[blparent] Child Protective Services

[Kate McEachern]

Dear Heather,

At times Child protective services have been called on Blind parents, but, 
no agency can take your kids because your Blind.

I heard a lot of talk when about to have my first child that when the SW 
came to see me like she does for all new Mothers, I got defensive. In my 
situation I had lots of friends and family to help ea's tensions and I left 
the hospital both times with my children.

Recently I had some one call DCF on my family because my children's father 
fell ill quickly and this person saw a window to cause trouble. They didn't 
report me to DCF though, they filed a report of child abuse with the local 
Police department and this led to a more serious situation. In short I had 
to call our chapter of the NFB and other communities our family is part of 
to step in because the allegations this person made were bad enough to have 
me arrested on the spot. So rather then get all upset I made certain the 
house was as clean as a single Mom could get a two bedroom house with two 
kids and animals and let them in. Our little house was clean yet a bit 
cluttered because of being in the mitts of de cluttering but all went well. 
My children were photographed and I was asked a lot of questions. I also got 
to read the allegations made and received a written note that was signed 
stating the case was closed.

This not well meaning person has placed me under the radar for the next 
seven years and after a friend slipped and told me who made the report I did 
what some would of said not to do. I walked to her house and gave her a 
pease of my mind.

So, if you have a clean house, have an income, and your kids are healthy and 
happy you should be fine. Relax and enjoy being a parent and don't stress 
unless something happens to make you have to.

Best of luck.

Kate

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Heather Barcal" <heather.barcal at gmail.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2012 8:24 PM
Subject: [blparent] Child Protective Services


> Hello all.
>
> I am pregnant with my first baby.  I have read an article, and just
> started reading a book, both of which talk about how Child Protective
> Services has been called on blind parents, just because they were
> blind.  My questions are, have any of you dealt with this?  Does it
> happen when both parents are blind and/or if only one of the parents
> is blind?  How frequently does this happen?
>
> Heather
>
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