[blparent] need urgent help

Tue May 25 18:35:51 UTC 2010

What probably happened is that a hospital social worker called Child Protection.  While this doesn't happen all the time, it happens more than it should.  For starters, 
the couple needs to present a reasonable case to whatever social worker they meet with.  While they certainly have rights, it is difficult to have to fight this out in the 
courts at this point so it is better to do what can be done to avoid that.  It wouldn't hurt for everyone in question to know that the new parents feel strongly enough to 
challeng in court if necessary, though.  They need to be ready to answer questions about how they would handle the various functions of parenting, and if this is 
their first, it would be good for them to work with another blind parent.  In fact, asking that another blind parent be with them when they talk to the social worker 
would be good.  The social worker may not even be aware that there are blind parents who raise sighted kids.

On the other hand, if the parents are having their first child and have not given much thought to various aspects of parenting, they need to get answers and figure 
things out in a hurry.  Whether it is right or wrong, new parents who appear not to know what they are getting into will have more problems than those who can say 
they know how to change a diaper, feed a child, detect diaper rash, check the baby's temperature and so on.  The social worker is going to close his or her eyes 
and think about what he or she could do as a parent and we know this is a poor way to draw conclusions, but it isw how some form their opinions.

This kind of thing can be very serious, so do what you can to help them out or get them in contact with others who can help.  

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson

On Tue, 25 May 2010 11:31:01 -0500, Robert Shelton wrote:

>Is it remotely possible that the other members of the family have an agenda?

>"A strong nation, like a strong person, can afford to be gentle, firm,
>thoughtful, and restrained. It can afford to extend a helping hand to
>others. It is a weak nation, like a weak person, that must behave with
>bluster and boasting and rashness and other signs of insecurity."
>--Jimmy Carter

>-----Original Message-----
>From: Tammy, Paul and Colyn [mailto:tcl189 at rogers.com] 
>Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 7:14 PM
>To: NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List
>Subject: Re: [blparent] need urgent help

>Hi,

>And, cps should not be talking to these parent's family about anything, it's

>a breach of confidence especially when apparently the family is being told 
>different things by cps.

>Tammy
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "Barbara Hammel" <poetlori8 at msn.com>
>To: "NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 3:51 PM
>Subject: Re: [blparent] need urgent help

>>I may be wrong but I don't think CPS normally works to take children away 
>>if there is no history.  In other words, they usually are reactive not 
>>proactive.  If they're being pro-active, it probably is--as someone 
>>said--an overzealous worker.  If the family and the blind child do not get 
>>along, the family may be part of this problem, too.
>> But whatever the circumstances, the parents have not proved themselves 
>> unfit parents so CPS has no right to remove the baby.
>> Many sighted parents have been lousy parents and kept their kids, these 
>> people are just acting on their fears.  If they can't talk rationally with

>> the social worker, maybe another blind person who knows them could be at 
>> an arranged meeting.  The contacts that have been given in other messages 
>> should definitely be used.  Fear motivates people to do irrational things.
>> Barbara
>>
>> ...
>> Yesterday is
>> A path well-trod,
>> A familiar lane
>> Through sacred sod,
>> A road we travel
>> Too often, I fear,
>> For there are the good times
>> When things are hard here,
>> ...
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------
>> From: "Pipi" <blahblahblah0822 at gmail.com>
>> Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 1:30 PM
>> To: <blindparenting at googlegroups.com>; <blv-moms at googlegroups.com>; 
>> <singleblindparents at googlegroups.com>; "NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List"

>> <blparent at nfbnet.org>
>> Subject: [blparent] need urgent help
>>
>>> Hey y'all,
>>> I have a friend who very recently gave birth. Her and her partner are 
>>> both blind. They are having problems with cps. I don't want to go into 
>>> all of the details, but she is being told one thing by the social worker 
>>> and the social worker is telling her family other things. They are saying

>>> that unless they have 24/7 help, their child will be released into 
>>> protective custody. Do they have this right? What rights do the parents 
>>> have? They are first time parents and not sure what to do. They just want

>>> their baby home with them.
>>> Any help will be greatly appreciated.
>>> pipi
>>>
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>m
>>>
>>
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>m 

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