[blindkid] advice for ARI

[Carol Castellano]

Ok, then, maybe we'll stay in New Jersey!

At 09:33 PM 11/5/2008, you wrote:
>Actually in eastern Washington-wet, 32 degrees
>Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Carol Castellano <blindchildren at verizon.net>
>
>Date: Wed, 05 Nov 2008 20:38:04
>To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,\(for parents of blind 
>children\)<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>Subject: Re: [blindkid] advice for ARI
>
>
>Sounds as if you've got a good thing going over there is
>Missouri!  So...what's the weather like?  :-) :-)
>Carol
>
>At 11:17 AM 11/5/2008, you wrote:
> >I just have to chime in here although I don't really think I can
> >help you on this.  Every time I read a post like this I just want to
> >alternately cry and pray.  I feel soo strongly for every child who
> >is slighted as I too have two visually impared boys that are in the
> >public school system.  However, I pray and bless whoever is looking
> >out for us that I must have an awesome school district.
> >
> >   My two boys are the only visually impared/blind kids in the
> > school.  They are also the first that the school has ever
> > had.  This is my first experience as a mother or person for that
> > matter dealing with blindness.  The school sent off a teacher to
> > begin training for VI services, when they learned about my son in
> > preschool.  She finished her schooling and now we have a full time
> > VI teacher in our school.  Yes she also teaches other children as
> > two children are not a full load, but I keep praying that we will
> > get another child in school.  However, even if we don't I am SOOOOO
> > grateful.  My boys get braille instruction EVERY day.  The school
> > has used grants to get loads of equipment for them.  It hasn't even
> > cost them very much.  My sons are expected to participate in
> > everything, even Physical Education.  Granted my sons still have a
> > little vision, but they are still so open to everything.  At IEP
> > meetings they always ask me if there is anything else that I want 
> them to do.
> >  Hey, I don't know, I am just as new at this as they are.
> >
> >   The point is that they took the time to do a little reasearch and
> > find out that blind kids can do almost everything other kids do,
> > they just might do it a little differently.  I recently met with
> > one of my older sons new teachers in a new building this year.  She
> > told me that she was a little worried when they were told that they
> > would be having a blind kid in class this year.  They would get
> > very nervous when they saw him playing on the playground, or even
> > wandering around in the halls.  But they came to find out that he
> > was a very good judge of what he could and couldn't do all by
> > himself.  All kids get careless, that is the nature of children and
> > by which they learn.  If we take that away from them, they will
> > never learn to decide for themselves how to do things.
> >
> >   Now I am not trying to brag, I just want to say that you have to
> > keep on them.  Also  remind them that children learn by doing.  And
> > if for any reason at all you want to relocate, just let me
> > know.  We (myself, my kids, and even the school) would gladly
> > welcome anyone with open arms to our area and school.
> >
> >   Children need us to be open to things, they will learn very
> > quickly what they can and can't do.  We don't need to pre set
> > limitations for them.  Society already does plenty of that.  We
> > need our children to grow up to be productive adults, not timid,
> > unsure, reluctant adults that become dependent on everyone around them.
> >
> >
> >   Sorry this is soo long or off topic, I just had to share my
> > experiences with you all.
> >
> >   Rosina
> >   mother of three
> >   South Central Missouri
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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> dren%40verizon.net
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>
>
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