[blparent] speking at my daughter's class

Sat Nov 9 18:46:12 UTC 2013

I spoke to my daughter's kindergarten class a few weeks ago.  I was hesitant 
at first when the teacher asked me to because I felt sort of like a 
show-and-tell exhibit.  But the reason I decided to do it, besides the fact 
that my daughter really wanted me to and the teacher kind of put me on the 
spot by suggesting to my kid that I might do it before she consulted 
me--which I didn't appreciate but what could I do--was that a couple of the 
kids didn't believe my daughter at all when she said I was blind.  They told 
her, "No way.  Your mom's not blind.  We saw her walking around and talking 
and everything when she came to parents' night, so she can't be blind."  I 
figured thaere were some pretty big myths that needed to be cleared up.  The 
whole thing was a hoot once I got there.  I brailled name cards, talked a 
little about service dog etiquette, and left most of the time open for 
questions.  The  only weird part was that two kids raised their hands 
together and told me my dog was fat.  She's not, actually I'm grateful 
because she's finally starting to put on weight after getting some 
painkillers and kidney meds into her system, but that's another story, so I 
just laughed.  But the teacher got in a big old huff and apologized to me, 
and informed me and the kids that she and the two gentlemen would be having 
a serious talk later, and the clips on their behavior chart would be moving 
from green to yellow, which I guess is a big deal.  I don't know why she 
made such a federal case out of that.  Anyway, I was glad I went, overall.

Jo Elizabeth

Truth is tough. It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch; nay, you may 
kick it about all day like a football, and it will be round and full at 
evening.--Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
-----Original Message----- 
From: Wendy Meuse
Sent: Saturday, November 09, 2013 2:03 AM
To: Blind Parents Mailing List
Subject: Re: [blparent] speking at my daughter's class

Hi Robert:

Oh I used to love speaking in my daughter's classes.  I just used to love to 
think on my feet when they asked those oh so crazy
questions.  I started speaking in her classes when she had trouble when she 
was about eight.  She came home crying one day because
kids were teasing her because her mamma was blind.  I always have thought 
that kids make fun of things they don't understand, so I
phoned her teacher and talked to her.  I asked her if I could come in and 
speak to the class and bring my Seeing eye dog Sandy with
me.  She was really excited about Sandy and I coming.  I also brought a 
couple of Braille books along with my Brailler.  I had a
list of the children's names and I did them each an alphabet card with their 
name on the bottom.  I would call two names at a time
and they could come up and get their card as well as give Sandy a pet or 
two.  I took her harness off so that they could all say hi
to her.  I had quite a talk at the beginning and they asked some really good 
questions.  They loved being able to say hi to Sandy.
Grace never had any trouble at all after that.  It really helped to educate 
the children a little.  Yes I could have gotten all mad
and very indignant about the whole thing, but this was so much better.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rob Kaiser" <rcubfank at sbcglobal.net>
To: "Blind Parents Mailing List" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, November 08, 2013 11:22 PM
Subject: [blparent] speking at my daughter's class

I will be finally speaking to my daughterbs class on Decemberf 4th @11:45 
am.

Ibm really excited about it. I havenbt spoken to children for years.

I remember all of the crazy questions they can ask.

It should be fun.

Rob Kaiser, President National Federation of the Blind of California Orange 
County Chapter
Cell#(847)989-0768
email;
rcubfank at sbcglobal.net
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