[blindkid] Wii Device Teaches Visually Impaired to WalkwithCanes

[Albert J Rizzi]

you see there is the difference, parents want their children to have as many
options and tools to build independence  so that one day they can be strong
in all the skills they need to be the best they can be. the more tools the
better and unless and until one is a parent we can never question what a
parent will or will not do for the child they love and nurture every day.




Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
CEO/Founder
My Blind Spot, Inc.
90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
New York, New York  10004
www.myblindspot.org
PH: 917-553-0347
Fax: 212-858-5759
"The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
doing it."


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-----Original Message-----
From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Mike Freeman
Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2010 1:27 AM
To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Wii Device Teaches Visually Impaired to
WalkwithCanes

Richard:

I'm going to go out on a limb here: I suspect that your daughter will 
*never* travel in as straight a line as you might wish. I know many a 
sighted person who has an absolute hizzy-fit if I deviate from what they 
perceive to be a straight line by more than a few millimeters! Ignored in 
all this is the (to me) relevant question: did I get where I was going 
more-or-less intact? The answer is usually yes.

A treadmill is a great device for exercise and a great way to read a talking

book while doing that hateful thing of exercise (I'd much rather read than 
exercise). But obviously I would never claim any benefit for mobility other 
than building up stamina!

As I say, I think there's no further point in my discussing the issue. I 
guess were I a parent, I'd be *very* skeptical of *any* claims. Perhaps 
that's my cynical nature. (smile)

Peace!

Mike

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard Holloway" <rholloway at gopbc.org>
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)" 
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, June 07, 2010 8:18 PM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Wii Device Teaches Visually Impaired to 
WalkwithCanes


> Your point is well taken Mike, but I suggest that any tool that may  offer

> a chance to isolate even one particular aspect of an activity  that some 
> find challenging or frustrating (such a can travel) and  offer a chance to

> improve that area may be useful and helpful for  some. My daughter, and I 
> suspect many of our kids who are cane  travelers, could certainly stand to

> improve her straight-line travel,  just like she needs to learn to swim in

> a straight line.
>
> What about just walking on a treadmill? Could we not make similar 
> arguments against using those? Where is the skill and challenge and 
> delightful experience of going for a walk on a treadmill? My daughter 
> loves to use a treadmill, but she doesn't use a cane for that (for  what I

> suspect are obvious reasons). That doesn't make that a bad  thing for her.

> In fact what it does is allows her to walk and build  muscle strength and 
> stamina far faster than when walking (at a much  slower pace) with her 
> cane.
>
> For my daughter, I say whatever helps any piece of her mobility  advance 
> is a good thing-- I know over time all these components will  mesh 
> together and all serve to help her become more independent and 
> successful.
>
> Richard
>
>
>
>
> On Jun 7, 2010, at 10:40 PM, Mike Freeman wrote:
>
>> I think part of the problem here is that those of us who oppose the  WII 
>> device are not making the reasons for our opposition clear -- at  least 
>> this applies to me. Use of a cane implies active determination  of 
>> terrain; ups and downs and textures tell us quite a bit about  what's 
>> around us and where we are with respect to our surroundings.  The WII 
>> device would give no such information so is, in our view,  almost worse 
>> than useless, however "fun" the device may be. One is  certainly 
>> practicing a skill when using the device but it surely  isn't cane 
>> travel.
>>
>> Mike
>
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