[blindkid] School cane O/M issues

Richard Holloway rholloway at gopbc.org
Sat Oct 17 15:41:53 UTC 2009


Lauren,

My chief concern if sighted guide is a primary IEP item is that it  
will become a focus of her O&M. The very nature of sighted guide  
technique is not to foster independent travel. Sighted guide is simply  
not an independent travel technique-- It encourages reliance on  
others. You can rest assured that EVERY young cane traveler (and  
plenty of blind adults) will be led around "sighted guide" style  
weather we ask for that or not. Putting that in an IEP will tend to  
tell your daughter and others that it is "officially" okay to be  
walked around by someone else. Is that officially okay with you? I  
want my daughter traveling independently in her school just as much as  
the other sighted kids do.

Yes, basic sighted guide techniques can be learned quickly but once  
things go into an IEP (at least into ours here in Georgia) a whole  
list of documentations and measurements and percentages of success  
have to be tracked so it can be determined if goals are being met and  
so forth. Unless you do the opposite and state in the IEP that it is  
NOT to be used, is is GOING to be used, and I'd wager it would be used  
even if you have in writing that is is not to be used. It is virtually  
unavoidable. We all do it, even, with our own kids at times.

Also, while an adult may indeed be able to explain sighted guide to  
another adult quickly at an airport to get to a flight in a rush,  
young grade school kids are going to have less success with this,  
especially if they are asking another young child for help. Besides,  
if we can learn enough of that to be proficient in minutes or seconds,  
how would that need to be in an IEP?

Many double-doors at schools around here (cafeteria entrances, fire  
breaks in halls, etc.) have a vertical post right in the middle of  
them. Being led around the building by another person, often a student  
(especially unless you have a full-time para-pro) with your cane in  
your locker is virtually asking to be walked from time to time into a  
post. Even with a cane in hand, if you don't use proper technique and  
just hold it in front of you and walk with a guide, you're not going  
to be protected.

I remember visiting my daughter's school when they were having our  
daughter walk with a partner once. We observed her being led by a  
little boy straight into the boy's restroom. There was no malice or  
ill intent, but that's what happened. That was not okay with us and we  
immediately had the way she was walking in the hallways changed.

There is also a tendency for goals to be carefully designed so that  
success rates are high on the IEP's so as to reflect well on staff.  
For my own child, I'd much prefer to have the focus and careful  
measurement on something other than "sighted guide". The bottom line  
is that sighted guide is much easier for all concerned and far faster,  
especially with a young child who is new to cane travel but  
unfortunately it is not what is best for the goal of independent  
travel in many cases.

Richard




On Oct 17, 2009, at 9:47 AM, Mike Freeman wrote:

> You're understanding of "sighted guide" technique is correct.  
> Frankly, it shouldn't take more than 30 seconds to learn so the only  
> reason I figure it's in Joli's IEP is antedeluvian thinking on the  
> part of the O&M instructor! And you're bang on re using the cane all  
> the time. Frankly, in my estimation (at least at this early stage),  
> this is almost more important than provision of technology!
>
> Mike Freeman, President
> NFB of Washington
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: L W <mama2sally at yahoo.com>
> To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
> Date: Friday, Oct 16, 2009 22:44:40
> Subject: [blkid] School cane O/More issues
>
>>
>>
>> Hi all. We got our daughter Joli's IEP finalized last week. Monday  
>> I went to her school to visit her vision teacher and discovered  
>> that Joli hasn't been using her cane.  She has been storing it in  
>> her locker.  So I wrote a note in her communication book saying  
>> that I wanted Joli to take her cane with her everywhere.  Joli came  
>> home Tuesday saying that her O/More teacher told her that her  
>> classes are so close together she could just leave the cane in her  
>> homeroom.  She also told Joli to stick her hand through the strap  
>> and wear it like a bracelet so she wouldn't drop it in dog poop.   
>> The O/More teacher's concern seems to be that Joli isn't properly  
>> using the cane at school. Is this normal / common?  Am I missing  
>> something?  I want Joli to use the cane at school even though it is  
>> a familiar environment because I want Joli to get into the habit of  
>> always taking her cane with her.   Joli has had her cane for almost  
>> 1 month.
>> Also I just noticed on her IEP it says she will learn sighted guide  
>> technique.  I am not sure I see the point of t.  Joli is 8 and her  
>> vision is 20/400.  Maybe I am not understanding what sighted guide  
>> technique is, but as I understand it, it's taking somebody's arm  
>> and letting them lead you?  If she were younger or her vision were  
>> worse maybe I would see more of a point to this, but now I would  
>> rather place more emphasis on cane travel and on things like safely  
>> crossing the road. Must admit during the IEP process (it's our 1st  
>> time doing the IEP) I was so focused on getting the technology she  
>> needs and the enlargements and getting extra reading help as Joli  
>> also has dyslexia, that I sort of didn't pay attention to the O/ 
>> More side of things as much as I guess I should h.  I am wondering  
>> if this sighted guide technique is something I should fight to have  
>> changed, which I guess would mean calling another IEP meeting, or  
>> if it's something
>> Joli could benefit from.
>> Thanks for any advice,
>> Lauren
>>
>>
>>
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>
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