[nabs-l] Training centers not the real world

[Bridgit Pollpeter]

Steve,

I completely agree. Without nonvisual skills, I couldn't effectively
care for my kids. I'm safe in the knowledge that I can care for my kids
just like anyone else, but if I lacked certain nonvisual skills, I doubt
I could safely and effectively watch after young children. Most
parenting is based on problem-solving and figuring out as you go along,
but as most blind people know, there are a few things, a few tools, we
require to make life more efficient. Most of what I do as a parent,
hell, most of what I do as a human being, is no different than those who
are sighted, but sometimes I rely on a different tool or method to
achieve the same outcome. So in the long-run, yes, training will only
enhance the parenting process, making you more efficient and confident.

I am sensitive to those in this situation though. Finding child care can
be difficult and expensive. I believe you should try your best in this
situation, but I also understand there are parents who don't have the
support or finances to make this easier. This is definitely a problem to
be further explored.

Bridgit
Message: 18
Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 11:44:42 -0600
From: "Steve Jacobson" <steve.jacobson at visi.com>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
	<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Training centers not the real world
Message-ID: <auto-000014396418 at mailback3.g2host.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

RJ,

It is really hard to know what is going to work in an individual case
such as that of your friend.  In general, 
though, one really has to weigh what learning certain skills well might
mean for bringing up a child in the long 
run.  I believe, for example, that it is pretty hard to become a
confident independent traveler without putting in 
some serious time learning and experiencing.  If one is not a confident
traveler, for example, one is going to 
find it more difficult to get one's child where that child needs to be,
or to be there for that child.  Your 
friend may not have had any options in terms of family who could take
care of the child, and there could be other 
considerations, but to simply state that one can't leave one's child to
take training seems very short-sighted to 
me, and I am a parent so I am not unfamiliar with the dilema.

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson