[blindkid] O&M for the little ones

[Carol Castellano]

Hi Eliza,

It seems to me that going from using a cane, even as a toddler uses 
it, to using a walker would be going backwards, not forwards in 
progress.  Regarding the type of cane and tip, the NFB rigid cane 
with the metal tip seems to give a lot more tactile and vibration 
information then the heavier traditional canes.  This would be even 
more important for a deafblind child.  I wonder if you could 
experiment a little--let her try various kinds of canes and see which 
one seems to encourage her more to explore, to gain environmental 
information, to move independently, and to move freely and confidently.

Regarding seeing the tip, I would say that a main purpose of a cane 
for a partially sighted person is to free them up from looking at the 
ground.  As Joe Cutter likes to quote, "Use your eyesight for what 
you can see and the cane for what you can't see."  So I woudn't worry 
about contrast for the tip and I wouldn't encourage her to follow the 
tip visually.

Joe Cutter's book can be found here:
<http://secure.nfb.org/ecommerce/asp/prodtype.asp?prodtype=47&ph=&keywords=&recor=&SearchFor=&PT_ID=>http://secure.nfb.org/ecommerce/asp/prodtype.asp?prodtype=47&ph=&keywords=&recor=&SearchFor=&PT_ID= 


Doris Willoughby's mobility book would also be a good one to read 
(also on this page).

Best wishes,
Carol

Carol Castellano
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
973-377-0976
carol_castellano at verizon.net
www.nopbc.org

At 04:10 PM 12/10/2010, you wrote:
>  Hello,
>  I have a few questions that I hope some of you may have an answer for. My
>daughter is almost 2 1/2, she has had 3 separate O&M instructions so far. I
>really do like her O&M, yet I'm not sure on how I feel about the 
>"walker" they
>have the little ones use. I have read differing opinions on them being like
>training wheels, while some say it's completely useless to have them 
>use it. My
>daughter does have a lot of vision left at the moment, she is about 
>20/320. She
>does have a very loved NFB cane we received and has had one since 
>she was about
>8 mths old, to just get acquainted with. She actually doesn't do so 
>bad with it,
>at least from my observations of a toddler's use. I am worried that 
>the T walker
>she is using now will confuse her later, should I just switch her over to a
>rigid cane? It does have the metal tip, should I replace it with a 
>rolling tip
>and should I use a red tip for contrast(even though I'm not sure if she would
>see it anyways or if it would distract her)? Here's the other 
>question since she
>is moderately to profoundly deaf also, how do I work with her on the 
>sounds of
>her cane or the lack there of? It seems hearing is a pretty vital 
>point in O&M
>and I want to prepare her as much as possible before the school system gets a
>hold of her. Speaking of that, what should I expect for her in terms 
>of therapy
>in Preschool, she starts the transitioning next month and will start 
>school in
>August. Does anyone know what assessments, teachers, therapists, 
>&etc I should
>be making sure they have for her on the Vision side and/or Hearing 
>if you know?
>She will be placed under DeafBlind on her IEP, I'm making sure of 
>that, so she
>will get the services she will need, I'm just not sure what to look 
>for and what
>is appropriate.
>
>
>Thank you for all of your help in advance and  I apologize in 
>advance on jumping
>from one subject to another and not being completely clear on my questions.
>
>
>Eliza
>
>
>
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