[blindkid] Leaving classes early

Sun Jan 25 12:39:39 UTC 2009

I agree with you, Kim.

My philosophy has always been to provide my son with a number of low vision devices, arm him with multiple forms of accessible technology and give him accommodations that may or may not be necessary.  He's been doing this long enough that he decides what he needs to do.  

I don't check his binder everyday anymore, not do I review his agenda for homework assignments.  I'm letting go so he can be more accountable for turning in assignments on time.  He's doing wonderfully and he knows it's because he is being responsible.
Matthew is a mature 6th grader who has a pass to leave early whenever he feels it's necessary.  Certain school situations may dictate the need for a pass more than others.

Matthew's middle school is going through major renovations.  He also has large technology devices that he must carry through extra crowded hallways, while many classrooms and sections of particular hallways are closed off.  His classrooms have moved to multiple locations during the first half of the school year.  And not to mention, he's an 11 year old, 62 pound, small kid for his size.

When  he feels he needs to use the pass, he uses it.  When he doesn't need it, he doesn't use it (which is the majority of the time).  He has never been treated differently by his peers, and there is no time for social interaction in the hallways.  Sighted kids are often late to class!

He receives O&M and feels comfortable traveling to and from classes and even practiced last year during the crowded hallways.  But school renovations have repeatedly forced him to take different routes to get to his classes which have been moved from their original location.

I don't pass judgement on anything others do for their own children, so I don't expect anyone to pass judgement on what I do with mine either.  I found this list to be invaluable for advice and support, and I enjoy partaking in it.

Thanks everyone-
Mindy

--- On Sun, 1/25/09, Kim Cunningham <kim at gulfimagesphoto.com> wrote:

From: Kim Cunningham <kim at gulfimagesphoto.com>
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Leaving classes early
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Date: Sunday, January 25, 2009, 7:09 AM

Well....I guess that I may be the only parent on the list serv who sees the need
for my daughter to leave class 5 minutes early. I thought about not posting,
but I'm open for critism this morning! Don't be too harsh with me....
My daughter is in the 11th grade and has left her class 5 minutes early since
7th grade. She wears a watch and begins packing up her laptop, books, etc and
heads out at the appropriate time (no reminders from the teacher). There are
quite a few "sighted" kids who are in the hallway at the same time
for various reasons due to injuries, etc. My daughter carries a very heavy
backpack with a laptop, books, technology, and binders while using her cane. She
is rather small and must lean forward for balance. The school is 2 story and she
is constantly up and down stairs. The school is dealing with a huge influx in
population due to rezoning with around 3000 kids. My daughter's sighted
friends complain about getting to and from classes while carrying one book and a
binder. There are times when she hasn't left 5 minutes early and gets caught
in the traffic. She has found that she has a hard time getting to her locker as
the other kids are blocking her access
 while they get their belongings and they also gather in groups outside of
classrooms to chat causing the hallways to be blocked. At these times, she ends
up being frustrated and rushed, sometimes arriving just seconds before the bell.
Then she is rushed about getting her laptop set up and loaded for the begining
of class (Some of the programs and textbooks take a while to load). There is
no time to visit with friends when this happens.  When she leaves 5 minutes
early, she goes to her locker and arrives at class early enough to still talk
with her friends and have her technology ready to start. During this time she is
also able to talk with her teacher and get clarification about what is needed
for the day and will prepare for it with the appropriate technology. I believe
that my daughter should act and be treated equally as a blind person, but what
about taking into consideration all the "extras" that our kids must
handle as a blind person. Do we
 expect our children to go above and beyond what we expect for their peers?
Most all of our kids attend the same class schedule as the other kids, but must
also have O&M lessons, TBS services, braille instruction, etc. There are
only so many hours in a day to get something accomplished and if leaving class 5
minutes early helps to alleviate some stress, then I'm OK with it, as is my
daughter. 
Just my two cents.
Kim Cunningham

--- On Sat, 1/24/09, Barbara.Mathews at sce.com <Barbara.Mathews at sce.com>
wrote:

From: Barbara.Mathews at sce.com <Barbara.Mathews at sce.com>
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Leaving classes early
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)"
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Date: Saturday, January 24, 2009, 4:26 PM

My advice is to just say "No thank you.". My daughter attended a
large
middle school.  She is totally blind and her orientation skill isn't that
great, but she got herself from class to class just fine. We did include in her
IEP an accommodation that she would not be penalized for being tardy to a class
if it was due to orientation problems, but this was intended primarily for the
beginning of the year when she was still learning the routes or if there was a
change in schedule or something that meant she wouldn't follow the usual
route.  We wanted to make sure she would handle those situations independently
without undue stress about being late.  We also told the teachers that the
accommodation didn't apply if she was goofing off between classes.

I asked her about this 5 minutes early idea, and she thought it was silly.  She
also said you would miss less if you got to class a little late because it
usually takes a while for class to settle down.

I also wonder who would tell your son it's time to leave 5 minutes before
the bell rings.  Kyra's teachers wouldn't have interrupted what they
were doing for that.  If some other adult would come into the room for that
reason, how embarrassing for a middle school kid! For an otherwise typical
blind
kid, not a good idea.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Andy & Sally Thomas" [andysally at comcast.net]
Sent: 01/24/2009 07:38 AM CST
To: <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [blindkid] Leaving classes early

My son's O&M instructor has told him that next year in junior high he
will be dismissed from classes 5 minutes early in order to get a head start
into
the halls to make it to his next class. I'm wondering if most of the blind
kids out there get this "accommodation."  I personally think it is an
opportunity to miss some afterthought the teacher has and to be singled out and
isolated in the classroom. Walking to classes with friends is one of the few
times kids have for private conversations.  Would you share your experiences
with this?

Sally Thomas
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