[blindkid] How to answer questions

[Carol Castellano]

I can remember feeling nervous about this when we first found out 
that our daughter was blind, when she was an infant.  I think one of 
the keys to bringing up a well-adjusted blind/VI kid is to make sure 
that they feel and know that they are whole, complete human 
beings.  They are not deficient, inferior, or less able.  As others 
have said, their eyes don't work, or don't work that well.  Learn 
positive language with which to speak about blindness and the 
abilities of blind people.  You'll be teaching your daughter, your 
neighbors, your extended family, too.

How do we make sure that our kids are whole and complete?  We make 
sure that they grow up learning all the skills they need--both visual 
and nonvisual--to handle the tasks of life.  For partially sighted 
kids, this means giving them the freedom to use tactile skills to 
enhance (or replace) vision.  Don't push using vision beyond the 
point of efficiency.

Dr. Fred Schroeder's research has shown that partially sighted people 
who regard themselves as complete blind people as opposed to 
"deficient sighted people" have higher self esteem and more 
fulfilling lives.  This seems to be because they accept and embrace 
the tactile skills that actually enable them to do things.  The lives 
of the other group kept getting narrower and narrower--when their 
vision failed them in task after task, they would stop engaging the 
those tasks.  It's pretty interesting stuff.

So, bottom line, bring up your child with a positive self image and 
the skills for self-sufficiency.  Then she can feel good herself and 
her abilities.  She'll have competence and will be confident.  It's a 
beautiful thing.

Carol

Carol Castellano
President, Parents of Blind Children-NJ
Director of Programs
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
973-377-0976
carol_castellano at verizon.net
www.blindchildren.org
www.nopbc.org

At 02:46 PM 2/2/2012, you wrote:
>My 4 year old daughter is asking questions  that I don't know how to 
>answer. She told me she needs glasses
>Because she doesn't see very well, anihwr to
>W
>She asked why her sister could see the book and she couldn't. I realize
>I need to follow
>Her lead. She wants to talk about it, but I don't know how. I am so 
>afraid of saying
>The wrong thing.
>
>
>Sent from my iPhone
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