<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div><h1 class="title" id="page-title" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.5em; font-weight: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 20px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Read this letter from K. Anderson. And thought of some of our new parents that are still struggling every day with the new diagnoses if blindness. Many of us have been there and are here for you. </span></h1><h1 class="title" id="page-title" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.5em; font-weight: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 20px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></h1><h1 class="title" id="page-title" style="margin: 1em 0px 0.5em;"><span style="font-size: 20px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><u>You, Your Blind Child, and Your Family</u></span></h1><div class="tabs" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"></div><div class="region region-content"><div id="block-system-main" class="block block-system"><div class="content" style="margin-top: 10px;"><div id="node-1" class="node node-page node-full clearfix" about="/node/1" typeof="foaf:Document" style="background-image: none; border: none; padding: 0px;"><div class="content clearfix" style="margin-top: 10px;"><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.2em;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So you've recently discovered that your child is blind. As a teacher of blind students, they will be working with him or her on learning how to read and write Braille, how to use access technology to use a computer, how to travel with a long white cane, how to cook, and how to do other things that will make him or her a confident competent adult when he or she grows up. Our goal should be to provide your family the support, resources, and encouragement you need. I believe that, given the right tools and opportunity, blind people can live happy productive lives. This includes being equal participants in family life.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.2em;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As a blind person myself I have had the opportunity to do many exciting things. I have rock climbed, gone white water rafting, and acted in plays. I have held leadership positions in state and national organizations dedicated to advancing the civil rights of blind people. As a child I climbed trees and scraped my knees along with the other kids in my neighborhood, and I believe these experiences, along with my parents high expectations for me, helped make me into a strong independent blind person. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.2em;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Karen Anderson TVI</span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.2em;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://Www.keanderson.net">Www.keanderson.net</a></span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.2em;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1.2em;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Your child will do the same with the right tools and training. Celebrate your child and all they will be, and will bless you with In the coming years. </span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Trudy Pickrel<div>President Md Parent Blind Children. </div><div>301-501-1818</div><div><a href="http://Www.TLCbytheLake.com">Www.TLCbytheLake.com</a></div></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></div></div></body></html>