<html><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:14pt"><div><span>You are so right Marianne</span></div><div><span>I have worked with great Paras who walk that fine line very well</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> Marianne Denning <MDenning@finneytown.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> Monday, September 19, 2011 5:54
PM<br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> Re: [Pibe-division] Reaching your potential<br></font><br>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.<br>Marianne Denning<br>Intervention Specialist, Visually Impaired<br>Finneytown Secondary Campus<br><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 Mike Freeman [<a href="mailto:k7uij@panix.com"
ymailto="mailto:k7uij@panix.com">k7uij@panix.com</a>]<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<br>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<br>additional disabilities. I work with a student who had a para up through<br>7th grade. The parents moved to a different school district and that<br>district, due to funding cuts, opted not to provide an aid. I have<br>continued to work with the student and the progress she has made is<br>remarkable. She attends classes for students with multiple disabilities and<br>there is a teacher and an aid in every room but she completes her work<br>independently and comunicates her wants and needs. I see the confidence it<br>has created. We believe too many students need paras who are very capable.<br>Marianne Denning<br>Intervention Specialist, Visually Impaired<br>Finneytown Secondary Campus<br><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<br>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<br>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<br>most of the work for the child because the para lacks the blind skills to<br>help the child do for themselves. The child is succeeding (though only<br>because of what the para is doing, NOT the child) and all are happy. BUT the<br>parents do not realize how much their child is NOT doing and many times, the<br>district is unaware of this also. Or parents fight for a para next to their<br>child all day, without realizing this para will be a big brick wall between<br>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<br>forth while the para did the work, sitting side by side, away from class, in<br>their own little world. When I talked with the child, the most intelligent<br>words came from her mouth, so I knew there was a brain there. We spent the<br>next couple of years teaching her all the technology, braille and other<br>blind skills and she was
completely independent by the third year. The para<br>just adapted the work for her and made sure she had it in class when all the<br>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<br>parents. Most are on board with the heavy duty technology, braille lessons<br>and other blind skills and within that 2-3 year window you can have an<br>independent child.<br><br>However, there are the people who are not thinking ahead to graduation,<br>college, a job. They really think that somehow, miraculously their child<br>will be completely independent when they graduate, when in fact, they have<br>been completely dependent on a para throughout their school career and this<br>dependence and lack of ability will follow them. The child ends up living<br>with the parents and the parents continue to
do everything for this child<br>who has the potential of Mt. Everest inside, but instead the child sits like<br>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<br>to the parents and the parents have the same fear, or the parents put the<br>fear on the child and they tell the child they cannot live without the para<br>(the second scenario is the most common). They truly believe they cannot<br>live without that para being right next to the child all day long. It kills<br>the confidence of the child. The child lacks friends because the para has<br>become the end all to be all of their life. They fail to gain enough skills<br>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<br>be painful, not physically, though I have seen a lot of sweating, but<br>emotionally. The fear. The
dread of not being able to do your work because<br>you forgot something. The fear of getting lost in the school or on a bus<br>ride because you took a wrong turn.<br><br>I use the phrase: We learn more from our failures than our successes. I give<br>everyone permission to fail because we are going to fail at something no<br>matter what it is. Don't feel bad about it, feel happy that you are<br>progressing toward something. We can learn from our mistakes, but if we<br>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<br>fearful of getting lost. I tell them, "Don't worry (very cheerfully)...you<br>will!! And they laugh. That is why God gave you a mouth. Speak up and ask<br>someone directions. Same thing goes for class. Speak up and ask. I see<br>relief come over my students. Yep, it is better to fail at trying something<br>than to never try anything. You can only reach your
potential with work and<br>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<br>TechVision-Independent Contractor<br>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,<br>disclose or use the information it contains. Please e-mail the sender<br>immediately and delete this message from your system.<br><br>Note: E-mails
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