[stylist] Training blind children

[helene ryles]

That sounds interesting. I don't think that just sticking a blind kid
in a mainstream classromm is the right way to go unless they get
taught the neccessary skills.

What do people here think of teaching blind kids in segregated
kindergarten and primary schools then moving them on to mainstream
schooling AFTER learning neccessary blind skills?

On 06/10/2008, Angela fowler <fowlers at syix.com> wrote:
> Judith I would love to see that day!
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist-bounces+fowlers=syix.com at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:stylist-bounces+fowlers=syix.com at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Judith
> Bron
> Sent: Sunday, October 05, 2008 9:04 PM
> To: NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [stylist] Training blind children
>
> Good points Angela.  Maybe we can get the Education departments of the
> various states to see this necessity in educating their blind students.
> Judith
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Angela fowler" <fowlers at syix.com>
> To: "'NFBnet Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, October 05, 2008 11:35 PM
> Subject: [stylist] Training blind children
>
>
>> The following is the material I have on a page which I will eventually
>> post to my web site, but as you can see its nowhere near ready to post
>> now. I'd like to know what you guys think, in particular about the
>> last question, what's a parent to do?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> The earlier you can introduce blind children to positive blind role
>> models and teach them good blindness skills the better. In fact, it is
>> essential, that legally blind children learn how to read Braille and
>> use a long white cane. Many school districts discourage blind children
>> from learning these things, and are in the process doing an them an
>> egregious disservice, denying them essentially the opportunity for
>> literacy and independence which is supposed to be the right of all
>> children in this country. Think I'm being a bit harsh? I'm a parent.
>> If my sighted son were denied in the way many blind children are, I
>> would never stand for it!
>>
>> I learned to read Braille at a very early age, and I had a cane in my
>> hand when I was 5. Because I acquired these skills early, I was far
>> more prepared for the challenges of life as a blind person than many
>> of my friends who weren't so fortunate. With that in mind, I've put
>> together a few resources to help parents best advocate for their blind
>> children, ensuring that they get the education they disserve.
>>
>>
>> To mainstream or not to mainstream?
>>
>>
>> In a perfect world, all blind children would go to mainstream schools,
>> working and learning side by side with their sighted peers. They would
>> have classroom teachers who were positive about blindness, had high
>> expectations for blind children, and went out of their way to work
>> with them. They would have cool teachers of the visually impaired,
>> with equally positive attitudes about blindness, who taught them
>> Braille, cane travel, adaptive technology, and basic home economics
>> skills. While we're going down this road, each blind student would get
>> to go to at least one NFB national convention before they graduate 8th
>> grade, and have positive blind role models who are only a phone call
>> or bus ride away.
>>
>> Now we're all people of the world, and we know that doesn't happen
>> very often, so what's a parent to do?
>>
>>
>>
>> Thank you
>>
>> Angela Fowler
>>
>> fowlers at syix.com
>>
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