[blparent] Fwd: Parenting Without Sight - Survey

Tue May 23 16:39:32 UTC 2017

Dear Jesper,

Thank you so much for this response!

I had no idea about Mr. Mittal, I will definitely get in touch with him.
While I am sure India is connected to the WBU on an organisation level, the
help and guidance is not very widespread. I have spoken to a lot of parents
who have said that they had no sort of reference books or courses for them.

I also fully agree with you that it is an individual's right to choose
whether he wants help or no - and this is same for Sighted Parents as well.
Sighted parents, especially in India, often have a lot of help and support
from their mothers and other relatives. However, after speaking to some
Blind Parents from India, I have realised that they don't have the option
of raising the child independently and a lot of them lack confidence. SO my
aim is to make them confident enough to raise their child independently and
then ofcourse if they choose help, there is no issue there.

I will definitely read up on the UN Convention and listen to the Podcast.
Thank you for sharing these with me.

And thank you so much for Mr. Mittal's contact, I will get in touch with as
soon as possible.

Thank you!

Regards,
Alomi Parikh

On Tue, May 23, 2017 at 11:58 AM, Jesper Holten via BlParent <
blparent at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Dear Alomi Parikh and all. It has been a most interesting hmm. debate
> about perception and self perception as blind parrents. I just want to
> enlighten you all just a tiny bit here. India and indian blind very
> well know the World Blind Union, as the general Secretary is from
> India and the presiden of one of ,  if not the largest organisation
> for the blind in India. His contact information is below. Take the
> time to talk to him Alomi Parikh I am sure he can give you valuable
> information about the plight of Indian blind parrents. Generally
> speaking, although their is certainly misconceptions, prejudice and
> stigma connected to being blind and a blind parrent, this holds true
> both in the so-called developed World as in developing contries.
> Whether blind parrents want to use sighted help and in what ways will
> always, and should always be an individual choice, keeping the
> universal human rights in mind, disabled persons have of course the
> same rights as anyone else to form a Family and to get children.
> SOmetimes this Means that society/or Family has to stepp in an help in
> certain ways. Remember, that the physical environment for one thing,
> may cause many opsticles that makes it difficult or impossible to get
> around independently as a blind person, let alone if you have to carry
> or supervise a baby or small child. Insofar as circumstances and
> personal abilities allow, we as blind parrents should be as
> independent as we possibly can, but we should also have the individual
> rights to bring up our children the way we see most fit. Blind
> parrents are as different as any other parrents, circumstances or
> environment may influence how we go about bringing up our children. I
> want to Refer you to the UN convention on the rights of persons with
> disability sectio 23 but also section 10 and  19  are worth reading.
> the link to the convention comes here:
> https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/
> convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities/
> convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-2.html
> Allow me also to direct your attention to Jonathan Mosens podcast The
> blind side  especially sho  29 but many of his shows centres around
> current advocacy topics  for the blind and partially sighted check it
> out e.g. here:
> The Blind Side Podcast 29, parenting when you're blind
>
> Both I and my wife are totally blind and proud parrents to our
> 2-year-old son, we live in Denmark, but through Family and Work I have
> travelled and lived in a couple of sub-saharan african countries and
> have some experiences as to the conditions but also resilliance  and
> tenacity of blind and partially sighted parrents in both developed and
> especially developing contries.
> here comes Mr. Mittals contacts.
> best regards, Jesper.
> SECRETARY GENERAL
> Mr. Ajai Kumar Mittal
> President, All India Confederation of the Blind
> Braille Bhawan, Sector-5, Rohini
> Delhi 110 085, India
> Or: 80-A Pocket One, Mayur Vihar Phase One
> Delhi 110 091, India
> Phone: +91-11-2705-4082
> Fax: +91-11-2705-0915
> E-mail:
> mittal24ak at gmail.com
>
>
> On 5/22/17, Alomi Parikh via BlParent <blparent at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> > Thank you Judy!
> >
> > I researched a little more on what you said and have sent you a follow-up
> > email personally.
> >
> > I am so glad I got a chance to get in touch with all of you. It really
> did
> > help me grow as a person and understand and realize so many aspects and
> > viewpoints.
> >
> > Thank you so much.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Alomi Parikh
> >
> > On Mon, May 22, 2017 at 5:51 AM, Judy Jones via BlParent <
> > blparent at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >
> >> Thanks for writing us back, Alomi.  I have spent time living in other
> >> foreign countries, and, in general, have found those societies' views of
> >> blindness very custodial.  In any society, if a blind person is told he
> >> has
> >> limitations, and is not around other blind people to mentor him, he is
> >> going
> >> to believe that, and I think this is what is coming into play here.
> >>
> >> The World Blind Union would be a good organization for India's blind to
> >> know
> >> about, and every year at our NFB national convention, we always have
> >> foreign
> >> visitors, and learn from them as they learn from us.
> >>
> >> I'm glad you are coming away from this experience with some enlightened
> >> views, and personally, if I can be of further assistance, please feel
> >> free
> >> to write me.
> >>
> >> Judy Jones
> >>
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: BlParent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Alomi
> >> Parikh via BlParent
> >> Sent: Sunday, May 21, 2017 5:42 PM
> >> To: Blind Parents Mailing List
> >> Cc: Alomi Parikh
> >> Subject: Re: [blparent] Fwd: Parenting Without Sight - Survey
