[blindkid] Rolling tip
Marie
empwrn at bellsouth.net
Wed Sep 22 20:50:51 UTC 2010
Hey all, I wanted to tell you that we have decided to stick with the NFB
cane with the metal gliding tip for now. I have ordered a longer one that
will be up to his forehead as suggested by Heather.
In case any of you other parents have the same type of questions I had or
don't know what questions you want to ask as I did when I began my search.
Here are a couple facts for you.....
--Cane tips apparently come in two types--hook on or slip on BUT
--Cane tips are made by each specific manufacturer to fit their own canes.
There, apparently, is not an industry standard cane diameter or hook type so
the manufacturers I spoke with would only guarrantee their cane tip fitting
their cane.
--The rolling ball tip only rotates from side to side. The folks at Ambutech
refused to say whether the rolling ball glides easily forward although their
website clearly states that it maneuvers easily over sidewalk cracks and
grass. The Ambutech representative is quick to say that they can only state
that their tip is an effective tool for constant contact use when the cane
is used in a side to side forward sweeping motion. I asked if it was
difficult for a beginning cane user who does a lot of plain old forward
motion to use and the representative told me to contact an O & M instructor
for the answer.
Marie (mother of Jack, born May 2005)
Check out our blog at http://www.allaccesspasstojack.blogspot.com for
glimpses into our busy life with a boy who is busy growing and developing in
his own way in his own time
-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Holloway [mailto:rholloway at gopbc.org]
Sent: Wednesday, September 22, 2010 12:53 PM
To: empwrn at bellsouth.net; NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of
blind children)
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Rolling tip
I agree with Marie.
Even if you previously agreed to back away and let them guide things for
whatever reason, you're still the parent. You tried what they wanted and you
decided you no longer wish to. If they find that inconvenient, well, that's
a shame for them. The arrogance of the school systems never fails to amaze
me, especially where blind kids are concerned. The don't get to pick your
child's cane for you anymore than they can select her lunch for her or
choose her shoes or clothes-- or maybe tell you what sort of car to drive or
house to live in. Her cane is a personal choice. One day. she'll make that
choice on her own, but for now, you get to decide for her-- NOT the school,
her O&M instructor, etc.
I wonder of they are also trying to regulate the brands and styles of
walkers or crutches or even wheelchairs (or any other assistive equipment)
which other students may require. I don't know what it is about canes, but
for some reason, various "professionals" seem to think they have some right
to tell blind people what sort of canes they "must" use or sometimes even
when they can use them at all. I say you should use what suits you and
change only if and when you decide on a better option.
Lots of parents of countless children (a few blind but most sighted) make
decisions I disagree with all of the time. I suspect that applies to many of
us here-- I have three kids and those are the ones I get to make decisions
about, period. Others can recommend things but my wife and I are the bosses
with our three youngsters.
There are many things worth discussing here and you have plenty of good
reasons to be frustrated, but to begin with, I'd try to be calm and polite,
yet one way or another (informally if it is possible or by way of an IEP if
not) I'd make the people you're dealing with aware that just like with every
other child in the school, you are this child's parent and you'll be the one
making certain decisions.
I think these professionals sometimes forget (as we have discussed before in
our own IEP meetings) that the children and their parents are the ones
dealing with solutions for these kids 24/7, from now until adulthood, and
these choices can effect the kids for life. Professionals come and go and
even those few who stay around for many years are still only "part time" in
the kids lives. They need to understand that and respect it, even when they
disagree with parent choices.
Richard
On Sep 22, 2010, at 1:09 PM, Marie wrote:
> Please go to wrightslaw.com. They have lots of great training on being
your child's advocate for a variety of IEP needs.
>
> About the FVA/LMA. Torrie has had a significant change according to a
doctor's report. That alone is enough to get a new assessment.
>
> I hope that you are able to work things out with the school but please do
not feel trapped by them. You will make more impact in Torrie's life than
they will. Seek information from this list and those school people, doctors,
and other therapists and after you feel fully informed, make the best
decision you can. You do not have to follow their plan especially if you
believe it is unsafe.
>
> Marie (mother of Jack born May 2005)
> See glimpses of life with my determined son who is developing in his own
way at his own time at http://allaccesspasstojack.blogspot.com
> Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Doreen Franklin <doreenproverbs3 at bellsouth.net>
> Sender: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org
> Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2010 08:13:07
> To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,\(for parents of blind
children\)<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> Reply-To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,
> \(for parents of blind children\)" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Rolling tip
>
> Heather and others ....
>
> This is the other Doreen, from FL -- interesting that there are 2
Doreen's on
> this list ... I have the kindergartener with the ambutech cane. I have a
> "stupid" question .... we are continuing to have problems with our
district --
> very long story but at least we now have a CERTIFIED (COMS) O&M instructor
so I
> am thankful for that!
