[blindkid] Hard Day New Beginning

Sat Oct 24 23:34:34 UTC 2009

Well, you certainly do sound good!  I wish you a speedy recovery from 
all the trauma and hope that things go well on the new path.
Carol

At 06:56 PM 10/24/2009, you wrote:
>      Oops pushed a button too soon!  Oh like that has never happened before.
>
>      It is already better, I can sleep and not feel frustrated and angry.  I
>am okay.  I should have done this earlier.
>
>      I had two criteria for public school.  The first was that my twins stay
>in the same classroom and the second was that the staff be knowledgeable and
>educated about my children's needs.  First clue, separated the twins, but
>did not let the parents know until the final PPT, with subtle hint, a
>schedule of the times the boys would be together. Then no staff training
>until 2 days before the start of school.  Did I mention the change of
>classroom teacher over the summer and a new O&M the first day of school.
>  This was after 9 months of transition planning, multiple observations in
>the home and community by all staff members.  So I guess I am a slow learner
>with rose colored glasses, because I really wanted this to work.  So I
>compromised on my own values and gut instincts.  Wrong move on my part.  I
>do appreciate the support and we can't do any worse than well meaning
>uneducated school staff.  By the way, I loved the teacher and aid for my
>blind son's class.  However, the road is paved with well meaning people on
>the way to........
>
>      However, according to the TVI, it was the school team and the parents
>and whoever the parents wish to include.  Clue number 2!
>
>     When training was provided it was for the professional staff only (not
>the parents, until I had a hissy fit and related that I too had an MS in
>Special Ed. and was certified in two states).  This is not certifiable,
>although many would think so at this point.  Clue number 3
>
>       Oh yes, my sense of humor is coming back and my blood pressure is
>coming down.
>
>Blessings to all who are on this journey.  Remember school is a few hours a
>week.  Family is a lifetime!
>
>Sue H.
>griswoldjp at gmail.com
>
>
>- Show quoted text -
>
>On Fri, Oct 23, 2009 at 4:17 PM, Marie Smith <empwrn at bellsouth.net> wrote:
>
> > Congratulations. Sounds like it was a difficult situation that wasn't going
> > to get better. Wishing you the best on this new journey. I'll bet your
> > little guy will excel!
> >
> > Marie (mother of Jack, 4 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 Susan Harper
> > > Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2009 7:11 PM
> > > To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)
> > > Subject: [blindkid] Hard Day New Beginning
> > >
> > > It has been a hard day, but I think a positive new beginning.  I finally
> > > slept a peaceful night, the first in a few weeks.  We took our son out
> > > Public School and feel we can't do any worse.  I went to school so
> > excited
> > > that our son had gone from inside the house, out to the porch, down the
> > > steps, then the sidewalk, to the driveway and to the car by himself, with
> > > only a few verbal prompts.  He gets in and out of the car by himself.  He
> > > can take off his coat/s and hang it/them up.  He is just 3 and amazing
> > > with
> > > a cane, his echo and mental mapping skills.  He has learned to trail with
> > > his cane, etc.
> > >      At school, what I observed was my son sitting in a wet sand box,
> > with
> > > his 1:1 aid in front of him and 5 other children in an 8 x 8 sand box in
> > > the
> > > school playground.  He couldn't move, let alone play.  When all the other
> > > children were lining up, my son's aid was helping my son stand up.  He
> > has
> > > excellent motor skills and has never needed help standing up.  As I
> > looked
> > > around for my son's cane, I saw it lying on the ground, outside the
> > > playground fence in the grass.  I picked it up and handed it to my son.
> > > Was
> > > he allowed to use it?  No, it was put in his left hand (after repeated
> > > requests to allow him to use him dominant hand, which he learned to cane
> > > with) and then made to find the side of the building and trail in with
> > his
> > > right hand, instead of using his cane.  By now all the rest of the
> > > children
> > > are long gone.  When he got back to the classroom, his cane was taken
> > from
> > > him and hung up by his aid outside the classroom (even after repeated
> > > requests to keep it in his classroom so he could just grab it on his way
> > > out, like he does at home).  The the O & M person said that in case of an
> > > emergency, he wouldn't need his cane, his aid would make sure he got out.
> > > That was kind of where I lost it.  No I didn't scream and shout, I calmly
> > > collected my twins from their separate classes and left.  I cried and we
> > > (husband and wife) talked and decided to end this madness and home school
> > > our blind child the same as we have the rest of our children.  We
> > couldn't
> > > do any worse.  I wrote a letter and my husband delivered it to the
> > > superintendent.  Best decision I have made in a long time.  Don't know
> > why
> > > I
> > > ever doubted myself.  But one of ours gave me the courage yesterday to do
> > > what I needed done.  She will know who she is.  Thank you!
> > >
> > >      School is a few hours a week.  Family is for a lifetime.
> > >
> > > Blessing and Thanks!
> > > Sue
> > > _______________________________________________
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> >
> >
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