[blindkid] Walking in a line/cane use

[Carol Castellano]

Hi Laurie,

Here is how I've seen older blind kids and adults walk in line:
    * Hold the cane in a "choked up" position so that it is not as 
extended as usual (adults use the "pencil grip" for this--a 4-yr-old 
would not have the motor skills yet for that grip)
    * Touch the cane lightly to the back of the shoe of the person in 
front of you in line
    * Pay attention to when their foot moves forward
    * Pay attention to the sounds of bodies moving and voices moving
    * Move forward when the foot and voices move forward
This is what you'd be aiming for, so you could start with teaching 
your daughter the components of these skills. I would not use holding 
on to someone's shoulder.

For the classroom, in the early grades we stood the cane straight up 
attached Serena's desk with a piece of velcro or that blue sticky 
stuff (name escapes me) that you can use to put up posters, etc. 
(teachers would know!).  It seemed to us that altho she became 
familiar with each classroom, she still was able to walk more 
confidently to each place using the cane.  Also was able to get 
places without needing to touch other kids' desks, etc.

When she was older she would just stash the cane under her desk as 
she does now as an adult.

Carol

At 10:07 PM 9/10/2010, you wrote:
>Hi All,
>A couple questions!
>#1.  My daughter is almost 4 years old and is in an all day long Headstart
>preschool program.  They have to walk in a line to and from classes, 
>cafeteria,
>playground, etc.  How exactly do you help your child/student walk in 
>a line.  Is
>it appropriate at this age to hold the hand/arm of an aide or teacher or
>appropriate to hold the shoulder of a 4 year old student in front of 
>you.  These
>are the two things they are doing now.  Is this how your children 
>learned or is
>there a better way?
>
>#2.  Also, in a small classroom, do your students use their canes 
>throughout the
>room, or do they hang it at the entrance of the class when they come in.
>Thanks for any input you can give me!
>Laurie
>
>
>
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Carol Castellano
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
973-377-0976
carol_castellano at verizon.net
www.nopbc.org