[blindkid] alternative parenting guide

[Carol Castellano]

Sherry,

I just came across this resource on the web--it may be just what you 
are looking for to satisfy the powers that be.  If you get it and 
read it, let us know what you think.  Here is the 
link:  http://www.accessible-devices.com/parentingGuide.html

Here is a bit from the site:

Resource Guide For Parents Who Are Blind or visually Impaired

New Resource Guide for Parents who are Blind or Partially Sighted
Berkeley, California. September 7, 2006
Through the Looking Glass and its National Resource Center for 
Parents with Disabilities are proud to announce the release of the 
first comprehensive resource guide for parents who are blind or 
partially sighted. The new 212 page "Hands-On Parenting: A Resource 
Guide for Parents who are Blind or Partially Sighted" provides a wide 
range of practical information, adaptations and resources for parents 
who are blind or partially sighted.

Carol
At 02:28 PM 7/21/2010, you wrote:
>Hi Holly,
>
>Thank you for all of your suggestions, they are in fact good ones. 
>We are way past the homestudy stage and in fact have received U.S. 
>immigration approval. It is the country adoption officials asking 
>for more info. We have provided pages and pages of resources and 
>information about everything imaginable about blindness. They are 
>requesting  are specific step by step parenting  skills that we need 
>to provide. I was seeking something published to back up our letters.
>
>Again, thank you. It's so nice to hear that you got through the 
>adoption process successfully. My hubby and I are totally blind and 
>the country restrictions include blindness as a "NO," so we are 
>requesting a waiver.
>
>Thanks again, Sherry
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: holly miller
>   To: Sherry DeFrancesco ; NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for 
> parents of blind children)
>   Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 12:48 AM
>   Subject: Re: [blindkid] alternative parenting guide
>
>
>   Hi Sherry!
>   Our younger son is adopted from China & has Albinism.  I'm always 
> thrilled to hear about more kids finding families!
>   While no blind parent should have to jump through hoops to be 
> allowed to parent, potential adoptive parents have a lot of hoop 
> jumping to do, just the nature of the beast.  Even if you know what 
> to do on your own, showing that you have taken the time to seek out 
> resources, that you have a plan and have sources of support and 
> advice to turn to will make for a good home study :smile
>
>
>   You will do fine with some old fashioned common sense but you are 
> right, the social workers and the paperwork pushers like to have 
> reassurances.  We had to provide specific examples of how we would 
> handle Hank being blind and what resources we had available, both 
> medical and educational.  This is something they ask of all 
> prospective parents (rightly so!)
>
>
>   In my opinion, things a social worker will like to hear is that 
> you are a NFB and/or POBC member and you have befriended other 
> blind parents.  If you don't typically go to chapter meetings, try 
> to get to some in the near future so you can say you attend.  If 
> you are on close terms with another blind parent, use them as one 
> of your references (assuming you know each other well enough for 
> that)   Or perhaps see if another blind parent is willing to write 
> a letter stating you are welcome to call on them for mentoring and 
> advice.  Belonging to online groups like this can be phrased as 
> being a member of a blind-parent and parent of blind children 
> support groups.  If there aren't books out there specifically 
> targeting blind parents, be able to reference the books on 
> educating blind children like Carol's "Making it Work" & Joe 
> Cutter's O&M book.
>
>
>   Think about it like writing a resume.  You never want to lie but 
> you certainly want to project the best image of yourself as possible.
>
>
>   Best of luck!
>   Holly
>   aka Hank's mom
>
>
>
>
>
>   On Wed, Jul 21, 2010 at 12:07 AM, Sherry DeFrancesco 
> <sdefrancesco at optonline.net> wrote:
>
>     Hi Steve and Laurie,
>
>     Thank you. We too feel confident in our ability to parent. I 
> enjoyed hearing about your family. Best to the both of you with 
> your upcoming bundle of joy!
>
>     Thanks for your good wishes.
>     Sherry
>
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Carol Castellano
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
973-377-0976
carol_castellano at verizon.net
www.nopbc.org