[blindkid] To Sign or not To Sign

Merry-Noel Chamberlain owinm at yahoo.com
Sun Feb 24 15:46:55 UTC 2013


This has been a very interesting conversation. I thank everyone for their input in helping Ashleah with her Girl Scout research project. My daughter, Ashleah, is a super traveler. (She has no choice as I am an O&M instructor.)  My husband & I have been discussing this topic ever since buying this house this past summer. It is his old neighborhood of his growing up days. At that time there was a sign for a deaf child. We live four houses from the Middle & Elem. schools and on the street where parents drop off and pick up their children. It can get quite busy- especially in the morning as parents are in a rush to get to work.  Needless to say, my husband  and I have opposite opinions about this topic.  We have discussed this idea with Ashleah, now in 7th grade and walking to school for the first time in her life. Although  we live so close to school, she does need to cross 2 streets/one intersection. Before school, most times, there is a crossing guard but
 afterwards, she enjoys staying later for social activities and, at that time, there is not a crossing guard by the time she leaves school.  I did some research and discovered our town no longer has a special sign for blindness, deafness, or otherwise. Rather, there is a "Caution, Special Needs Child" sign.  Here, the sign can be posted only up to when the child is age 13 or entering Middle School.  Sometimes I'll meet her at school and walk with her home to monitor her street crossing skills..... She used to run to dross the street but now, she is walking... Her confidence is growing!

Merry-Noel


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