[blindkid] More than just blindness

David Hammel dhammelia at aol.com
Tue Jul 1 15:39:07 UTC 2014


We have twin boys 12 years old that are blind and autistic. Jesse is nonverbal. Paul talks but mainly about his schedule. There are a number of us. My wife is on a weekly conference call with other parents of blind autistic children. 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jun 30, 2014, at 7:19 AM, Lalena Fayre via blindkid <blindkid at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> As I read through my latest issue of Future Reflections, I was struck with
> a further sense of isolation. The same holds true when I read this listserv
> and review the agenda of the upcoming national conference.
> 
> My son is totally blind with multiple other disabilities - nonverbal and
> global developmental delays that impact every area. I'm fortunate to have a
> good foundation and understanding of blindness education. But when you add
> the other issues to the blindness, one is struck with how much blindness
> complicates things. For example, typical adaptive communication devices are
> vision based. Another, pre-Braille work is important but after 3 years of
> it and no significant progress made, you are forced to deal with functional
> skill development which the therapist don't know how to do with a blind
> child, let allow a blind cognitively delayed child.
> 
> I turn to the NFB for support and resources, yet publications are full of
> typically developed children who happen to be blind. I call my local
> organizations here in the bay area (which I know are inline with NFB
> philosophy) looking for social opportunities for my son, but he can't
> participate because of his developmental delays.
> 
> At the end of the day I'm left wondering......am I the only parent of a
> child with multiple disabilities, developmental delays, AND blindness? Are
> the majority of blind child typically developed? And where do I turn for a
> network of parents who may understand?
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