[blindkid] alternative parenting guide

Thu Jul 22 02:06:35 UTC 2010

I think many of us sighted parents of blind children would be very 
interested in hearing about this and other sources of information on 
parenting as a blind adult, just as we are interested in hearing the 
firsthand experiences of our blind Federation friends.  The more 
parents know about the techniques used, the more we will be able to 
bring our kids up with full expectations for their future life.  If 
we learn or learn about the techniques, then when questions come up, 
we'll be able to reassure both ourselves and our kids that it can be done!

Carol

At 05:41 PM 7/21/2010, you wrote:
>Carol,
>
>Laurie and I were just about to recommend this book. I haven't read 
>the entire thing, but what I did read was excellent. Not just 
>another boring "textbook", it is full of actual typs from real blind parents.
>I know it is available via Bookshare as well.
>
>Steve
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Carol Castellano" 
><blindchildren at verizon.net>
>To: "Sherry DeFrancesco" <sdefrancesco at optonline.net>; "NFBnet Blind 
>Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 2:53 PM
>Subject: Re: [blindkid] alternative parenting guide
>
>
>>Sherry,
>>
>>I just came across this resource on the web--it may be just what you
>>are looking for to satisfy the powers that be.  If you get it and
>>read it, let us know what you think.  Here is the
>>link:  http://www.accessible-devices.com/parentingGuide.html
>>
>>Here is a bit from the site:
>>
>>Resource Guide For Parents Who Are Blind or visually Impaired
>>
>>New Resource Guide for Parents who are Blind or Partially Sighted
>>Berkeley, California. September 7, 2006
>>Through the Looking Glass and its National Resource Center for
>>Parents with Disabilities are proud to announce the release of the
>>first comprehensive resource guide for parents who are blind or
>>partially sighted. The new 212 page "Hands-On Parenting: A Resource
>>Guide for Parents who are Blind or Partially Sighted" provides a wide
>>range of practical information, adaptations and resources for parents
>>who are blind or partially sighted.
>>
>>Carol
>>At 02:28 PM 7/21/2010, you wrote:
>>>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
>>>
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>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:
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>>
>>Carol Castellano
>>National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
>>973-377-0976
>>carol_castellano at verizon.net
>>www.nopbc.org
>>_______________________________________________
>>blindkid mailing list
>>blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
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>
>
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Carol Castellano
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
973-377-0976
carol_castellano at verizon.net
www.nopbc.org  