> >>
> >> Thank you so much for your support Judy, as usual.
> >>
> >> If it wasn't for you and many others who responded, I would still be
> >> stuck
> >> with the same assumptions.
> >>
> >> I think you bring an extremely valid point that I should've stressed
> upon
> >> earlier myself.
> >>
> >> I am from India which is still a developing nation. The National
> >> Federation
> >> of the Blind gives all of you an amazing support system and is an
> amazing
> >> organization.
> >>
> >> We have very few organizations in India and are not these widespread. I
> >> contacted all of you after speaking to some Blind Parents from India who
> >> claimed that while they could safely raise their infants they were often
> >> afraid and dependant on others. All of the parents I should to have
> >> successfully raised beautiful children, but have told me themselves that
> >> they had to face some difficulties.
> >>
> >> My questions are not purely based on assumptions. Sharon brought to my
> >> notice that because of the cultural difference I would get different
> >> answers. I see that now. My questions to all of you were crafted after
> >> the
> >> talks with parents from India.
> >>
> >> However, this email thread has been so eye opening and so educating that
> >> I
> >> can't thank all of you enough.
> >>
> >> I sincerely apologise for all the assumptions but I hope you understand
> >> my
> >> point of view.
> >>
> >> Thank you so much.
> >>
> >> Regards,
> >> Alomi Parikh
> >>
> >>
> >> On May 22, 2017 5:01 AM, "Judy Jones via BlParent" <blparent at nfbnet.org
> >
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> Thanks, Dave, I may not have caught that.
> >>
> >> Also, I have had a chance to correspond with this young woman.  She is
> 19
> >> years old, sighted, and never has been a parent.  She has chosen this as
> >> her
> >> project.
> >>
> >> I, too, commented to her she was making a lot of assumptions that simply
> >> aren't valid, and she received my comments very well.  We have written
> >> back
> >> and forth several times, and I have sent her links to check out, and she
> >> appears to have done some more research.
> >>
> >> The last e-mail conversation we had, I summed up the fact that blind
> >> parenting is really not that much different than parenting for sighted
> >> parents.
> >>
> >> Also, keep in mind that she is from a country that may have different
> >> views
> >> on blindness, parenting, and family relationships.
> >>
> >> On the whole, I found her accepting correction, and she has always
> >> written
> >> prompt responses.  I did not like the survey either, but, as always, we
> >> are
> >> out here to educate.
> >>
> >> Judy
> >>
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: BlParent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of David
> >> Andrews via BlParent
> >> Sent: Sunday, May 21, 2017 2:26 PM
> >> To: Blind Parents Mailing List
> >> Cc: David Andrews
> >> Subject: Re: [blparent] Fwd: Parenting Without Sight - Survey
> >>
> >> It is a long URL, it probably wrapped around into two pieces.
> >>
> >> Dave
> >>
> >> At 11:40 AM 5/15/2017, you wrote:
> >> >This says the GoogleDrive page is not found.
> >> >
> >> >Judy
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >-----Original Message-----
> >> >From: BlParent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Alomi
> >> >Parikh via BlParent
> >> >Sent: Monday, May 15, 2017 8:18 AM
> >> >To: blparent at nfbnet.org
> >> >Cc: Alomi Parikh
> >> >Subject: [blparent] Fwd: Parenting Without Sight - Survey
> >> >
> >> >Hello
> >> >
> >> >Respected Sir/Madam,
> >> >
> >> >This is a follow-up email to my previous email regarding Parenting
> >> >Without Sight.
> >> >
> >> >It would mean a lot to me if you could fill out this quick survey I am
> >> >conducting. It would hardly take 5 minutes. It would be of great help
> >> >to me.
> >> >
> >> >https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfefORofjYD44EXGuzvzORi
> >> >u7AeNnPT_vDpIpCdThb2Btol0w/viewform?c=0&w=1
> >> >
> >> >Please do get back to me if you would like to help me further in this
> >> >project.
> >> >
> >> >Thank you so much for your time.
> >> >
> >> >Alomi Parikh
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> BlParent mailing list
> >> BlParent at nfbnet.org
> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blparent_nfbnet.org
> >> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> >> BlParent:
> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blparent_nfbnet.org/
> >> sonshines59%40gmail.co
> >> m
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> BlParent mailing list
> >> BlParent at nfbnet.org
> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blparent_nfbnet.org
> >> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> >> BlParent:
> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blparent_nfbnet.org/
> >> alomiparikh24%40gmail.com
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> BlParent mailing list
> >> BlParent at nfbnet.org
> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blparent_nfbnet.org
> >> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> >> BlParent:
> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blparent_nfbnet.org/
> >> sonshines59%40gmail.co
> >> m
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> BlParent mailing list
> >> BlParent at nfbnet.org
> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blparent_nfbnet.org
> >> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> >> BlParent:
> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blparent_nfbnet.org/
> >> alomiparikh24%40gmail.com
> >>
> > _______________________________________________
> > BlParent mailing list
> > BlParent at nfbnet.org
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blparent_nfbnet.org
> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> > BlParent:
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blparent_nfbnet.org/
> jesper.holten%40gmail.com
> >
>
> _______________________________________________
> BlParent mailing list
> BlParent at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blparent_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> BlParent:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blparent_nfbnet.org/
> alomiparikh24%40gmail.com
>