[blindkid] Independence Day

[Debby B]

Terrific, Holly! I love seeing those major growths in independence. Convention, 
with it's accompanying large numbers of other blind people, does wonders for our 
kids. My daughter is around other blind kids some, and my best friend is blind, 
but there is nothing like that large group of peers to share info and notes 
with, to challenge our children to go even further. Hated missing this year.  We 
can't wait for convention in FL next year, we will there!

 Debby
bwbddl at yahoo.com


Daniel's mission trip: www.reignministries.org/sponsor-rs
or Reign Ministries, 5401 W. Broadway Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55428




________________________________
From: holly miller <hollym12 at gmail.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)" 
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Fri, July 16, 2010 10:51:58 AM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Independence Day

Wonderful news!

Getting out of the normal routine can do wonders for independence.  I'll
admit we can be homebodies here and day to day there aren't always a lot of
new experiences. Not because of Hank's blindness, we were like that
pre-Hank.  Going to convention did a world of good for him (and me!). A week
of navigating a huge hotel and constant cane use.  By the 2nd day, he was
grabbing his cane automatically when we went out of the room without the
usual "Do I HAVE to take my cane??" whining.  By the 3rd day, he was buzzing
around the hotel so fast I had a hard time keeping up with him!  Much
different than the kid 6 months ago that wanted to hold my hand even when he
was using his cane and when not holding my hand would try to keep himself a
half step behind me so he knew exactly where I was at all times.

He had an O&M lesson a week before Convention and he had one 2 days ago at
our local mall.  His O&M instructor couldn't get over the difference in just
that short time.  She remarked at how much more confidence he had, how much
more relaxed he looked (no scrunched up shoulders and scuffing feet) again
zipping along 5-10 feet in front of us and rarely looking back to make sure
we were close by.  She even commented that if he was going
to consistently have such a fast pace, he was going to need a longer cane!
I knew that already but it was awesome to hear *her* say it!

Holly



On Fri, Jul 16, 2010 at 10:24 AM, Susan Harper <
sueharper at firstchurchgriswold.org> wrote:

> Hi All,
>
>     We are almost three weeks into our around the country RV trip.  We have
> been to Quebec Province, down through Ontario, into Niagara Falls New York
> and are presently spending the weekend with cousins in Mayville New york.
> Our boys turn 4 tomorrow.  Wonder where the time went.
>
>     What I really wanted to share was Vinnie's continuing push, ours and
> his, for independence.   Vinnie has been to many new places and
> environments
> to orient to on our journey, which has been a plus to see him explore and
> use his cane more efficiently.  Like anything, there has to be a reason in
> order to want to achieve something.  He asked me to, "let go my hand", and
> proceeded to walk by himself.  Generally he wants to hold my finger in new
> places especially, so this was exciting.  He is also orienting better to
> the
> sounds of our family and able to stray a ways, supervised of course, and
> come back on his own.  He orients quite well to the clicker we started
> using
> a couple of months ago, so I don't have to constantly talk to keep him on
> track when out walking or in a crowd.  Our boy is growing up!
>
>     Have a great weekend all.
>
> Blessings from Mayville New York,
> Sue H.
> _______________________________________________
> blindkid mailing list
> blindkid at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> blindkid:
>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/hollym12%40gmail.com
>



-- 
http://www.raceforindependence.org/goto/Hank
_______________________________________________
blindkid mailing list
blindkid at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for blindkid:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/bwbddl%40yahoo.com