[blindkid] Seeking advice: blind daughter intentionally excluded from birthday party

[Andy & Sally Thomas]

I'm surprised that the school allowed this to happen.  In the many schools 
my kids have attended, if invitations were handed out at school then all 
children in the class had to be invited.  That being said, maybe you could 
invite your child's friend to go with you and Milagro to the bounce place at 
a time both kids could enjoy it.  That way the friend wouldn't miss a fun 
play time and your daughter could have fun with a friend.

Sally Thomas
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Grace Sato" <gracets at covad.net>
To: <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2008 5:38 PM
Subject: [blindkid] Seeking advice: blind daughter intentionally excluded 
from birthday party


> Because I'm sure parents on this list have lived this, I'm going to ask.
> I've been trying to forget about this, but you know how things nag at
> you and you can't let go?
>
> Here goes:
>
> I found out over the weekend that my daughter's first grade class was
> invited to the birthday party of a classmate (Logan).
> Apparently Logan's parents took invitations for all the kids and the
> class and distributed them as school ended on Friday.
>
> I knew none of this until I spent Sunday with one of the boys in my
> daughter's class (Chance), and his mom, as we visited a cool Children's
> Discovery Museum together and she asked in the car if my daughter would
> be attending the party on November 1st.
>
> The party will be held at "Pump It Up", an inflatables party place
> (think large inflatable slides, bouncy castle, mazes, etc).
> My daughter loves this place and attended two birthday parties there
> before when in preschool and kindergarten.
>
> Because this little boy (Chance) is my daughter's best friend in school,
> the one we spend the most time with, his mom decided to ask Logan's dad
> directly if Milagro, "Chance's best friend in class", had been invited.
> She told me he looked at her funny and said, "No."
>
> She asked if everyone else in the class had been invited and he said
> yes. So, Chance's mom and I are concluding that Milagro has been
> excluded, probably because the family thinks a blind child doesn't
> belong in a bouncy inflatables place.
>
> Now, I don't know this boy Logan and his parents don't know me, so I
> mostly don't care. I doubt Milagro knows she's been excluded because she
> was in SDC at the end of the school day. But.....now Chance's mom is
> going to boycott the party (not take Chance) in protest of Milagro being
> excluded. Sweet gesture, but that's what's causing me grief.
>
> I feel (almost) obligated to do something, but not sure what?  Would you
> please share your wisdom with me on this? Part of me wants to crash the
> party to show her classmates that she's as adventurous and strong as
> they are (and more so in most cases). The rest of me says, "save your
> energy".
>
> What do you think? What have you done in these situations when your
> child has been excluded socially due to someone else's ignorance? Should
> I just do nothing and beg Chance's mom to just take him and tell her I
> appreciate the gesture?
>
> Such drama.....I know. And it's only first grade!  Thanks!
>
> Grace in California
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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