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<DIV><FONT size=2>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.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Sally Thomas</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=bookwormahb@earthlink.net
href="mailto:bookwormahb@earthlink.net">bookwormahb@earthlink.net</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=LiveInSpirit@aol.com
href="mailto:LiveInSpirit@aol.com">LiveInSpirit@aol.com</A> ; <A
title=egibbs@brazosportisd.net
href="mailto:egibbs@brazosportisd.net">egibbs@brazosportisd.net</A> ; <A
title=aernet@lists.aerbvi.org
href="mailto:aernet@lists.aerbvi.org">aernet@lists.aerbvi.org</A> ; <A
title=pibe-division@nfbnet.org
href="mailto:pibe-division@nfbnet.org">pibe-division@nfbnet.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, December 17, 2008 6:26
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Pibe-division] [AERNet]
Eating with a Fork</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<P>Hi,</P>
<P>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.
<BR><BR><BR></P>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid">-----Original
Message----- <BR>From: <A
href="mailto:LiveInSpirit@aol.com">LiveInSpirit@aol.com</A> <BR>Sent: Dec
17, 2008 7:09 PM <BR>To: <A
href="mailto:bookwormahb@earthlink.net">bookwormahb@earthlink.net</A>, <A
href="mailto:egibbs@brazosportisd.net">egibbs@brazosportisd.net</A>, <A
href="mailto:aernet@lists.aerbvi.org">aernet@lists.aerbvi.org</A>, <A
href="mailto:pibe-division@nfbnet.org">pibe-division@nfbnet.org</A>
<BR>Subject: Re: [AERNet] Eating with a Fork <BR><BR><ZZZHTML
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<DIV>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. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>In a message dated 12/17/2008 4:15:07 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 class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Hi,</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><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
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<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
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<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>
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