[blindkid] To Sign or not To Sign

Sat Feb 23 20:00:41 UTC 2013

Hello all,
Just a reminder that this is a GIRL SCOUT project... My daughter is a very, very good traveler (I'm an O&M instructor via Louisiana Tech - smile).  Thank you all for your input.  I'm sure she will find this very helpful in writing  her research paper.
Merry-Noel

________________________________
 From: Carrie Gilmer <carrie.gilmer at gmail.com>
To: "Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)" <blindkid at nfbnet.org> 
Sent: Saturday, February 23, 2013 12:49 PM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] To Sign or not To Sign

Oooooo~I really like Mark articulating the point of the CHILD having a false sense of security, and that is MUCH worse in the end than a parent having that. Speaking in enth degrees, when discussing this with a parent who is excited at the prospect of another protective layer possible to add for their blind child...i always tried to get the thinking to beyond the block...what then? A sign on every block, silly of course. hmmm maybe the child could wear a vest! Like those ski ones, "blind pedestrian"... I have found that the perceived need for the sign is always based on irrational fears and indicate many other things that need addressing in actuality. And in the end restricting a child based on fear or labeling or instilling a low bar on capability always always harms and damages the child's own sense of normalcy and realistic limits and personal responsibility. in other words if someone says "I am afraid for my child to cross the street"...I say, better
 to be afraid for them Not to...and prepare accordingly
Carrie
Sent from my iPad

On Feb 23, 2013, at 12:31 PM, Mark Feliz <mafeliz0641 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hello Mary-Noel,
> 
> I also agree with the majority of the responses for all of the stated
> reasons. As an educator I always strive for the least restrictive
> environment--whether that be a physical environment or social
> environment. If your daughter possesses the proper training and
> alternative techniques then she is your daughter who happens to be
> blind. Something as seemingly simple as an awareness sign would
> snowball to the enth degree, at minimum it could give your daughter a
> faulse sense of security.
> 
> Mark Feliz
> 
> On 2/22/13, Steve Jacobson <steve.jacobson at visi.com> wrote:
>> My gut feeling is the same as yours.  It seems to me that the "spotlight"
>> effect is going to be greater than the positive effects would be.  The cane
>> should
>> be an adequate notification, I would think.  Remembering my days as a blind
>> kid, I would have been embarrassed to know that there was a sign about
>> me.  As a parent, I know that one tends to try to find anything that can
>> protect our kids, but I agree with other posts that even raise the
>> possibility that
>> pointing out to the world that there is a child that some would think of as
>> vulnerable isn't helpful.  .
>> 
>> Best regards,
>> 
>> Steve Jacobson
>> 
>> 
>> On Fri, 22 Feb 2013 20:41:58 -0600, Carly B wrote:
>> 
>>> Hi Merry-Noel,
>> 
>>> I've thought about this, too. There are a couple of signs on streets near
>>> our own. We have not pursued trying to get a sign for our neighborhood. I
>>> haven't really thought that through, I think it's just a gut feeling that
>>> I
>>> don't want to put more of a spotlight on my child than there already is.
>>> Know what I mean? I'm not really sure the benefits of having a sign...
>> 
>>> Thanks for bringing it up. I look forward to hearing what others think!
>> 
>>> :) Carolynn
>> 
>>> On Fri, Feb 22, 2013 at 7:40 PM, Merry-Noel Chamberlain
>>> <owinm at yahoo.com>wrote:
>> 
>>>> 
>>>>  Hi,
>>>> My daughter, Ashleah, is working on a girl scout project and would like
>>>> to
>>>> know your thoughts about the "Special Needs" sign.  She is blind and
>>>> walks
>>>> to and from school independently.  Do you think having a Special Needs
>>>> sign
>>>> by our house is a good thing?  Why or why not?
>>>> Thanks.
>>>> Merry-Noel
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>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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