[Pibe-division] Reaching your potential

Tue Sep 20 14:40:46 UTC 2011

You are so right Marianne
I have worked with great Paras who walk that fine line very well

       Denise 

Denise M. Robinson, TVI, Ph.D. 
Teacher of the Blind & Visually Impaired
TechVision-Independent Contractor
Specialist in blind programming/teaching/training
509-674-1853     deniserob at gmail.com

http://blindgeteducated.blogspot.com/

From: Marianne Denning <MDenning at finneytown.org>
>To: Professionals in Blindness Education Division List <pibe-division at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Monday, September 19, 2011 5:54 PM
>Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] Reaching your potential
>
>I also began a public school in the 1960's and we made up the rules as we went.  I think that has helped me adapt to life but I think paras are helpful in many ways in appropriate situations.  It is a balancing act.
>Marianne Denning
>Intervention Specialist, Visually Impaired
>Finneytown Secondary Campus
>mdenning at finneytown.org
>513-931-0712
>________________________________________
>From: pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org [pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mike Freeman [k7uij at panix.com]
>Sent: Monday, September 19, 2011 7:34 PM
>To: 'Professionals in Blindness Education Division List'
>Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] Reaching your potential
>
>When I began kindergarten (1954), we didn't know about paras because they
>hadn't been invented yet! IMO I was better off. (grin)
>
>Mike
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org
>[mailto:pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Marianne Denning
>Sent: Monday, September 19, 2011 4:08 PM
>To: Professionals in Blindness Education Division List
>Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] Reaching your potential
>
>This even applies to many students who are visually impaired and have
>additional disabilities.  I work with a student who had a para up through
>7th grade.  The parents moved to a different school district and that
>district, due to funding cuts, opted not to provide an aid.  I have
>continued to work with the student and the progress she has made is
>remarkable.  She attends classes for students with multiple disabilities and
>there is a teacher and an aid in every room but she completes her work
>independently and comunicates her wants and needs.  I see the confidence it
>has created.  We believe too many students need paras who are very capable.
>Marianne Denning
>Intervention Specialist, Visually Impaired
>Finneytown Secondary Campus
>mdenning at finneytown.org
>513-931-0712
>________________________________________
>From: pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org [pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>Behalf Of Dr. Denise M. Robinson [dmehlenbacher at yahoo.com]
>Sent: Monday, September 19, 2011 6:52 PM
>To: Professionals in Blindness Education Division List
>Subject: [Pibe-division] Reaching your potential
>
>Reaching Your
>Potential<http://blindgeteducated.blogspot.com/2011/09/reaching-your-potenti
>al.html>
>One of the biggest issues in the blind field (and there are many) is how
>much should a para educator be with a child?
>
>What I have seen:
>When a district has no one, a para is glued to the child's side and does
>most of the work for the child because the para lacks the blind skills to
>help the child do for themselves. The child is succeeding (though only
>because of what the para is doing, NOT the child) and all are happy. BUT the
>parents do not realize how much their child is NOT doing and many times, the
>district is unaware of this also. Or parents fight for a para next to their
>child all day, without realizing this para will be a big brick wall between
>their child making friends and achieving their own goals and potential.
>
>I have come into districts and watched the blind child rocking back and
>forth while the para did the work, sitting side by side, away from class, in
>their own little world. When I talked with the child, the most intelligent
>words came from her mouth, so I knew there was a brain there. We spent the
>next couple of years teaching her all the technology, braille and other
>blind skills and she was completely independent by the third year. The para
>just adapted the work for her and made sure she had it in class when all the
>other students did. This is what SHOULD be happening all the time.
>
>I have had the first scenario over and over and depending on the "pain"
>level of weaning the child from the para, is really up to the child and
>parents. Most are on board with the heavy duty technology, braille lessons
>and other blind skills and within that 2-3 year window you can have an
>independent child.
>
>However, there are the people who are not thinking ahead to graduation,
>college, a job. They really think that somehow, miraculously their child
>will be completely independent when they graduate, when in fact, they have
>been completely dependent on a para throughout their school career and this
>dependence and lack of ability will follow them. The child ends up living
>with the parents and the parents continue to do everything for this child
>who has the potential of Mt. Everest inside, but instead the child sits like
>a glacier holding her down and going no where.
>
>Parents and child bring the fear to each other. The child brings that fear
>to the parents and the parents have the same fear, or the parents put the
>fear on the child and they tell the child they cannot live without the para
>(the second scenario is the most common). They truly believe they cannot
>live without that para being right next to the child all day long. It kills
>the confidence of the child. The child lacks friends because the para has
>become the end all to be all of their life. They fail to gain enough skills
>to go onto college, and worse be gainfully employed to their IQ level.
>
>So, back to reaching your potential. We can't do it without "pain". It will
>be painful, not physically, though I have seen a lot of sweating, but
>emotionally. The fear. The dread of not being able to do your work because
>you forgot something. The fear of getting lost in the school or on a bus
>ride because you took a wrong turn.
>
>I use the phrase: We learn more from our failures than our successes. I give
>everyone permission to fail because we are going to fail at something no
>matter what it is. Don't feel bad about it, feel happy that you are
>progressing toward something. We can learn from our mistakes, but if we
>never try, we do not know our own potential.
>
>When they are getting ready to take their first solo bus ride, they are very
>fearful of getting lost. I tell them, "Don't worry (very cheerfully)...you
>will!! And they laugh. That is why God gave you a mouth. Speak up and ask
>someone directions. Same thing goes for class. Speak up and ask. I see
>relief come over my students. Yep, it is better to fail at trying something
>than to never try anything. You can only reach your potential with work and
>pain....but the pain goes and confidence and success follow.
>
>       Denise
>
>Denise M. Robinson, TVI, Ph.D.
>Teacher of the Blind & Visually Impaired
>TechVision-Independent Contractor
>Specialist in blind programming/teaching/training
>509-674-1853    deniserob at gmail.com<mailto:deniserob at gmail.com>
>
>http://blindgeteducated.blogspot.com/
>
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