[blindkid] Hard Day New Beginning

[Susan Harper]

It is already better, I can sleep and not feel frustrated and angry.  I am
okay.  I should have done this earlier.  I had two criteria for public
school.  First that my twins stay in the same classroom and the second was
that the staff be knowledgeable and educated about my children's needs.
First clue, separated the twins, but did not let the parents know until the
final PPT, with subtle hint, a schedule of the times the boys would be
together.  This was after 9 months of transition planning, multiple
observations in the home and community by all staff members.  So I guess I
am a slow learner with rose colored glasses, because I really wanted this to
work.  So I compromised on my own values and gut instincts.  Wrong move on
my part.  I do appreciate the support and we can't do any worse than well
meaning uneducated school staff.  By the way, I loved the teacher and aid
for my blind son's class.  However, according to the TVI, it was the school
team and the parents and whoever the parents wish to include.  Clue number
2!  When training was provided it was for the professional staff only (not
the parents, until I had a hissy fit and related that I too had an MS in
Special Ed. and was certified in two states.  This is not certifiable,
although many would think so at this point.  Oh yes, my sense of humor is
coming back and my blood pressure is coming down.

On Fri, Oct 23, 2009 at 4:17 PM, Marie Smith <empwrn at bellsouth.net> wrote:

> Congratulations. Sounds like it was a difficult situation that wasn't going
> to get better. Wishing you the best on this new journey. I'll bet your
> little guy will excel!
>
> Marie (mother of Jack, 4 yrs old with Apert Syndrome)
> http://www.allaccesspasstojack.blogspot.com
> Learn more about Apert Syndrome
> http://www.thecraniofacialcenter.org/apert.html
> Get information and support at Teeter's page
> http://www.apert.org
>
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On
> > Behalf Of Susan Harper
> > Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2009 7:11 PM
> > To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)
> > Subject: [blindkid] Hard Day New Beginning
> >
> > It has been a hard day, but I think a positive new beginning.  I finally
> > slept a peaceful night, the first in a few weeks.  We took our son out
> > Public School and feel we can't do any worse.  I went to school so
> excited
> > that our son had gone from inside the house, out to the porch, down the
> > steps, then the sidewalk, to the driveway and to the car by himself, with
> > only a few verbal prompts.  He gets in and out of the car by himself.  He
> > can take off his coat/s and hang it/them up.  He is just 3 and amazing
> > with
> > a cane, his echo and mental mapping skills.  He has learned to trail with
> > his cane, etc.
> >      At school, what I observed was my son sitting in a wet sand box,
> with
> > his 1:1 aid in front of him and 5 other children in an 8 x 8 sand box in
> > the
> > school playground.  He couldn't move, let alone play.  When all the other
> > children were lining up, my son's aid was helping my son stand up.  He
> has
> > excellent motor skills and has never needed help standing up.  As I
> looked
> > around for my son's cane, I saw it lying on the ground, outside the
> > playground fence in the grass.  I picked it up and handed it to my son.
> > Was
> > he allowed to use it?  No, it was put in his left hand (after repeated
> > requests to allow him to use him dominant hand, which he learned to cane
> > with) and then made to find the side of the building and trail in with
> his
> > right hand, instead of using his cane.  By now all the rest of the
> > children
> > are long gone.  When he got back to the classroom, his cane was taken
> from
> > him and hung up by his aid outside the classroom (even after repeated
> > requests to keep it in his classroom so he could just grab it on his way
> > out, like he does at home).  The the O & M person said that in case of an
> > emergency, he wouldn't need his cane, his aid would make sure he got out.
> > That was kind of where I lost it.  No I didn't scream and shout, I calmly
> > collected my twins from their separate classes and left.  I cried and we
> > (husband and wife) talked and decided to end this madness and home school
> > our blind child the same as we have the rest of our children.  We
> couldn't
> > do any worse.  I wrote a letter and my husband delivered it to the
> > superintendent.  Best decision I have made in a long time.  Don't know
> why
> > I
> > ever doubted myself.  But one of ours gave me the courage yesterday to do
> > what I needed done.  She will know who she is.  Thank you!
> >
> >      School is a few hours a week.  Family is for a lifetime.
> >
> > Blessing and Thanks!
> > Sue
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