[blindkid] Which Direction Should I Go?

[Jamie Allison]

I know you've been inundated with responses, so I'll try to keep my thoughts brief and hopefully it won't exactly repeat what others have said. I certainly agree that you should definitely seek out nonvisual skills and educational opportunities for your son. The eye doctors are very sensitive about blindness issues and to them it's almost as if they're a failure if they have to admit that a patient is blind. Many of them are also still educated to believe that blindness is a disadvantage and something to be avoided at all costs. Of course, they should be concerned with maximizing the health of their patients' eyes to the extent that they can, but some eye conditions just aren't completely fixable by nature. They have a very hard time accepting this and will recommend anything and everything other than using nonvisual skills. I don't think eye doctors should be making recommendations concerning a child's educational placement or what tools the child
 should be using other than prescribing glasses. Then it should be up to the patient as to how and when they use the glasses. 

Visual acuity is simply a measurement carried out in a very sterile environment. Your son is not the first person who has been told by the eye doctor not to be considered blind but nonetheless is exhibiting behaviors that prove this to be incorrect. Clearly your son has several eye conditions and a visual processing condition all working in concert to make it difficult for him to see. I can assure you that he would benefit from cane travel and Braille, even if he does continue to use what residual vision he has when it's useful for him. That's the beauty of having nonvisual skills.. your son will be able to decide which skill gets the job done fastest and easiest and won't struggle with using vision when it's not helping him, but will still be able to use it when he feels it helpful. I would also recommend getting some training under the shades. This will help him to focus in on his other senses and he'll learn when to pay attention to his eyes and when
 it's better not to. You will also find many allies in the NFB. There are no qualifications as far as visual acuity measurements. Anyone who has visual conditions, no matter if they have some residual vision, is accepted as a blind member. Sighted family members can also be associate members. You'll find quite a few who are dealing with the same circumstances as your family. 

Jamie Allison
National Federation of the Blind - Cherokee Chapter President
Lead Instructor, NFB BELL in SC

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can have the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.
 
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