[blparent] Pieces, pieces, everywhere!

[Robert Shelton]

Searching for small objects is a classical problem for blind people.  This
is probably well known to everyone, but in case it isn't, here goes.

Some years ago, I changed from a relatively heavy collapsible aluminum cane
(rehab special) to a light, sensitive carbon fiber type.  It's a gigantic
improvement as a navigation tool, but one unexpected use was as a search
tool.  I lay it flat on the floor and gently sweep out the area.  It is
extremely light and I can sense even tiny objects.  Of course, it covers a
vastly greater area than I can sweep with my hands.  Hope this helps. 

--Robert

-----Original Message-----
From: Jo Elizabeth Pinto [mailto:jopinto at pcdesk.net] 
Sent: Monday, December 28, 2009 3:18 PM
To: NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List
Subject: [blparent] Pieces, pieces, everywhere!

Hi, all.  Sarah got a lot of nice gifts for Christmas.  Among them were some
Little People toys, some finger puppets, and replacement animals for her
depopulated Noah's Ark.  She also has had some basic puzzles and shape
sorters.  It's only been a few days since the holiday, but the question is
already coming up for me: How do I go about keeping track of all the little
pieces?  Sarah's napping, and I usually take that opportunity to put
everything away.  I like her to wake up to a neat room, if only so she can
mess it up all over again.  But I find that I'm missing pieces to some of
the Little People toys and puzzles, and I've crawled around searching under
and behind furniture.  Is this just going to be the way it is, or is there
some ingenious method I don't know of to keep track of all this stuff?
Thanks.

Jo Elizabeth

Until lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify
the hunters.--African Proverb