[blindkid] A question.

[Richard Holloway]

I don't know that the parents here's answers are any better than your  
own unless you possibly were not blind as a child? I am happy to share  
but I'm also curious-- what are your thoughts on the matter?

 From my perspective, getting a cane in the child's hands first thing  
is probably most important. If the child is too small to hold a cane,  
use a wooden spoon (etc.) instead until a cane can be grasped and  
held. I don't think we got our first cane until 18 months or so and  
our daughter dragged her cane behind her much of the time before she  
ever began to push it, but even then, she was learning that when she  
went out, the cane went with her. Now taking her cane is second nature  
for her, while some kids her age still new to canes are prone to  
resist using them, especially at first. We didn't do the spoon trick  
when she was a baby-- I wish we had. I don't think there are any  
lasting effects from not doing that, but I also think she missed out  
of some exploration that would have been nice for her before she had  
her cane.

Also, put braille everywhere so that the blind child is always running  
across braille, just like a sighted child sees a vast amount of print  
before ever learning a single letter (let alone begins to actually  
read). It may take a while to get services arranged but if parents do  
the above early on, at least there will be some initial progress that  
can probably be made just by getting the child to grow some interest  
in a cane and braille, and that's really all we're doing with most  
very young sighted kids too, right?

Apart from that, I agree with the others postings-- expect the same  
things at pretty much the same times as with sighted kids and make the  
goal be to function at (or above) grade level for typically sighted  
kids unless there is some compelling (generally not vision-related)  
reason not expect it. Parents need to understand that no matter the  
misconception of some others, blindness is not a cognitive impairment  
and most every time there is a delay for a blind child, it is because  
of lack of information for the child so the real goal is to compensate  
with alternative teaching techniques and alternative skills for the  
child. Delaying the techniques and alternative skills are what often  
cause blind kids to start off playing "catch-up"-- at least that's  
this parent's opinion.

Obviously networking with other parents through the NFB / NOPBC, and  
this list as well as other local resources can also be a very helpful  
thing. When our daughter was very young, we wanted to join a parent  
group and there was none in our area-- at least none with philosophies  
to suit us so we formed the Georgia division of the NOPBC. I presume  
there is a similar story for most every state POBC that exists. Surely  
it is possible without this, but I strongly suspect that most blind  
kids who are highly successful are successful in part because their  
parents have gotten involved with other parents and organizations like  
ours.

Richard




On Jul 23, 2010, at 2:36 AM, Melissa Green wrote:

> What advice would you give to parens with a blind child?
> If you are a parent, what advice or information do you wish people  
> had given you?
> I was asked this question as a blind adult.  So thought I would put  
> this out there and see if I am on the right track or not.
> Your anser can be two word, or two sentences, or even a paragraph.
> I am just curious.  I thought that it would be a good topic for  
> discussion.
> Melissa Green
> Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing  
> to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.
> Blog: http://readergirl5674.blogspot.com
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