[blindkid] A good story to end the day

[Marie Smith]

I cannot thank you all enough for taking your time to answer my questions
and to lend support and to remind me that Jack will adapt as he has adapted
to so much already. On our Apert listserve, I am now one of the experienced
parents who lend support and encouragement to the newbies who have just had
their babies and don't know what to expect or what might come next. I hope
to return the favor here one day as well. 

Marie (mother of Jack, 3 yrs old with Apert Syndrome)
http://www.allaccesspasstojack.blogspot.com
Learn more about Apert Syndrome
http://www.thecraniofacialcenter.org/apert.html
Get information and support at Teeter's page
http://www.apert.org



> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Carrie Gilmer
> Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 8:50 PM
> To: 'NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)';
> 'Professionals in Blindness Education Division List'; 'Parents of Blind
> Children State Presidents List'
> Subject: [blindkid] A good story to end the day
> 
> Greetings All,
> In trying to find some answers for Marie and her son Jack on early Braille
> reading and writing with hand and finger limitations a teacher friend and
> colleague(Sheila Amato) suggested I ask Stuart Wittenstein, the
> Superintendent of the Calif. School for the Blind about a student he had
> there once. (Stuart by the way is a phenomenal educator/administrator and
> a
> real believer in blind people as normal people) As usual, Sheila's
> suggestions turned out very well. I asked Stuart and he said he was glad
> if
> I shared it and named him and the school. Talk about no ceilings on a
> house
> first, having a will to make a way, and a positive attitude, this is why
> we
> all do what we do and I hope you also gain inspiration and hope from it as
> I
> did today.
> 
> Carrie
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Stuart Wittenstein
> Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 5:56 PM
> To: Carrie Gilmer
> 
> 
> Hi Carrie,
> 
> Actually our young man had no fingers at all due to a birth incident --
> his hands and face had been stuck to the inside of the womb and he
> literally was yanked from there leaving some parts behind and causing
> his blindness as well.  His toes had been grafted in place of his
> fingers.  AT CSB he learned to read braille with his thumbs (and play
> the banjo!).  He was quite good although a little slower reader than
> most.  He used the Mountbatten exclusively for writing because he could
> use less pressure on the keys and it worked very well for him -- as it
> also works well for young students with less strength.
> 
> I think a lot of his success came because of motivation and attitude
> with this young man.  When we had our job shadowing day ("If I ran the
> school day"), he asked to shadow me.  When I asked him why he chose me,
> he responded that he intended to have my job one day; first he'd be a
> teacher, then  a principal, and then superintendent.  He expected to be
> ready at about the time I'd be ready to retire.  I told him I thought it
> was unusual for a 14 year old to have thought this all through and he
> replied, "I figured with my disabilities it might take me longer to
> reach my goals, so I better have a plan."  A remarkable youngster.
> 
> So advice -- the Mountbatten could conceivably make writing possible for
> this youngster, and a positive attitude can overcome many obstacles.
> 
> Stuart
> 
> Stuart Wittenstein, Ed.D.
> Superintendent
> California School for the Blind
> 500 Walnut Avenue
> Fremont, CA 94536
> 510-794-3800, X201
> 
> "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives."
> Jackie Robinson
> 
> 
> 
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