[blindkid] Walking in a line/cane use

[Samantha Parker]

I would have said the exact same thing one year ago.  But today, at 5, my daughter has picked up the pace and has learned how to sweep and find the edge (sidewalk edge, wall, ect) and walk straight...for Bev, it was an age/confidence/practice thing.  She's certainly not running marathons at this point, but she is no longer the slowest member of our family (she beats our toddler!)
Blessings,
Sam

--- On Mon, 9/13/10, Kathy B <burgawicki at yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Kathy B <burgawicki at yahoo.com>
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: Monday, September 13, 2010, 12:02 PM

Hi-

My daughter (4) totally blind has to hang her cane up at the door of her 
classroom.  She does pretty well with her cane except snails pass her by and she 
doesn't know how to walk in a STRAIGHT line.  Does anyone have any suggestions 
on how to teach her to pick up the pace and not to walk like a drunken sailer 
(smile).

Thanks,
Kathy




________________________________
From: Carol Castellano <blindchildren at verizon.net>
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)" 
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sat, September 11, 2010 11:19:23 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
> 
> 
> 
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>t

Carol Castellano
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
973-377-0976
carol_castellano at verizon.net
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