[blindkid] Wii Device Teaches Visually Impaired to WalkwithCanes

[Heather]

But, I don't think this is a game.  From what I can tell, it is just about 
not vearing off.  If they were simulated walking down the street, stopping 
at curbs, listening to trafic, entering a building, navigating obsticles, it 
might be more like a game.  There is no story line, no point.  I am speaking 
not as a blind person, not as the mother of one, I am speaking as the 
partner of a video game expert.  If something is just a simulation of one 
narrow thing, it won't sell.  It has to be a game with a point.  Maybe I 
didn't get the full idea from the video demo, and if I didn't, I stand 
corrected, but from what it looks like, this is not a game, it is a tool, 
using a game system.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bonnie Lucas" <lucas.bonnie at gmail.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)" 
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2010 1:35 PM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Wii Device Teaches Visually Impaired to 
WalkwithCanes


> Yet another point is that if a sighted child learns what can actually be 
> done in the way of safe independent travel, then he or she can gain more 
> respect for blind people, knowing that they really are able to do what 
> everyone around them is doing, namely, travel independently. It wouldn't 
> surprise me for a minute to see sighted kids put on blind folds and play 
> the game just as their blind siblings and friends.
> ----- 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: Tuesday, June 08, 2010 12:13 AM
> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Wii Device Teaches Visually Impaired to 
> WalkwithCanes
>
>
>> Kim, I agree. I hadn't even thought of that aspect of this matter.
>>
>> All of the kids in my daughter's first grade class were exposed to 
>> braille last year, but I think they learned a lot less about cane 
>> travel. A couple of children even learned to read and write enough 
>> braille to exchange notes with Kendra. It has been a great learning 
>> experience for the kids and a wonderful way for them to bond and 
>> interact with my daughter too.
>>
>> It seems like the cane thing is taboo though. People generally aren't 
>> "supposed" to walk around with white canes when they aren't blind and 
>> generally, sighted kids are told not to handle our kids canes. The 
>> reasons are logical-- canes aren't toys and they need to be where they 
>> were left so the cane's proper users can get them when they need them 
>> and from where they were left-- I get it. But how interesting that  this 
>> may offer a way for a sighted child to experience at least a  touch of 
>> what cane use involves-- even if that is only enough to make  a cane 
>> traveler become more included in a conversation, especially  when the 
>> topic is something the blind child will most likely have the  advantage 
>> on as far as understanding and experience!
>>
>> Richard
>>
>> On Jun 7, 2010, at 5:08 PM, Kim Cunningham wrote:
>>
>>> Well said Holly! As parents, we all understand that each child is 
>>> motivated by different methods. I like the social aspect of this  game. 
>>> While other kids are talking about playing Guitar Hero and  other Wii 
>>> games, this would give our kids the opportunity to be  included in the 
>>> conversation. Like it or not, video gaming is very  popular and I want 
>>> my child to have the same experiences as their  sighted peers. It's 
>>> important for our kids to feel accepted. I think  the sighted kids would 
>>> think this program would be really cool!
>>> Kim
>>
>>
>>
>
>
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