<html><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:14pt"><div><span>Thanks Pauline</span></div><div><span></span> </div><div><span>It is interesting as I hear many stories that blind children had many independent skills, decades before, as the idea of attaching a para to someone was a foreign idea. That did not come until later. We have many students doing what you did, and with the technology and other blind skills are able to do so much more and truly reach that independent state of being. Unfortunately, we have a hugh section that are being tied to paras and then, well not such a good result. However, there are incredible paras who know that fine line in helping. I have worked with them and the flow and progress of the child is wonderful.</span></div><div></div><div> </div><div><span style='color: black; font-family: "Brush Script MT"; font-size:
18pt;'><font color="#4040ff"> Denise </font></span></div><div><span style='color: black; font-family: "Brush Script MT"; 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 href="mailto:deniserob@gmail.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> deniserob@gmail.com</a></div><div> </div><div><a href="http://blindgeteducated.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://blindgeteducated.blogspot.com/</a></div><div> </div><div><br><blockquote style="padding-left: 5px; margin-left: 5px; border-left-color: rgb(16, 16, 255); border-left-width: 2px; border-left-style: solid;"><div style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 14pt;"><div style="font-family: times new roman, new
york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><font size="2" face="Arial"><div style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); height: 0px; line-height: 0; font-size: 0px;" class="hr" contentEditable="false" readonly="true"></div><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">From:</span></b> "Smith, Pauline L" <PSmith4@dmc.org><br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> 'Professionals in Blindness Education Division List' <pibe-division@nfbnet.org><br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Tuesday, September 20, 2011 5:02 AM<br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> Re: [Pibe-division] Reaching your potential<br></font><br>I attended public school in the 1970's and 1980's. Because I was always in a school with a resource room, I did not have a para in class with me. I was fully mainstreamed into the regular classroom beginning in the 6th grade. We took our own notes when
we could, but we were also provided packets of carbon paper between two sheets of lined paper so that a classmate could take notes for us when needed. Either a student volunteered to do this or the classroom teacher assigned someone. We were responsible for completing assignments and homework. This was just before the technological age. This gave us some preparation for higher education and the real world, although I'm sure we had some shortcomings in that regard.<br><br>Pauline<br> <br><br>-----Original Message-----<br>From: <a href="mailto:pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org" ymailto="mailto:pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org">pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org</a> [mailto:<a href="mailto:pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org" ymailto="mailto:pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org">pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>] On Behalf Of Mike Freeman<br>Sent: Monday, September 19, 2011 7:34 PM<br>To: 'Professionals in Blindness Education Division
List'<br>Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] Reaching your potential<br><br>When I began kindergarten (1954), we didn't know about paras because they hadn't been invented yet! IMO I was better off. (grin)<br><br>Mike<br><br><br>-----Original Message-----<br>From: <a href="mailto:pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org" ymailto="mailto:pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org">pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org</a><br>[mailto:<a href="mailto:pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org" ymailto="mailto:pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org">pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>] On Behalf Of Marianne Denning<br>Sent: Monday, September 19, 2011 4:08 PM<br>To: Professionals in Blindness Education Division List<br>Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] Reaching your potential<br><br>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.<br>Marianne Denning<br>Intervention Specialist, Visually Impaired Finneytown Secondary Campus <a href="mailto:mdenning@finneytown.org" ymailto="mailto:mdenning@finneytown.org">mdenning@finneytown.org</a><br>513-931-0712<br>________________________________________<br>From: <a href="mailto:pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org" ymailto="mailto:pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org">pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org</a> [<a href="mailto:pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org"
ymailto="mailto:pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org">pibe-division-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>] On Behalf Of Dr. Denise M. Robinson [<a href="mailto:dmehlenbacher@yahoo.com" ymailto="mailto:dmehlenbacher@yahoo.com">dmehlenbacher@yahoo.com</a>]<br>Sent: Monday, September 19, 2011 6:52 PM<br>To: Professionals in Blindness Education Division List<br>Subject: [Pibe-division] Reaching your potential<br><br>Reaching Your<br>Potential<<a href="http://blindgeteducated.blogspot.com/2011/09/reaching-your-potenti" target="_blank">http://blindgeteducated.blogspot.com/2011/09/reaching-your-potenti</a><br>al.html><br>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><br>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"<br>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><br>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><br>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.<br><br> Denise<br><br>Denise M. Robinson, TVI, Ph.D.<br>Teacher of the Blind & Visually Impaired TechVision-Independent Contractor Specialist in blind
programming/teaching/training<br>509-674-1853 <a href="mailto:deniserob@gmail.com" ymailto="mailto:deniserob@gmail.com">deniserob@gmail.com</a><mailto:<a href="mailto:deniserob@gmail.com" ymailto="mailto:deniserob@gmail.com">deniserob@gmail.com</a>><br><br><a href="http://blindgeteducated.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://blindgeteducated.blogspot.com/</a><br><br><br>This e-mail is confidential and may contain legally privileged information.<br>If you are not the intended recipient, you should not copy, distribute, disclose or use the information it contains. Please e-mail the sender immediately and delete this message from your system.<br><br>Note: E-mails are susceptible to corruption, interception and unauthorized amendment; we do not accept liability for any such changes, or for their consequences. You should be aware, that the company may monitor your emails and their
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