GREETINGS FROM REDONDO BEACH

GREETINGS FROM REDONDO BEACH, CALIFORNIA!

One of my favorite things to do on a Saturday is to ride my bike from home to the beach and then ride along the bike path up to Santa Monica.. about 10 miles. Other activities I enjoy are skating, running, swimming. going for walks.... just about anything outdoors. I live about 10 minutes from the beach which I absolutely love.

I am an Orientation and Mobility Specialist with blind children. This involves teaching them how to become independent... how to use a cane, developing their listening skills, sense of touch, sense of smell... basically how to best make use of all of their senses... to assist them in moving about safely.

All of the children I work with have been born blind. Some are legally blind, with a bit of vision. This year, I travel to 8 schools - public schools.. where each of my blind students is 'mainstreamed' along with 'normal (is there such a thing :) ) kids.

I work one on one with them.. taking them out into the community and teaching them how to cross busy light controlled intersections, go into stores and make purchases and interact with the public. I love it!

Also, I do private contract work - after school several days of the week and often on Saturday mornings - with adults that have just lost their vision. This is a whole different type situation, as there is a lot of therapy involved - helping them to adjust to blindness. I go to the persons home and work with them in the familiarity of their home surroundings... absolutely love it!

I'm single - and have a townhouse here in Redondo Beach, that I enjoy coming home to at the end of each day.

My background is in Music Therapy and Music Education - used to teach piano lessons and taught music in the public school system for two years. Then went on to get my Masters Degree from California State University - Los Angeles - in Special Education/Orientation and Mobility. Originally I'm from Portland Oregon, but grew up in the Kansas City area (Overland Park Kansas).

I use my musical gifts by volunteering at the nearby hospital - playing the beautiful grand piano right by the entrance to the hospital.

Write when you get free time - I look forward to meeting you and getting to know you !

Sally Jo :)

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