, high school students, parents and others read to pupils and answered questions this week, but Jenna's appearance has special meaning.
"We are trying to teach our students that there are many ways to read and communicate and that you do not have to use just your eyes," Colella said. "We want them to be open to the fact that there are all types of people in the world."
Lessons: Jenna said that if the children gain only one thing from her reading, she hopes it is an understanding that Braille is simply a different way for those who are blind to read.
She and her aide, Barb Moore, also demonstrated for the pupils how they coordinate to walk through crowded areas such as hallways while going from class to class in school.
Some pupils asked why Jenna does not have a guide dog. They were told that having such a companion requires some skills that she does not yet have. Moore said Jenna will probably have a dog by college.
Jenna maintains a smile and good humor, but Moore said finding proper materials and learning aides for her is sometimes difficult and costly. She said most of her books must be ordered from Cleveland. A set of transcribed textbooks can cost about $900.
"We are coping and doing a good job, but we do not have all the tools we need. It all comes down to one thing -- money," said Moore.
As a general example, Moore said, Jenna is a big fan of Harry Potter books, but she was placed on a waiting list in October to get a transcribed copy that just recently came in.