>
> Here is our history: Torrie just turned 6 and she just started a
kindergarten
> class; she was in a pre-k class last year thru the district. My hubby and
I put
> the cane in our daughter's hands back in March 2009. It was an NFB light
cane
> which she was able to use, but did get stuck in the cracks as well as on
> the grass. It was suggested by a different O&M instructor (one from FL
State
> University which is the university teaching vis disabilities) to get an
ambutech
> because the rolling tip was easier in many settings, although the cane
> was heavier. Torrie did not have instruction from the district until April
2010
> - another long story -- but was able to use it and fold it! Her first O&M
> instructor (different from this certified one above) taught her diagonal
> technique only and she is using that one everywhere, but on the playground
she
> is learning 2-touch. (We have a screwed up system and I have been told to
let
> the "professionals" do the teaching and that my "technical assistance" is
not
> needed ... go figure that one out! I am trying to "obey" but it is
difficult
> knowing my child is not safe. I have asked for instruction/cues so that we
can
> reinforce at home and even that is "hard" to get!). Torrie received a
> new Ambutech cane in August, which is too heavy for her and she has no
upper
> body strength to fold it ... unsure if that is even being addressed at
school.
> I have a longer NFB cane for her which is clearly much lighter but I am
not
> sure the "what" she is being taught -- if she is being taught to feel the
> feedback from the cane because she does use whatever limited sight she
has. She
> has had shades on with the cane and THAT is when she can actually use her
other
> senses for feedback from the cane. I suggested the shade to her old O&M,
but it
> was disregarded. her visual acuity has decreased from 20/70-80 in March
2009 to
> 20/800 in July 2010 --near vision; distance went from 20/100-125 in March
09 to
> 20/400 in July 10). She also has numerous other conditions including false
> lenses for the cataracts which were removed, nystagmus, and high bilateral
> myopia (which might be degenerative). There are a few more things, but
those
> interfere with her reading. I cannot get a new FVA or LMA until December!
>
> Question .... with being told to basically back off, how do we get around
the
> length and weight of the cane? How do I propose it that maybe the NFB cane
is
> better? That she should be under shades for O&M instrux at school to help
her
> gain her confidence in the cane? I personally think she needs to use
constant
> contact (which is in the IEP) but don't even know how to approach any
direction
> from me to the O&M. More FYI ... we are and are not part of the IEP team
... we
> have been told several times that we are not the "professionals", but I do
know
> more than most about my daughters vision and what she can and cannot do,
but no
> one wants to listen to us -- Yes, I am the 'problem' mom who is looking
for all
> the tools for my daughter to have and to know how to use those tools
correctly.
> I have not even had an "introductory" call or email from the new O&M ...
which
> does bother me. No info coming home from TVI or O&M on services rendered
to my
> daughter ... I have rely on the 6-yr old! I know .... We have an IEP
scheduled
> for next Wed and I want to write in that reports will come to me after
services
> with what was done with my child. She is getting bare minimum for services
and
> service times!
>
>
> We are in a new school, and the only "returning" member from my old team
is the
> TVI and she is not even "recognizing" that my daughter's visual acuity
> drastically decreased (per the ophthalmologist from Bascom Palmer that
we've
> been seeing for the last 4 yrs! they have even done further testing on her
to
> see why the acuity decreased and her pressures are high (no sign of
glaucoma per
> the photos at this point). The TVI told me that Torrie "can see a lizard
on the
> ground and can find the O&M at 10 feet away" ... everything I brought up
to her
> she literally refuted! My daughter did not even recognize me when I
surprised
> her for lunch and she could not tell which of her friends sat next to her
--
> both situations she was about 2-3 feet away from our faces. She cannot
discern
> things on my cedar chest unless she is RIGHT ON TOP OF IT ... and her
friends
> could tell things at 10 and 6 feet away. When she is reading large print
(40
> and 48 font sentences I make up and have her tell me the letters), the
paper is
> ON her right lens of her glasses and she is not using her left eye (she
has no
> convergence either). She also does not get all of the letters correct.
When she
> comes home, she is fatigued and very stressed. Doing the 1-2 pages of
homework
> is difficult, and last night, I decided we would do it over the weekend
when she
> is "fresh" and not stressed from school. She has behavioral problems which
we
> have been dealing with for the last year, and with school starting again 4
weeks
> ago, her tantrums have increased (i know why but cannot get her to talk to
us or
> a therapist we are seeing). She literally wants to see like us is what she
tells
> me and she HATES her cane. The common sense things I tell her are jsut
words to
> her .... She has said she is "AFRAID" that the teacher will yell if she
tells
> the teacher she cannot see or needs to rest her eyes! How scary is that
.... but
> that is the PTSD I believe.
