[blparent] April seminar for parents

Sat Oct 30 04:36:20 UTC 2010

Hey everyone,

Wanted to wish all of you and your kiddos a happy and safe halloween. 

Also, I wanted to let all of you know about something really cool happening in April. On April 2 in Carmel Indiana at the Lions clubhouse I will be hosting a seminar. This seminar will be targeting parents with visualy impaired and blind children ages 0 to 3. We will have childcare through kiddiecorp and pizza for lunch. 
There will be guest speakers from all over. A few of the days topics will be first steps and early intervention, braille, sunglasses, organizations such as the nfb and lions, sports, making your home blind friendly, technology and much, much more.

Possible guest speakers will include:
pediatric opthomologist
glaucoma specialist
cornea specialist
first steps developmental therapist
Discovery toys demo
Sports demo
braille demo
O&M demo
Space camp
Blind school presentation
And much more...

You don't want to miss out on this great oppurtunity in learning more about what's available for your vi/blind infant, toddler, and young child and how they can benefit from it all. There are only 100 seats available so please email me your info ASAP at cridzon.85 at gmail.com if your interested. 

Last but not least, this is an all day event and we are taking requests for anything you think or would like to hear and learn more about that would fit into our empty slots. All suggestions will be put on a list and discussed at my next meeting. Feel free to get creative just keep in mind that the targeted audience will be parents with vi/blind children ages 0 to 3. 

Thanks for your time and hope to see you on april 2. Have a great weekend :)

Cheree ridzon

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

-----Original Message-----
From: "Brandy W" <branlw at sbcglobal.net>
Sender: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 2010 11:02:29 
To: 'NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List'<blparent at nfbnet.org>
Reply-To: NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [blparent] New parent questions

Yes it fits nicely. I have a Graco 30 because that is all I could afford
when I bought it. It is slightly bigger and cheaper, but not wider and still
fits all the Graco snap and go strollers. When I callewd Graco to ask about
this they said any graco car seat infant seat will fit on any Graco stroller
including the snap and go and double snap and go. Yes many of my friends had
no choice but to switch about 18 months or so.  Bran

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you
learn, the more places you'll go." -- Dr. Seuss 
Brandy Wojcik
Discovery Toys Educational Consultant and Team Leader
www.playtoachieve.com
Phone: 512) 689-5045
Ask me about:
*How you can do what I do and earn money sharing educational toys with the
ones you love,
*How to earn free Discovery Toys products while having fun with friends,
Order a gift basket for any age

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Leanne Merren
Sent: Friday, October 29, 2010 9:43 AM
To: NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List
Subject: Re: [blparent] New parent questions

Yes it folds down nice and small.  Is the SnugRide 32 the same as the
SafeSeat I wonder?  Because the SafeSeat goes up to 32 lbs.  The new
recommendation is so hard to keep to, because baby's legs get so cramped
after a while.  I kept Kaelyn facing backwards till she was about 18 months.

I wanted to keep her backwards but her little legs were cramped and she
would cry the whole time we were in the car because she couldn't straighten
them.  Maybe they'll somehow change the design of the seats in newer car
models to accomidate a rear-facing infant/toddler without cramping their
legs.
Leanne
----- Original Message -----
From: "Brandy W" <branlw at sbcglobal.net>
To: "'NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List'" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, October 29, 2010 8:53 AM
Subject: Re: [blparent] New parent questions

