[blindkid] Walking in a line/cane use

[Merry-Noel Chamberlain]

Carol & Laurie,
I ditto what Carol said about walking in line.  That's the way I teach it to my students.
 
Carol - I LOVE the Velcro idea!!!  In the classroom Ashleah has always been able to put it beside her the past three years since she had been sitting at the end of the row but this year, the teacher put her in the middle of the classroom and the cane has been a 'distraction to the other students" when it was wedged in between the desks and fall over.  But, now I'm going to bring Velcro to school.  Thanks!
 
Merry-Noel Chamberlain, NOMCT

--- On Sat, 9/11/10, Carol Castellano <blindchildren at verizon.net> wrote:


From: Carol Castellano <blindchildren at verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Walking in a line/cane use
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Date: Saturday, September 11, 2010, 3:19 PM


Hi Laurie,

Here is how I've seen older blind kids and adults walk in line:
   * Hold the cane in a "choked up" position so that it is not as extended as usual (adults use the "pencil grip" for this--a 4-yr-old would not have the motor skills yet for that grip)
   * Touch the cane lightly to the back of the shoe of the person in front of you in line
   * Pay attention to when their foot moves forward
   * Pay attention to the sounds of bodies moving and voices moving
   * Move forward when the foot and voices move forward
This is what you'd be aiming for, so you could start with teaching your daughter the components of these skills. I would not use holding on to someone's shoulder.

For the classroom, in the early grades we stood the cane straight up attached Serena's desk with a piece of velcro or that blue sticky stuff (name escapes me) that you can use to put up posters, etc. (teachers would know!).  It seemed to us that altho she became familiar with each classroom, she still was able to walk more confidently to each place using the cane.  Also was able to get places without needing to touch other kids' desks, etc.

When she was older she would just stash the cane under her desk as she does now as an adult.

Carol

At 10:07 PM 9/10/2010, you 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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Carol Castellano
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
973-377-0976
carol_castellano at verizon.net
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