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<a href="http://blindgeteducated.blogspot.com/2011/09/reaching-your-potential.html">Reaching Your Potential</a>
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One of the biggest issues in the blind field (and there are many) is how much should a para educator be with a child?<br>
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What I have seen:<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
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.<br>
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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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
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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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.
<div> </div><div><span style="FONT-FAMILY:'Brush Script MT';COLOR:black;FONT-SIZE:18pt;"><font color="#4040ff"> Denise </font></span></div><div><span style="FONT-FAMILY:'Brush Script MT';COLOR:black;FONT-SIZE:18pt;"></span> </div><div>Denise M. Robinson, TVI, Ph.D. <br>Teacher of the Blind & Visually Impaired<br>TechVision-Independent Contractor</div><div>Specialist in blind programming/teaching/training</div><div>509-674-1853 <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="mailto:deniserob@gmail.com"> deniserob@gmail.com</a></div><div> </div><div><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://blindgeteducated.blogspot.com/">http://blindgeteducated.blogspot.com/</a></div><div> </div></div></body></html>