>
> I know this is a lengthy way of asking how to persuade the district to at
least
> listen to me and "consider" what we are asking/saying. Should I have her
use the
> ambutech at school and the NFB one at home? Will that screw her up? (She
is
> smart but she also has ADHD issues and PTSD, and there may be
autism/aspergers).
> What are my "options" at this point ... I don't know how to approach this
so
> that Torrie can benefit without me becoming "the bad mother" even worse
than I
> am perceived at this point.
>
>
> Any and all help and suggestions would greatly be appreciated. I know we
> actually have rights but most times, we don't feel like they even want our
> input, and unfortunately, Torrie is the one suffering! I am very thankful
for
> this list ... it is awesome!!!!
>
> Doreen in Florida
> mom to Torrie and Bryanna
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: H. Field <missheather at comcast.net>
> To: empwrn at bellsouth.net; "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of
blind
> children)" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tue, September 21, 2010 8:52:14 PM
> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Rolling tip
>
> Hello Marie,
> In my experience as a blind person and an educator of young blind
> children I have always found the NFB canes to be best for little ones
> as they are so sensitive with the metal tip and are also light. They
> work well for constant contact and lots of adults use a combination of
> constant contact and tap-tap. I would get Jack a cane that comes up to
> his forhead. This means that he will have plenty of warning when his
> cane tip touches something and, I have found, that when boys learn
> they have plenty of stopping time they tend to move about more
> quickly. Also, the length will mean that he can use his cane with a
> relaxed right arm down by his hip and will still have plenty of length
> to ensure that he is able to cover his body width. It will also mean
> that you won't have to get a new cane quite so soon.
>
> I personally don't walk around with my arm in front of my stomach and
> trying to swing a cane from the middle of my body. This is incredibly
> uncomfortable and inevitably the cane gets caught on something and
> pokes one in the stomach. If one hurries about like I do such pokes
> are extremely hard and uncomfortable. I use my cane by my right side
> much as you are reporting Jack likes to do. There is much debate "in
> the field" about O&M for children but much of it is based on people's
> personal opinion and I'm not aware of any well controlled,
> longitudinal studies which have examined the effects of various early
> cane type or technique on the adult mobility of functionally blind
> cane users. As a blind person I consider myself the expert on what
> things work for me personally. I would encourage you to watch what
> works for Jack (within age-appropriate norms) and just give him plenty
> of opportunities to develop independent, self-initiated confident
> movement.
>
> Some folks like the rolling tips for young dchildren as they are
> heavier and tend to keep the cane on the ground more. However, they
> are nowhere near as sensitive in terms of the feedback they give a
> cane user and, in my experience, it has been better simply to teach
> the child to keep their cane on the ground and let them get all the
> added feedback from the metal tip. Again, I'm sure there are those who
> will disagree with me but, I have found, most of them are sighted and
> do not use a cane to make their way through a tactile world where the
> smallest amount of extra information can make the hugest difference.
>
> You can get a free cane for Jack every 6 months from the NFB website.
> I would encourage you to go ahead and get him a new, light, long cane
> there. You could also get him the other type and give him experience
> with both. However, I wouldn't let him make the choice yet as to which
> cane he used exclusively. He is too young to realise all the info his
> roller tip cane isn't give him. Instead give him opportunities to use
> both.
>
> I wouldn't fret about not having an O&M instructor; being mobile and
> oriented as a blind person moving through the world is 90% confidence
> and belief in one's self and 10% skills. I've never had a formal O&M
> lesson in my life and I'm am a confident and competent traveller.
>
> Happy trails with your young, cane-wielding adventurer.
>
> Warmly,
>
> Heather
>
>
> --- Original Message -----
> From: "Marie" <empwrn at bellsouth.net>
> To: "Blindkid email" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 6:48 PM
> Subject: [blindkid] Rolling tip
>
>
> Hello everyone,
> Jack is growing so fast that it's time to get him another cane. We are
> thinking that we will get him a slightly longer one this time and were
> hoping to get one with a rolling tip or buy a rolling tip. With Jack's
> small hands and his modified grasp he gets very fatigued attempting to
> tap tap and tends to do constant contact with his cane. We thought a
> roller tip might be a bit more conducive to constant contact. We also
> thought we might get a longer one since when his grip fatigues, he
> tends to put the cane between his right hand and right hip to hold it.
> A longer cane would make this a bit easier. He actually does more side
> to side sweeping holding the cane this way--hard to explain but it
> works for him.
>
> And no we don't have an O & M instructor. We lost our school services
> when we decided to keep him in preschool this year.
>
> So anyone know where I can get a straight unfolding cane with a
> rolling tip or know where I can buy a rolling tip to fit a straight
> unfolding cane...I did not see any at the NFB store but if it's there
> somebody please point me in the right direction.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Marie (mother of Jack born May 2005)
> See glimpses of life with my determined son who is developing in his
> own way at his own time at http://allaccesspasstojack.blogspot.com
> Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
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