[Pibe-division] A bit of Wisdom and Experience asked for...

[Carrie Gilmer]

Greetings Fine educators,

I try not to come to you for individual help for a parent-especially on this
list-often, but this is a bit of an unusual one. Asking if anyone has
experience with Apert's or more importantly lack of fine motor function as
the mother relates below. What do you recommend? And/or if you think it will
affect the writing more than the reading...The child is three years old.

I should add current teaching staff has not recommended Braille, parent is
pushing, and the IEP team only vaguely responded to that push with vague
talk of possible pre-Braille activities needed first, and that they GUESS he
will be a large print reader. The TVI stated she did not know for sure how
to get him early Braille books for home! This was at the last IEP progress
meeting this past week. PT was curtailed as he "was doing so well" was the
main reason for the meeting. 
 
 
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

To the blindkid list:
Thank you everyone! There is a ton of info out there. I'm a bit anxious. 
I have ordered Carol C's book. I also ordered one of those tactile
workbooks. I have signed up for every braille book club I found. All this
stuff is and will continue to add up and I'll take all the free help we can
get. 
My son is fine motor delayed and does not have a lot of manual dexterity. He
does not have a lot of range of motion where his fingers meet his palm. He
does not have most of his finger joints. How does this impact his learning
braille. It seems like a lot of pre-braille activities have to do with
grasping and manipulating objects. 
Also I should clarify that Dr. DeCarlo said that 2-3 inch high print would
be sufficient for near work (as in held in his lap or sitting on a desk). He
can see smaller print by holding it in his hands close to his face. We plan
on him being a dual media learner.