[Pibe-division] [AERNet] Eating with a Fork
Carrie Gilmer
carrie.gilmer at gmail.com
Fri Dec 19 01:59:13 UTC 2008
Thanks Barbara! What a gem and virtual wikkipedia/encyclopedia (for us
oldies but goodies) you are!
Carrie Gilmer, President
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
A Division of the National Federation of the Blind
NFB National Center: 410-659-9314
Home Phone: 763-784-8590
carrie.gilmer at gmail.com
www.nfb.org/nopbc
_____
From: pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Cheadle, Barbara
Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2008 3:42 PM
To: Professionals in Blindness Education Division List
Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] [AERNet] Eating with a Fork
From: Barbara Cheadle, Editor, Future Reflections
Table manners are important, but it is not always easy for parents to figure
out how to use nonvisual techniques to teach or encourage those skills to
their blind kids. Most of the things parents are expected to teach are
things that we already know how to do, and we teach our kids using the
techniques that our mothers and fathers used to teach us, and so on.
Attitudes are certainly key, but beyond that, not everyone is creative
enough or confident enough to comfortably and quickly translate their visual
techniques into nonvisual adaptations--especially if they've never seen it
done, or have had limited exposure to role models to emulate.
It's like someone who is right-handed teaching skills to someone who is
left-handed. Surely you can do it, but it can be frustrating for both
parties. Often the left-handed child has to figure it out for him- or
herself because the right-handed person's techniques--way of grasping a
pencil, holding a paring knife, and so forth--is not comfortable or
efficient for the left-handed person.
Barbara Pierce wrote an excellent article about table manners for our Future
Reflections readers a couple of years ago. In fact, she has written a
series of articles about social skills in general which we make available in
a hard copy social skills packet, or via online links. Barbara also wrote
some excellent pieces for the Braille Monitor, under "Ask Miss Whozit."
Here are some links:
http://nfb.org/legacy/bm/bm03/bm0305/bm030513.htm
http://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/Publications/fr/fr04/Issue1/f040107.html
http://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/Publications/fr/fr5/Issue1/f050107.html
http://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/Publications/fr/fr7/Issue1/f070104.html
http://nfb.org/legacy/bm/bm05/bm0510/bm051009.htm
http://www.nfb.org/Images/nfb/Publications/fr/fr18/fr05sf03.htm
http://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/Publications/bm/bm07/bm0711/bm071112.htm
http://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/Publications/bm/bm08/bm0806/bm080614.htm
http://nfb.org/legacy/bm/bm06/bm0601/bm060107.htm
Some years ago, our Maryland Parents of Blind Children sponsored a program
where we matched parents with a blind person or couple who invited the
family over for dinner. The understanding was that the blind adult/couple
did so for the purpose of showing parents how they managed a household,
cooked and served a meal, and handled table manners and social skills in
general. Parents were encouraged to ask frank questions, ask for
demonstations, and share their fears and worries about those little skills
that they either didn't know how to teach, or had not been successful in
doing so at that point. It was a great program and helped a number of
parents.
Just some thoughts and some resources to consider.
Barbara Cheadle
_____
From: pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Andy & Sally Thomas
Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2008 12:54 PM
To: Professionals in Blindness Education Division List
Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] [AERNet] Eating with a Fork
As a parent, I can sympathize with the mom. I tried to get some guidance on
teaching my child to eat neatly starting at a very young age. I could not
find anyone who would offer any guidance. I agree that it is the parent's
responsibility to teach the child to eat neatly but it would be nice to have
some suggestions on how to make things work smoothly like using a plate with
high sides and the hand over hand instruction. We have managed to muddle
along on our own but it's just another way that I feel like we were ignored
by the powers that be.
Sally Thomas
----- Original Message -----
From: bookwormahb at earthlink.net
To: LiveInSpirit at aol.com ; egibbs at brazosportisd.net ;
aernet at lists.aerbvi.org ; pibe-division at nfbnet.org
Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 6:26 PM
Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] [AERNet] Eating with a Fork
Hi,
I totally agree. It may need to be the TVI's role to point out the problem
and point the child's parents to resources for help.
-----Original Message-----
From: LiveInSpirit at aol.com
Sent: Dec 17, 2008 7:09 PM
To: bookwormahb at earthlink.net, egibbs at brazosportisd.net,
aernet at lists.aerbvi.org, pibe-division at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [AERNet] Eating with a Fork
Well, it may not need to be that the TVI does the direct teaching, but
he/she may need to be the one that says, "Hey, this child should be doing
this" and get things rolling with mom or cafeteria staff or whomever is
going to actually address the deficit.
In a message dated 12/17/2008 4:15:07 P.M. Central Standard Time,
bookwormahb at earthlink.net writes:
Hi,
This is a trend then. When I was in elementary school in 1990s it was the
TVI's role to teach academic skills and some associated skills like
computers since you have to learn that to do your notes and papers.
Then perhaps Emily should visit the home and teach the child how to eat with
a fork.
But still this is a stretch. You tvis must think unless there is some
underlying fine motor deficit or other impairment that an 11 year old should
know a basic skill by then. We are talking about someone who is blind not
mentally impaired. This is about age appropriate expectations. You all
can't do it all. If you start teaching and act responsible for living
skills there will be no time for academics.
I have been on the list for a few years and have not heard of a 11 year old
not knowing how to eat? What is next? Are people so backward that they let
such a deficit slip until the child is 11? Surely cafeteria monitors or
someone noticed this before now. When I was in school we had a few
cafeteria monitors.