> Yes it is law that all infant seats must have a way to be used with 
> out the base. Yes you just explained why I love the exact thing I 
> recommended. It was much better than a full stroller you won't even be 
> able to use once they out grow the car seat. By getting the Snug ride 
> 32 you can pretty much guarantee that by the time your child is 32 lbs 
> they can walk short distances, and no longer need to be backwards 
> since the new recommendation is 2. Not sure of your experience, but I 
> found folding the frame of the snap and go to be simple and it folds 
> small. Bran
>
>
> "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that 
> you learn, the more places you'll go." -- Dr. Seuss Brandy Wojcik 
> Discovery Toys Educational Consultant and Team Leader 
> www.playtoachieve.com
> Phone: 512) 689-5045
> Ask me about:
> *How you can do what I do and earn money sharing educational toys with 
> the ones you love, *How to earn free Discovery Toys products while 
> having fun with friends, Order a gift basket for any age
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
> On Behalf Of Leanne Merren
> Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2010 10:46 PM
> To: NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [blparent] New parent questions
>
> I don't get all the messages for some reason, so sorry to keep 
> replying to Dena's messages.
>
> I just want to point out that travel systems, meaning a stroller with 
> a car seat on top of it, are very heavy and hard to pull.  They seem 
> light enough in the store, but once you put a baby in it, as the baby 
> grows they get heavier and heavier and my arms really start to hurt 
> with that.  My first two were in travel systems, and they haven't 
> changed much since then.  For Kaelyn, when she was an infant, I bought 
> the Graco SafeSeat with the Snap 'n Go frame carrier.  That was nice 
> and light, and that car seat can be buckled in without using the base.  
> I made sure of that, since I don't have a car of my own to leave a 
> base in.  I don't know if the SnugRide can be buckled in without a 
> base, but I wrote to Graco and asked about the SafeSeat and they wrote 
> me back and answered my questions very thoroughly.  So I was impressed 
> with their customer service.
> Leanne
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dena Wainwright" <dena at envogueaccess.com>
> To: <rovadia82 at gmail.com>; "NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List"
> <blparent at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2010 9:26 PM
> Subject: Re: [blparent] New parent questions
>
>
>> that is not true. the ergo allows the child to be on your back. he 
>> can then look over your shoulder and from side to side. you make it 
>> sound way more confining for the child than it is.
>> Dena
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Ronit Ovadia Mazzoni" <rovadia82 at gmail.com>
>> To: "'NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List'" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2010 11:27 AM
>> Subject: Re: [blparent] New parent questions
>>
>>
>>> Hi Mary Jo,
>>> First, congratulations on the baby! When are you due? My husband and 
>>> I are also expecting our first due in April so I am doing all the 
>>> same research you are. Here is what I've found out so far.
>>>
>>> In terms of carseats and strollers, it is difficult to find a good 
>>> combination of lightweight and pulling behind you. I have not seen 
>>> this paritcular stroller in person yet but it was suggested I check 
>>> out the Graco Alano FlipIt reversible handle stroller. I believ you 
>>> can find this at Babies R Us. The reviews I've read online, however, 
>>> say that this stroller does not steer well when the handle is in the 
>>> reversed position. So this doesn't seem like a great option, but 
>>> something to check out. This stroller does accept the Graco Snugride 
>>> carseats. I'd suggest checking out the snugride carseats because 
>>> most Graco strollers can accommodate the snugride carseats as a 
>>> snap-in feature. We haven't quite decided on which one we are 
>>> getting yet, but I've narrowed it down to Graco for sure.
>>>
>>> In terms of baby carriers, I've checked out both the Baby Bjorn and 
>>> the Ergo baby carrier. They are good for different things and it was 
>>> suggested to me that we have one of each. The Ergo has better back 
>>> support but the baby can only face inward, as Bran mentioned. As 
>>> they get older though, they can look from side to side, so it is 
>>> still stimulating for them. The ergo also has an infant insert that 
>>> you can use so you can carry very little babies which normally would 
>>> not fit inside the ergo. Make sure you get the heart to heart insert 
