[blindkid] Which Direction Should I Go?

[Marianne Denning]

Have you considered that he has a cortical visual impairment? Another thought, have you taken him to an ophthalmologist who can give a visual fields test.  I am a TVI in Ohio who is also blind.  If an individual is running into things and tripping over things that would suggest a visual field loss.  It is very difficult to recommend if he should learn braille or other nonvisual techniques without some additional medical information. I would also recommend the National Reading Media Assessment so you could determine if he should learn braille.   

I will be glad to communicate with you further off of the list if you want that.  My email address is marianne at denningweb.com.

 

-----Original Message-----
From: blindkid [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Haley Dare via blindkid
Sent: Monday, January 19, 2015 4:39 PM
To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
Subject: [blindkid] Which Direction Should I Go?

 Good afternoon,
I haven't posted to this listserve before, but I am seeking some direction...hopefully, someone out there has a child who is experiencing the same type of problems as my son and can give me some advice.  Okay, here goes...
My 8 year old has been dx with amblyopia, huge refractive error, strabismus, accommodative esotropia, and a problematic visual processing disorder.  He wears very strong glasses with a bifocal/magnifier in the bottom.  We don't know how well he sees peripherally, but we know that his acuity is 20/400 in his bad eye, and 20/35 in his good eye with correction.  Our ophthalmologist says his eyes are structurally healthy and that none of these problems cause "blindness", but my son's behavior suggests otherwise.
He walkes into the sides of the wall, misses changes in the terrain, panics about leaving the house, and won't go out in the dark (or a cloudy day), falls over toys or items that are right in front of him and acts very clingy and nervous in large groups of people or in unfamiliar environments.  He can read, but not for any length of time, and the light must be bright.  He struggles with glare (especially on a bright, snowy day), print size, reading and math in school; I currently k12 him at home.  He carries a white cane for identification purposes, but I've noticed that his posture has improved.
Here's my question...and it probably seems pretty stupid, but I'm going to ask it anyway.  Is my son blind?  Should I be trying to get him some nonvisual services (like braille, O&M, etc), maybe under sleepshades?  I sometimes wonder if I should just "lose" his glasses so he isn't so overstimulated (crazy thought, I know, but he does seem calmer w/o them).  Right now, he has no professional supports, just me trying to teach him a few things.  Perhaps permaturely, but I worry about his future...he's a guy and needs to be able to read, work and take care of himself and a family.
I've been in touch with so many organizations and people that have provided wonderful advice, but I have yet to come across another parent who is living with this confusing visual conundrum.  Can anybody out there suggest to me which direction to go?  Thanks so much.
hdare
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