[blindkid] learning braille and print

[Karen Leinart]

Amy,

Our son did not get Braille without a fight.  I was told that no child with
albinism has ever needed braille, that even if he learned it he'd never use
it, he would always read it visually, he was a visual learner, etc.  I know
many have heard all of those excuses.  The federation was very helpful in
my fight.  They helped me get independent evaluations and recommendations,
and provided an advocate. We got the braille goals added to the IEP, and
ultimately, my son was placed in a resource program for blind kids at a
different school district.  Although he was getting braille, I think
initially they still didn't believe it was necessary.  But when he started
having eye fatigue issues mid-year in first grade, their perspective seemed
to change.  His schedule was adjusted to provide more braille education,
and he made more progress.  At this point, his TVI is very much on board
with him being a braille reader, and she wants him to be successful at it.
 In my opinion, that is also part of "the fight"... you not only have to
get the goals in the IEP, you have to get teachers that want to make it
work.
Karen

> From: amydarlington at comcast.net
> To: "Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)" <
> blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> Cc:
> Date: Sun, 1 Jul 2012 02:11:30 +0000 (UTC)
> Subject: Re: [blindkid] learning braille & print?
> Our daughter also has albinism and is 20/200 (also field delay). She's 4
> and will be starting kindergarten in the fall.
>
> Karen, I'm wondering how your son got Braille. Did your TVI and state
> organization for blind support the dual media approach? We do not have
> support here at all. I know legally they have to unless they can prove
> Braille is not necessary currently (and in future). But it doesn't happen
> for the low vision kids unless the families here take legal action. And
> also I get the sense that at some point a choice has to be made between
> Braille and print. What was it like for you in the early years when your
> son was starting school? I would love to hear more, as what you described
> happening for your son (with adapting to Braille) is what we are hoping for
> our daughter.
>
> We are approaching Braille at home, and low vision aids for school. But we
> are also considering homeschooling as it offers the ability to adapt to
> needs. We already homeschool our son. I just wish it was not such a
> struggle to get kids what they need in the school system.
>
> Amy
>
>