[blindkid] alternative parenting guide

Wed Jul 21 21:48:36 UTC 2010

Thank you to both of you for this resource. I purchased this book a couple 
of years ago and will pull it out and reread. I too found it helpful from 
what I remember.

I'm glad to know it is on book share, which will make it easier to browse.

Thanks again, Sherry
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Heesen" <steveheesen at aol.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)" 
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>; "Sherry DeFrancesco" <sdefrancesco at optonline.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 5:41 PM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] alternative parenting guide

> Carol,
>
> Laurie and I were just about to recommend this book. I haven't read the 
> entire thing, but what I did read was excellent. Not just another boring 
> "textbook", it is full of actual typs from real blind parents.
> I know it is available via Bookshare as well.
>
> Steve
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Carol Castellano" <blindchildren at verizon.net>
> To: "Sherry DeFrancesco" <sdefrancesco at optonline.net>; "NFBnet Blind Kid 
> Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 2:53 PM
> Subject: Re: [blindkid] alternative parenting guide
>
>
>> 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
>>>
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>blindkid mailing list
>>>blindkid at nfbnet.org
>>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
>>>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>for blindkid:
>>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/blindchildren%40verizon.net
>>
>> Carol Castellano
>> National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
>> 973-377-0976
>> carol_castellano at verizon.net
>> www.nopbc.org
>> _______________________________________________
>> blindkid mailing list
>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>> blindkid:
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/steveheesen%40aol.com
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 8.5.441 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3019 - Release Date: 07/21/10 
> 06:36:00
>
> 