<HEAD>
<STYLE>body{font-family: Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:9pt;background-color: #ffffff;color: black;}</STYLE>
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.5694" name=GENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY id=compText>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Hi,</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">This is a trend then.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>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.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Then perhaps Emily should visit the home and teach the child how to eat with a fork.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">But still this is a stretch.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>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.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We are talking about someone who is blind not mentally impaired.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This is about age appropriate expectations.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You all can’t do it all.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If you start teaching <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>and act responsible for living skills there will be no time for academics.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p>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.</o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Of course if you have time teach these things. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Go to the cafeteria and help your students.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>But Most of you won’t have time.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You are stretched thin to teach academics as it is.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Is eating skills part of ECC and social integration? <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Of course it is. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>After all student who eats like a baby or culturally inappropriate ways and dresses badly will not fit in. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>These needs should be addressed. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Perhaps an evaluation by a rehab teacher should occur. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The RT can cover eating skills and other living skills. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I still contend that the parent should facilitate this too. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>After all they are raising the child and hopefully eating with their kid every night. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Another professional will see a child once a week. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So since the parent is with the child more, it only makes since for the parent to play a role too. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> 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. </SPAN>Just say to use hands on and verbal instruction. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Teaching such a skill is not rocket science. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Whatever <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>happens I hope the child learns somehow.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Ashley</P><BR><BR><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid">-----Original Message----- <BR>From: LiveInSpirit@aol.com <BR>Sent: Dec 16, 2008 10:04 PM <BR>To: bookwormahb@earthlink.net, egibbs@brazosportisd.net, aernet@lists.aerbvi.org, pibe-division@nfbnet.org <BR>Subject: Re: [AERNet] Eating with a Fork <BR><BR><ZZZHTML><ZZZHEAD><ZZZMETA content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"><ZZZMETA content="MSHTML 6.00.6000.16762" name="GENERATOR"></ZZZHEAD><ZZZBODY id=role_body style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Arial" rightMargin="7" topMargin="7" leftMargin="7" bottomMargin="7"><FONT id=role_document face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>
<DIV>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. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>In a message dated 12/16/2008 8:48:09 P.M. Central Standard Time, bookwormahb@earthlink.net writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>
<P>Hi Emily,</P>
<P>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. </P>
<P>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. </P>
<P>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? </P>
<P>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.</P>
<P>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.</P>
<P> </P>
<P>Ashley<BR><BR><BR></P>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid">-----Original Message----- <BR>From: "Gibbs, Emily" <EGIBBS@BRAZOSPORTISD.NET><BR>Sent: Dec 15, 2008 3:35 PM <BR>To: aernet@lists.aerbvi.org, Professionals in Blindness Education Division List <PIBE-DIVISION@NFBNET.ORG><BR>Subject: [AERNet] Eating with a Fork <BR><BR><ZZZHTML><ZZZHEAD><ZZZMETA content="text/html; charset=us-ascii" http-equiv="Content-Type"><ZZZMETA content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)" name="Generator">
<STYLE>
<ZZZ!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Braille;
panose-1:1 1 6 9 6 1 1 1 1 3;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Comic Sans MS";
panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
a:ZZZlink, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.MsoAutoSig, li.MsoAutoSig, div.MsoAutoSig
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
span.EmailStyle17
{font-family:Arial;
color:windowtext;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</STYLE>
</ZZZHEAD><ZZZBODY lang=EN-US link="blue" vlink="purple">
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">What would you do in this situation? </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoAutoSig><FONT face=Braille color=blue size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Braille">,Emily ,Gibbs</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoAutoSig><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=blue size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'">Emily L Gibbs M.Ed. NCLB</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoAutoSig><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=blue size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'">Teacher of Blind Students</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoAutoSig><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=blue size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'">586.489.6017</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoAutoSig><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=blue size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'">979.730.7155 x11594</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV><BR><BR>
<TABLE style="COLOR: black" bgColor=white>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD><BR>_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _<BR><BR>This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and<BR>intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom<BR>they are addressed.<BR>If you have received this e-mail in error please notify the<BR>originator of the message. This footer also confirms that this<BR>e-mail message has been scanned for the presence of computer viruses.<BR><BR>Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual<BR>sender, except where the sender specifies and with authority,<BR>states them to be the views of Brazosport ISD.<BR><BR>Scanning of this message and addition of this footer is performed<BR>by SurfControl E-mail Filter software in conjunction with <BR>virus detection software. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></ZZZBODY></ZZZHTML></BLOCKQUOTE><PRE>Merry Christmas and Happy New Year</PRE><BR><BR>You are subscribed to AERNet, The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired Listserv.<BR><BR>To post a message to all the list members, send an email to aernet@lists.aerbvi.org.<BR><BR>Address list requests to: aernet-request@lists.aerbvi.org<BR><BR>To unsubscribe from this list, go to http://lists.aerbvi.org/mailman/listinfo/aernet_lists.aerbvi.org and follow instructions to unsubscribe.<BR><BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>AERNet mailing list<BR>AERNet@lists.aerbvi.org<BR>http://lists.aerbvi.org/mailman/listinfo/aernet_lists.aerbvi.org<BR></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR>
<DIV class=aol_ad_footer id=632d114a256d77cbd16d36cdfe90bdc3><FONT style="FONT: 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF; COLOR: black">
<HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">
<B>A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. <A href="http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1215195222x1200993641/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072%26hmpgID=82%26bcd=DecemailfooterNO82" target=_blank>See yours in just 2 easy steps!</A></B></FONT></DIV></ZZZBODY></ZZZHTML></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY><pre>
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year</pre>