[blindkid] alternative parenting guide

[Sherry DeFrancesco]

Hi Holly, 

Thank you for all of your suggestions, they are in fact good ones. We are way past the homestudy stage and in fact have received U.S. immigration approval. It is the country adoption officials asking for more info. We have provided pages and pages of resources and information about everything imaginable about blindness. They are requesting  are specific step by step parenting  skills that we need to provide. I was seeking something published to back up our letters. 

Again, thank you. It's so nice to hear that you got through the adoption process successfully. My hubby and I are totally blind and the country restrictions include blindness as a "NO," so we are requesting a waiver. 

Thanks again, Sherry 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: holly miller 
  To: Sherry DeFrancesco ; NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children) 
  Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 12:48 AM
  Subject: Re: [blindkid] alternative parenting guide


  Hi Sherry!
  Our younger son is adopted from China & has Albinism.  I'm always thrilled to hear about more kids finding families!
  While no blind parent should have to jump through hoops to be allowed to parent, potential adoptive parents have a lot of hoop jumping to do, just the nature of the beast.  Even if you know what to do on your own, showing that you have taken the time to seek out resources, that you have a plan and have sources of support and advice to turn to will make for a good home study :smile


  You will do fine with some old fashioned common sense but you are right, the social workers and the paperwork pushers like to have reassurances.  We had to provide specific examples of how we would handle Hank being blind and what resources we had available, both medical and educational.  This is something they ask of all prospective parents (rightly so!)  


  In my opinion, things a social worker will like to hear is that you are a NFB and/or POBC member and you have befriended other blind parents.  If you don't typically go to chapter meetings, try to get to some in the near future so you can say you attend.  If you are on close terms with another blind parent, use them as one of your references (assuming you know each other well enough for that)   Or perhaps see if another blind parent is willing to write a letter stating you are welcome to call on them for mentoring and advice.  Belonging to online groups like this can be phrased as being a member of a blind-parent and parent of blind children support groups.  If there aren't books out there specifically targeting blind parents, be able to reference the books on educating blind children like Carol's "Making it Work" & Joe Cutter's O&M book.  


  Think about it like writing a resume.  You never want to lie but you certainly want to project the best image of yourself as possible. 


  Best of luck!
  Holly
  aka Hank's mom





  On Wed, Jul 21, 2010 at 12:07 AM, Sherry DeFrancesco <sdefrancesco at optonline.net> wrote:

    Hi Steve and Laurie,

    Thank you. We too feel confident in our ability to parent. I enjoyed hearing about your family. Best to the both of you with your upcoming bundle of joy!

    Thanks for your good wishes.
    Sherry