[blindkid] Wii Device Teaches Visually Impaired to WalkwithCanes

[Heather]

Yes, but I am a parent, and an early childhood educator, and I happen to 
agree with him, on this at least.  That's the beauty of things.  I may agree 
with him on this, disagree with you and on another issue, back you and 
refute him.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Albert J Rizzi" <albert at myblindspot.org>
To: "'NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)'" 
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2010 2:55 PM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Wii Device Teaches Visually Impaired to 
WalkwithCanes


> you see there is the difference, parents want their children to have as 
> many
> options and tools to build independence  so that one day they can be 
> strong
> in all the skills they need to be the best they can be. the more tools the
> better and unless and until one is a parent we can never question what a
> parent will or will not do for the child they love and nurture every day.
>
>
>
>
> Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
> CEO/Founder
> My Blind Spot, Inc.
> 90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
> New York, New York  10004
> www.myblindspot.org
> PH: 917-553-0347
> Fax: 212-858-5759
> "The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
> doing it."
>
>
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>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Mike Freeman
> Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2010 1:27 AM
> To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)
> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Wii Device Teaches Visually Impaired to
> WalkwithCanes
>
> Richard:
>
> I'm going to go out on a limb here: I suspect that your daughter will
> *never* travel in as straight a line as you might wish. I know many a
> sighted person who has an absolute hizzy-fit if I deviate from what they
> perceive to be a straight line by more than a few millimeters! Ignored in
> all this is the (to me) relevant question: did I get where I was going
> more-or-less intact? The answer is usually yes.
>
> A treadmill is a great device for exercise and a great way to read a 
> talking
>
> book while doing that hateful thing of exercise (I'd much rather read than
> exercise). But obviously I would never claim any benefit for mobility 
> other
> than building up stamina!
>
> As I say, I think there's no further point in my discussing the issue. I
> guess were I a parent, I'd be *very* skeptical of *any* claims. Perhaps
> that's my cynical nature. (smile)
>
> Peace!
>
> Mike
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Richard Holloway" <rholloway at gopbc.org>
> To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)"
> <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, June 07, 2010 8:18 PM
> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Wii Device Teaches Visually Impaired to
> WalkwithCanes
>
>
>> Your point is well taken Mike, but I suggest that any tool that may 
>> offer
>
>> a chance to isolate even one particular aspect of an activity  that some
>> find challenging or frustrating (such a can travel) and  offer a chance 
>> to
>
>> improve that area may be useful and helpful for  some. My daughter, and I
>> suspect many of our kids who are cane  travelers, could certainly stand 
>> to
>
>> improve her straight-line travel,  just like she needs to learn to swim 
>> in
>
>> a straight line.
>>
>> What about just walking on a treadmill? Could we not make similar
>> arguments against using those? Where is the skill and challenge and
>> delightful experience of going for a walk on a treadmill? My daughter
>> loves to use a treadmill, but she doesn't use a cane for that (for  what 
>> I
>
>> suspect are obvious reasons). That doesn't make that a bad  thing for 
>> her.
>
>> In fact what it does is allows her to walk and build  muscle strength and
>> stamina far faster than when walking (at a much  slower pace) with her
>> cane.
>>
>> For my daughter, I say whatever helps any piece of her mobility  advance
>> is a good thing-- I know over time all these components will  mesh
>> together and all serve to help her become more independent and
>> successful.
>>
>> Richard
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Jun 7, 2010, at 10:40 PM, Mike Freeman wrote:
>>
>>> I think part of the problem here is that those of us who oppose the  WII
>>> device are not making the reasons for our opposition clear -- at  least
>>> this applies to me. Use of a cane implies active determination  of
>>> terrain; ups and downs and textures tell us quite a bit about  what's
>>> around us and where we are with respect to our surroundings.  The WII
>>> device would give no such information so is, in our view,  almost worse
>>> than useless, however "fun" the device may be. One is  certainly
>>> practicing a skill when using the device but it surely  isn't cane
>>> travel.
>>>
>>> Mike
>>
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