[blindkid] Explaining blindness to a child

[hpscheffer at aol.com]

You do not have to see the whole road ahead, just the first step, then comes the next and so on until you will look back and be in awe on how far you came. 


One day at the time, and be in the present moment, your child will show you.


My best your way,


Heidi








-----Original Message-----
From: Mario and Dina <dinamario at comcast.net>
To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children) <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thu, Sep 16, 2010 5:46 pm
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Explaining blindness to a child


Thank you both for responding.  I do feel like it is our own fears that are 
overwhelming us, as if it is the start of a journey into an unknown land but we 
don't know how to take the first step.

It's good to know others are out there.

Dina
On Sep 15, 2010, at 1:28 PM, Susie Cooper wrote:

> I agree.  My son is 9 now but he started to loose his sight when he was 5.  
From 
> the beginning we have been truthful with him and have told him that he can 
still 
> do whatever he wants and we will back him up in whatever he wants to do.  I 
feel 
> the communication with your child is the most important one.
> 
> Best of Luck!
> 
> Susie Cooper
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ________________________________
> From: Kim Cunningham <kim at gulfimagesphoto.com>
> To: (for parents of blind children)NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List 
> <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wed, September 15, 2010 12:16:57 PM
> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Explaining blindness to a child
> 
> I know this is a hard time for your family. When parents hear the word "blind" 

> and their child in the same sentence, it can be overwhelming. It's important 
to 
> know that what we perceive blindness to be, is actually not at all what it 
means 
> to be blind. The unknow in any situation in life is scary. You have come to a 
> great group of parents who can answer most any questions you have. Your nephew 

> is still very young and should adapt to his situation easier than his parents 
> will. My suggestion would be to present his condition to him truthfully and 
> without fear. You will find that his life will be limitless if you truly 
believe 
> in his abilities. When most four year olds ask questions, parents don't need 
to 
> go into great depth as you will lose their attention. Most of the time, simple 

> sentences will work. Maybe you can present braille books and adapted games to 
> let him know he will have different choices to make for playtime and school. 
He 
> will still be able
> to have fun and learn. 
> Even though my daughter was born blind, there were times when she also had 
> questions about her blindness. I always tried to be positive and honest.
> I recommend visiting www.nfb.org. There are many links to answer questions for 

> new parents. 
> 
> Kim Cunningham
> 
> 
> --- On Wed, 9/15/10, Mario and Dina <dinamario at comcast.net> wrote:
> 
> 
> From: Mario and Dina <dinamario at comcast.net>
> Subject: [blindkid] Explaining blindness to a child
> To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
> Date: Wednesday, September 15, 2010, 1:08 PM
> 
> 
> My 4 year old nephew is rapidly losing his vision.  The doctors cannot figure 
> out why other than his optic nerves are atrophied and it looks as though there 

> is nothing to be done.  We are imaging the day when his sight goes completely.  

> We really need to hear from parents who have gone through this and can help us 

> figure out how to explain it to him.  This has happened very quickly and we 
can 
> hardly explain it to ourselves much less a 4 year old.
> 
> Can anyone share their story with us?
> 
> Thank you!
> _______________________________________________
> 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/kim%40gulfimagesphoto.com
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 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/scooper1218%40yahoo.com
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 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/dinamario%40comcast.net


_______________________________________________
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/hpscheffer%40aol.com