[nfb-talk] NY Times Article on Gov. Paterson and Braille

Wed Dec 29 16:55:05 UTC 2010

Hi Holly
I have a friend who currently lives in TX. She has the similar condition
as your son. She was reluctant to accept blindness when we first met.
Then she almost fell on marble steps at Christmas. We became best
friends and she joined the NFB. 
You are doing the right thing. Get the parents division know about your
son and his education.  Get him Braille and get him friends in the NFB. 
It is the best gift you can give your son. 

Yasmin Reyazuddin 
Aging & Disability Services 
Montgomery County Government 
Department of Health & Human Services 
401 Hungerford Drive (3rd floor) 
Rockville MD 20850 
240-777-0311 (MC311) 
240-777-1556 (personal) 
240-777-1495 (fax) 
office hours 8:30 am 5:00 pm 
Languages English, Hindi, Urdu, Braille 

This message may contain protected health information or other
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any copies of this material. 

Thank you.

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of holly miller
Sent: Tuesday, December 28, 2010 8:31 PM
To: NFB Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] NY Times Article on Gov. Paterson and Braille

As the mother of a 10 yr old who has Albinism, articles like this and
the attitudes portrayed in them make things so much harder. I'm not
afraid to say he's blind but will sometimes say legally blind, partially
sighted, visually impaired simply for clarity.  He does have enough
vision to see print.  Albinism is not degenerative, his vision should
remain stable but with his level of vision it becomes a question of how
long he can read before eye strain and fatigue take their toll on him
absorbing and understanding what he's reading.

We strongly believe braille and a cane are both appropriate
and necessary for him.

We have gotten enormous resistance both from the school and from our
state's commission for the blind.  Why would we want to do something
"to" him like force him to use braille or a cane?  For quite a while we
were assured he was "lucky" to have the amount of vision he has.  For
quite a while, I believed the people who's job was to guide us on
getting proper accommodations because I didn't think there was any
reason not to.  As time passed, I began to see him struggling.  As I
began to read more, seek different avenues of information, I began to
realize there were options out there that were not being made available
to him.  That was about two and a half years ago.  Initially he was
denied O&M instruction, we got a cane ourselves and with guidance from a
wonderful NFB friend, taught him how to use it successfully.  Over this
past summer he was finally granted a few formal O&M lessons.  I know
there are people who are confounded that I will allow him to "look
blind" by using a cane.  There are people who will and have come right
out and say that it's better for him to shuffle his feet, hold my hand
and keep his head down to try to see what the ground is doing than to
use a cane. I was told by the O&M professional evaluating him for
services that tripping and falling is a learning experience.

He still is being denied braille instruction.  We do have a lawyer and
we do have the support of many wonderful NFB folks.  I'm going to have
to skip the details because we are continuing to pursue legal avenues
but I can say it has been an exhausting, disheartening process. The
beliefs out there by the people who should know better is astounding.  I
can almost guarantee someone will show me this very article as proof my
son doesn't need braille.  Hey if Mr. Patterson can become governor
without it, how can I say my son's future will be limited if he doesn't
learn braille?  Yes, that is sarcasm.

Anyway, this is what many parents are being told.  I'd imagine many
newly blind adults are being told things like this as well by the people
who hold the power over what services are doled out. Many people
wouldn't think twice.  These are the professionals, right?  Why would
they question?  I know it took me a while to seek out the NFB.  A good
friend sent me the link a few times before I actually clicked.  My son
wasn't blind, he was "only" visually impaired, surely an organization of
the blind wouldn't be the right place for us.

I'm glad I have persistent friends.
Obviously I have a much different viewpoint now.

So, what can we do?  Realistically?

First, we need to adjust the thinking of the professionals in the field.
If the existing ones are too fixed in their ways, at least do everything
we can to reach the upcoming ones.  I know the NFB has a website to
promote new TVI students.  I just spent 5 minutes looking for it, I
couldn't find it.  Perhaps that initiative could be boosted a bit.

As individuals, if you know of a young person thinking of entering the
teaching field, talk to them about becoming a TVI. Or an O&M instructor
or
rehab counselor.   If you know a teacher that is thinking about adding
credentials, talk to them about becoming one of these professionals.
And talk to them about what makes a GOOD one vs a mediocre one.

Another thing that might help reach the public is having the NFB
spearhead a documentary showing competent, skilled blind people living
their lives.  Show them working, parenting, maintaining their home going
to school, doing recreational activities.  Get inside a training center.
Make sure to include people who do have some sight but who are using
non-visual skills successfully.  Show that sometimes there are
challenges but that those challenges can be dealt with if the person has
learned the proper skills.  Make it available on DVD for a nominal cost
and on the internet for free.  Something we can send our friends, our
family.  Something that can be shown at teacher in-service training.

I hope I've gotten myself across the way I intended.  I have to admit
I've been a long time lurker here who's been afraid to actually post
because things get pretty heated sometimes.

Holly
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