[blindkid] Walking in a line/cane use

[Carol Castellano]

Do you know if your daughter is using her hearing at all during her 
ambulation?  For ex., automatically hearing her distance from the 
walls of the hallway?  This is one way she'll eventually be able to 
walk in a straight line.  (A blind person using hearing can easily 
center him/herself in a hallway.)  When the hall is empty, perhaps 
you can see if she is doing this or can do it.  You could point  it 
out to her if she is not aware.

Carol

At 01:02 PM 9/13/2010, you wrote:
>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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Carol Castellano
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
973-377-0976
carol_castellano at verizon.net
www.nopbc.org