[blindkid] Fw: O&M for the little ones

[Carol Castellano]

Go git 'em, tiger!
Carol

At 05:54 PM 12/13/2010, you wrote:
>  Everyone is so wonderful here, thank you. I forgot I did read that article,
>Miranda was very young then still and it was still kind of like a fog then.
>Well, the fog has cleared and we're ready to tackle the world!-) Thank you
>again, I will definitely get the book!
>
>
>Eliza
>
>
>
>----- Forwarded Message ----
>From: Eliza Ellett <elizaellett at yahoo.com>
>To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
>Sent: Fri, December 10, 2010 3:10:51 PM
>Subject: [blindkid] O&M for the little ones
>
>  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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>
>
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Carol Castellano
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
973-377-0976
carol_castellano at verizon.net
www.nopbc.org