[blindkid] Walking in a line/cane use

[Sally Thomas]

The O&M instructor at our school used some PVC pipe attached to a desk with 
zip strips for cane storage.  This seems to stay attached better than Velcro 
did.  We had trouble with the Velcro coming off and leaving a sticky spot on 
things.  With all solutions, your mileage may vary.  I thought I'd add this 
as it has worked for my son.

Sally Thomas
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Carol Castellano" <blindchildren at verizon.net>
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)" 
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, September 11, 2010 10:19 AM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Walking in a line/cane use


> 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
>>
>>
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>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:
>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/blindchildren%40verizon.net
>
> 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
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> blindkid:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/seacknit%40gmail.com