>>> for the ergo. The baby Bjorn is helpful because it allows the baby 
>>> to face outwards and can accommodate very little babies. The back 
>>> support is not as great so for long walks, it might not be ideal. We 
>>> are planning on getting both. I Know others on this list have used 
>>> the Beco Butterfly II as well, but I have not seen this one in person.
>>>
>>> In terms of braille books, we found a seller on Ebay who sells 
>>> braille books that she has already adapted. She takes regular print 
>>> books with pictures or touch and feel books and puts labels on them.
>>> They aer very cheap, as she buys them used and then brailles them.
>>> Each book is 10 dollars or less.
>>> Just
>>> search for braille books on ebay and you should be able to find her.
>>> She sells different books depending on what she happens to have made 
>>> at the time. We bought some already and they are very well done, and 
>>> so cheap too!
>>>
>>> Hope all this helps! I'd love to hear more as you do your own 
>>> research too.
>>> Take care,
>>> Ronit
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>> [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Hartle, Mary Jo
>>> Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2010 6:21 AM
>>> To: blparent at nfbnet.org
>>> Cc: Louise Walch; Cheralyn Braithwaite Creer; Cheralyn Creer; 
>>> Hartle, Jesse
>>> Subject: [blparent] New parent questions
>>>
>>> Hi everyone,
>>>    My husband and I are new to this listserv, but thought it might 
>>> be a great resource for us as parents-to-be.  some of you may know 
>>> us, Jesse and Mary Jo (Thorpe) Hartle.  We have been members of the 
>>> NFB for several years, but this is a whole new role for us as blind 
>>> people.
>>> Fortunately, because of the philosophy we've learned in the 
>>> organization, and great role models like some of you on this list, 
>>> we know we can be great parents even though we're blind.  
>>> But...there are a few questions that are starting to pop into our 
>>> minds as we prepare for the arrival of LBH (Little Baby Hartle).  
>>> Any advice on the following you can give us would be greatly
appreciated.
>>>
>>> 1. We've been looking at strollers and car seats and carriers (oh 
>>> my) and wondering which on the market are the best for a blind parent.
>>> We know we want a stroller that we can pull behind us easily and 
>>> which will allow the baby to face us rather than face out.  We also 
>>> are looking for something that can double as a carrier and car seat 
>>> combo which is easy to get on and off buses and trains and such.  
>>> Any of you have recommendations for us?
>>> Brands?  Etc.? Another item we think would be very helpful to us are 
>>> those snuggly things so we can carry the baby in front of us or on 
>>> our back while using a cane.  Any recommendations of good brands or 
>>> styles for this?
>>>
>>> 2.  We are considering getting a set of baby monitors.  We've not 
>>> looked too closely at these yet, but I'm anticipating there might be 
>>> some accessibility issues as it sounds like many of them have some 
>>> kind of visual display on them now for you to set the controls, etc.
>>> any suggestions on a good brand for these that are accessible, or 
>>> can be easily modified?
>>>
>>> 3.  Are there any other great Braille-print book outlets besides 
>>> Seedlings, NBP, APH, Share Braille.org, and the Braille Institute we 
>>> should know about?
>>> Any Other ways to get free or really inexpensive print-Braille 
>>> storybooks?
>>> WE know too how to make our own, and are very familiar with most of 
>>> the mainstream Braille book sources, but want to see if any of you 
>>> have other less known ideas.
>>>
>>> 4. Are there any accessible bottle thermometers out there, or do any 
>>> of you have other techniques for gauging the temperature of a bottle?
>>> I know this isn't quite a blindness issue, but if we use a 
>>> thermometer, it becomes one.
>>> :)Any thoughts?
>>>
>>> 5.  Any good books, websites, or other resources in general that you 
>>> as blind people have found helpful to you as a parent which we 
>>> should know about?
>>>
>>> Thanks so much and we look forward to any suggestions you can send 
>>> our way and to future postings on this list.
>>>
>>> Sincerely,
>>> Mary Jo T. Hartle
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Mary Jo Thorpe-Hartle, MEd, NOMC
>>>
>>> Director of Education
>>>
>>> Jernigan Institute
>>> NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
>>> 200 East Wells Street
>>> Baltimore, MD 21230
>>> Phone: (410)659-9314 ext. 2407
>>> Email: mhartle at nfb.org
>>> Fax: (410) 659-5129
>>> Visit www.nfb.org <http://www.nfb.org/>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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