Of course if you have time teach these things. Go to the cafeteria and help
your students. But Most of you won't have time. You are stretched thin to
teach academics as it is. Is eating skills part of ECC and social
integration? Of course it is. After all student who eats like a baby or
culturally inappropriate ways and dresses badly will not fit in. These
needs should be addressed. Perhaps an evaluation by a rehab teacher should
occur. The RT can cover eating skills and other living skills. I still
contend that the parent should facilitate this too. After all they are
raising the child and hopefully eating with their kid every night. Another
professional will see a child once a week. So since the parent is with the
child more, it only makes since for the parent to play a role too. Just
because a child is blind does not release the parent from doing their
parenting duty which is to raise their child. My parents covered some basic
stuff like opening cartoons and packages but a rt helped me learn later.
Once my parents saw it was possible they reinforced it. Just say to use
hands on and verbal instruction. Teaching such a skill is not rocket
science. Whatever happens I hope the child learns somehow.
Ashley
-----Original Message-----
From: LiveInSpirit at aol.com
Sent: Dec 16, 2008 10:04 PM
To: bookwormahb at earthlink.net, egibbs at brazosportisd.net,
aernet at lists.aerbvi.org, pibe-division at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [AERNet] Eating with a Fork
While I certainly agree that an OT and/or parent may be able to/should teach
eating skills, surely this is also reasonable for a teacher of the visually
impaired to cover as part of the expanded core curriculum. And as far as why
an 11-year-old hasn't been shown how to do this up to this point is likely
because mom and dad didn't read the foundations book and do not know that it
is reasonable to expect the child to do this and/or they just weren't sure
how to demonstrate a technique that works well. It truly could be innocent
ignorance rather than oversight/blow it off. But, bottom line, I definitely
think that there are times when teaching such skills are absolutely the duty
of the teacher, whether that means you teach the student directly or the
parent or maybe even an aide in the cafeteria. Similarly, it is our job to
cover other daily living skills such as dressing, bathing, etc. Others at
the school may not realize the kids with visual impairments can do these
things for themselves. Do some observations in the cafeteria and you may be
shocked to see that your students, even your most advanced ones, may be
struggling with eating skills and need help in this area. Needs could range
from not knowing how to open condiment containers, being unable to salt
food, pouring salad dressing, spreading butter on bread, cutting meat,
finding food on eh plate without using the fingers, opening a milk carton,
etc. These are all things I think we should address with our students as
certified, trained vision teachers.
In a message dated 12/16/2008 8:48:09 P.M. Central Standard Time,
bookwormahb at earthlink.net writes:
Hi Emily,
It is not your responsibility as a TVI to teach students to eat. However
you probably should to further her success. Tell the parent politely she
should assist her child too. Explain that all is needed is some hand over
hand guidance. My reaction is something sounds very very wrong.
Why is an eleven year old not eating with a fork? Is she multiply impaired?
Even cognitively delayed and intelectually (retarded) impaired children eat
with forks. Unless there is a severe disability why is she not doing this?
The parents have failed terribily in waiting til a child is 11 to address
eating. Shame, Shame! Angel has a good point. Parents need to take more
initative and not baby their children unless they are babies.
That being said, I am surprised the OT does not have a hand in teaching this
too. This requires fine motor coordination. I am assuming the 11 year old
child was seeing the OT to address motor deficits. Can you tell us more
such as what the child's goals were in OT?
I find it hard to believe the only concern of the mom was the eating issue.
If she had not been eating correctly, I think there were likely other
problems.
So although it is certainly the parent's responsibility, this IMO falls into
OT as well. I think I learned eating skills at home and it was reinforced
by teachers and staff at school.
Ashley
-----Original Message-----
From: "Gibbs, Emily"
Sent: Dec 15, 2008 3:35 PM
To: aernet at lists.aerbvi.org, Professionals in Blindness Education Division
List
Subject: [AERNet] Eating with a Fork
I was just contacted by the OT in my school district and she is apparently
dismissing one of my blind students from service. She had just discussed
this with the parent and the parent's only concern was the fact that this
11year old can not eat with a fork. The OT wanted to know if I would be
willing to do a home visit in order to help them teach this student to eat
with a fork at home.
What would you do in this situation?
,Emily ,Gibbs
Emily L Gibbs M.Ed. NCLB
Teacher of Blind Students
586.489.6017
979.730.7155 x11594
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom
they are addressed.
If you have received this e-mail in error please notify the
originator of the message. This footer also confirms that this
e-mail message has been scanned for the presence of computer viruses.
Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual
sender, except where the sender specifies and with authority,
states them to be the views of Brazosport ISD.
Scanning of this message and addition of this footer is performed
by SurfControl E-mail Filter software in conjunction with
virus detection software.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
You are subscribed to AERNet, The Association for Education and
Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired Listserv.
To post a message to all the list members, send an email to
aernet at lists.aerbvi.org.
Address list requests to: aernet-request at lists.aerbvi.org
To unsubscribe from this list, go to
http://lists.aerbvi.org/mailman/listinfo/aernet_lists.aerbvi.org and follow
instructions to unsubscribe.
_______________________________________________
AERNet mailing list
AERNet at lists.aerbvi.org
http://lists.aerbvi.org/mailman/listinfo/aernet_lists.aerbvi.org
_____
A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See
<http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1215195222x1200993641/aol?redir=htt
p://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072%26hmpgID=82%26bcd=Dec
emailfooterNO82> yours in just 2 easy steps!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
_____
A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps!
<http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1215195222x1200993641/aol?redir=htt
p://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072%26hmpgID=82%26bcd=Dec
emailfooterNO82>
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
_____
_______________________________________________
Pibe-division mailing list
Pibe-division at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/pibe-division_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Pibe-division:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/pibe-division_nfbnet.org/andysally%40c
omcast.net
_____
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.9.19/1853 - Release Date: 12/17/2008
8:31 AM
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/pibe-division_nfbnet.org/attachments/20081218/61d7c812/attachment.html>
More information about the PIBE-Division
mailing list