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Parents: Avoid Your Child’s Summertime Learning Loss
How to Stop the Summer Slide
The Summer Slide is not a new attraction at the water park; it’s a term to describe the documented slip in children’s academic skills over the summer months. The good news? Studies also show that parents can help their kids keep this slide to a minimum during this time by engaging them in activities to promote learning.
This engagement of children, according to the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA), can also lead to higher graduation rates, teach them new skills, allow them to develop previously unseen talents, and foster their creative potential. DCMP helps parents develop opportunities for education and enrichment through interesting video experiences. For example, summer reading is one of the best antidotes to the summer slide. But also check out all the wonderful new titles in different subject areas that DCMP has to offer you over the summer.
Related Links:
June 20: Summer Learning Day
Summer Learning Video From NBC’s Brian Williams |
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Teachers: Important DCMP Information For You To Pass On
Five Key Reasons to Use the DCMP
Many of you are avid accessible media users and know the value of DCMP’s free-loan service. In some situations, the child some of you had in class this year will be moving on to another classroom or school next Fall. Please remember to:
- Pass on to next year’s teacher(s) information about the DCMP, along with your endorsement of our free-loan service. You could also consider including this flyer. Finally, if applicable, also please tell them that this past year has marked a significant growth of DCMP Spanish-language services and provide a copy of our Spanish-language brochure.
- Pass on to parents information about their opportunity to use DCMP this summer (or anytime). This issue of our newsletter is chock-full of ideas for them, and you can also send this flyer home. Or, if you send DCMP a parent’s email address, we will send them information from here (and our communication will be accessible to any blind parent through a screen reader).
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Video Description Event: May 14
 Inside Video Description: How Pictures Become Words
Video description is essential for persons with a vision loss. It is a technique in which spoken explanations and descriptions of visual elements are inserted into a video or television program without interfering with the sounds and dialogue that are a regular part of the program.
You have an opportunity on May 14, 2014, to learn how professionals, who themselves have vision loss, add value to the creation of video description. At this special, one-of-a-kind event, Hollywood’s writers, producers, directors, and technicians will come together with educators and individuals from the disability community to learn about the latest innovations in accessible media. If you cannot attend live from 12:30 p.m.– 2:30 p.m. at the Dolby Theater in Burbank, California, register to participate in the event online! Attend and learn:
- How to make media usable and enjoyable by persons without sight.
- About the cost and the time involved in making media accessible.
- How to tell whether the video description is effective and worthwhile to the student or consumer.
See a live demonstration of the critical video description QC (quality control) process as performed by Audio Eyes, a company managed and operated by blind professionals. Learn about professional opportunities in the field of accessible media. Ask questions about video description and how persons with a vision loss help create it. Attendees of the web event will be invited to submit their comments and questions live during the event.
Register now at http://events.dcmp.org.
DCMP Related Resources:
Archived DCMP Web Events On Video Description
Description Key |
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Quick Hits
Your New DCMP Titles for Spring and Summer
 DCMP has 115 new videos this month, which include 49 titles in English and 66 titles in Spanish. These are just great for: 1) Students. Remember that teachers and parents can create subaccounts for use directly by students. Watch this short DCMP-produced video which demonstrates this process, and plan for your students’ own use of these and other titles; 2) Parents. Combat the summer slide (described elsewhere in this newsletter) with exciting new accessible videos; 3) Teachers. Some of these may support your summer school plans, while others may perfectly fit into next year’s lessons.
First-ever Video Describeathon Celebrates Global Accessibility Awareness Day!
 The third annual Global Accessibility Awareness Day will take place on Thursday, May 15, 2014. Smith-Kettlewell, through its Video Description Research Development Center (VDRDC), will be celebrating by holding the first-ever Video Describeathon. Says the VDRDC: “What is a Video Describeathon? We’re not sure—nobody has ever held one before! Our intent is that a bunch of awesome describers will use Global Accessibility Awareness Day to make the world and web a more accessible place by describing as many videos as they can in one day. Obviously, we’re also trying to raise awareness about video description in general and the availability of YouDescribe—our free, web-based tool for making video more accessible to people with visual disabilities.” To participate, sign up here. To learn more about: 1) Description. View these archived webinars; 2) YouDescribe. View this YouTube video.
Marlee Matlin On Police Interaction With Persons Who Are Deaf
 Actress Marlee Matlin, who is deaf and the wife of a police officer, teamed up with the ACLU and advocacy group HEARD, on a YouTube American Sign Language video (also captioned) to ensure deaf people know their rights when interacting with law enforcement. When police officers don't realize people who are deaf and hard of hearing can't hear them, this sometimes leads to tragedy. Note: DCMP’s Real Life 101: Law Enforcement provides students (Grades 6-12) with an opportunity to visit with different people working in law enforcement to see what these jobs entail. First, the head of the New Orleans Harbor Police explains how important security is to all cities and the waterways. Second, a sheriff in a rural Louisiana parish discusses his position. Finally, follow a deputy sheriff on location for a demonstration from the K-9 unit while learning more about the loyal members in the division.
Spring Into Accessible Media
 To show our appreciation of your enthusiasm and dedication to young minds, DCMP is offering a free gift to parents and teachers. The first 100 DCMP members who email us their name and address will receive a free “Read to Grow” DCMP Flexi-Vase. The Flexi-Vase is made from soft flexible PVC, stores flat, and forms a vase shape when filled with water. It’s a perfect addition to a classroom, or in any high traffic areas in your home (unbreakable). Don't miss our Spring titles and make these last few weeks of Spring a growing time. |
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