[blindkid] Walking in a line/cane use

[Richard Holloway]

Lines are challenging but I think the sooner she can stand in line the same way her sighted peers do, the better. Seems that was more of a focus for our daughter in kindergarten, so I guess around age 5, but age 4 might not be too soon to work on that. A modified grip in line where the cane is not extended very far will be appropriate whenever you start to work on that. Sometimes they pair off all the kids and have them hold hands at that age as well (sighted and otherwise)-- at least I remember that in my son's 3-year-old class. If the other kids are holding hands, that may help your child get around and yet not make her stand out / feel different. They will want to remind the walking partner not to grab her cane hand to hold and she can use the cane and hold hands at the same time that way. (If all the kids are paired off and holding hands, then the question is why your child should not do the same, right?) At age 3 or 4 an aide acting as sighted guide probably won't make the other kids react nearly so much to a grownup being there as it will a few years down the road, but I'd try and move away from that as soon as it seems practical.

As to the classroom, our daughter started off in Montessori school, where all the kids were back-and-forth across the classroom, getting things to work on and putting them away all throughout the day. Nearly all they got and put back required two hands (often a tray of small items) and using a cane would have made it impossible to do unassisted the way the other kids did it so we had her park her cane when she came in from the start. We found she's done very well in classrooms, just as in the house without her cane once she learns the environment. Walking around the school or in the lunchroom or a classroom where she is not familiar with the layout, she uses her cane. I know some others' kids here have found the cane is helpful in the classroom. I don't think there is a right or wrong answer. I think I'd try both ways and see which seems best for your daughter, but make clear to teachers that even if she normally puts her cane by the door, she is to have it available if some reason comes up that she needs it in the classroom.

Good luck,

Richard



On Sep 10, 2010, at 10:07 PM, L wrote:

> Hi All,
> A couple questions!
> #1.  My daughter is almost 4 years old and is in an all day long Headstart 
> preschool program.  They have to walk in a line to and from classes, cafeteria, 
> playground, etc.  How exactly do you help your child/student walk in a line.  Is 
> it appropriate at this age to hold the hand/arm of an aide or teacher or 
> appropriate to hold the shoulder of a 4 year old student in front of you.  These 
> are the two things they are doing now.  Is this how your children learned or is 
> there a better way?  
> 
> #2.  Also, in a small classroom, do your students use their canes throughout the 
> room, or do they hang it at the entrance of the class when they come in.
> Thanks for any input you can give me!
> Laurie 
> 
> 
> 
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