[blindkid] St Augustine School for the Blind

Shayla Lovett shayla_lovett at yahoo.com
Tue Apr 12 17:12:38 UTC 2011


I have a nine year old in third grade at the FSDB and we love it.  WE moved to 
st Augustine for her to go there and have no regrets.  The city and school are 
great!

Feel free to contact me off list if you like.

Thanks 

shayla



________________________________
From: janice <jjordan_pa at yahoo.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)" 
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 13:02:54
Subject: [blindkid] St Augustine School for the Blind

Anyone out there familiar with the Florida School for the Blind? I am wanting to 
enroll my 10 yo daughter in a school for the blind and liked that they boast 75% 
of their students go on to higher education. I am willing to move to St 
Augustine or surrounding area.  


Janice 
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

-----Original Message-----
From: "Marie" <empwrn at bellsouth.net>
Sender: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2011 11:31:05 
To: 'NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,\(for parents of blind 
children\)'<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Reply-To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,
    \(for parents of blind children\)" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Stages of cane use?

Funny but it is very reassuring to hear that other kiddos do this too. I
guess with time they will adapt to this as they adapt to all other things.
It sure is hard that we can't just make life smooth for them, right? But
then what kind of people would they grow up to be? such a balancing act!

Marie (mother of Jack, born May 2005)
Check out our blog at http://www.allaccesspasstojack.blogspot.com for
glimpses into our busy life with a boy who is busy growing and developing in
his own way in his own time


-----Original Message-----
From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Penny Duffy
Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 11:25 AM
To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Stages of cane use?

Marie..

I think as parents we want our kids to do mobility tools and techniques
correctly. Its hard because we know how hard it is.   Kids sometimes have
other ideas. LOL  My daughter has a lot of of her peripheral vision so at
times I feel it gives her too much confidence and she will end up running
into something.  Those times when my daughter has a lot of problems seeing
her cane skills get a lot less lazy.

On Tue, Apr 12, 2011 at 12:17 PM, Marie <empwrn at bellsouth.net> wrote:

> Thanks everyone for your ideas and support. We're gonna try to keep it
> light
> and easy and not overly stress. The reason I asked if this was a phase is
> he
> previously did use the cane to find curbs and what not. His cane skills
> seem
> to vary with use and his visual abilities of the day....honestly, if it's
> one of those days where we are amazed that he seems to see stuff that he
> "should not" be able to see, it's going to be a frustrating cane day. It's
> kind of ironic really...
>
> Thanks for the ideas. We are going to try games to keep him moving quickly
> like everyone suggested and take some calculated fall/bump risks. Thanks
> again!
>
> Marie (mother of Jack, born May 2005)
> Check out our blog at http://www.allaccesspasstojack.blogspot.com for
> glimpses into our busy life with a boy who is busy growing and developing
> in
> his own way in his own time
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Richard Holloway
> Sent: Monday, April 11, 2011 10:01 PM
> To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)
> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Stages of cane use?
>
> Very true, and it still goes on from what I understand. I know that we met
> with HEAVY resistance over our daughter's using an actual cane as opposed
> to
> a so-called "pre-cane-device" when working with a local center for the
> blind. (This would have been about seven years ago-- mid 2004.) I thought
> (and continue to think) very highly of that center which works with the
> blind from newborns clear through to adults, but we absolutely went to WAR
> over the cane issue.
>
> We were told what many people have heard: kids need to be able to
> understand
> the concept of using a cane before they try so they don't have to
> "un-learn"
> bad habits. I think that sounds rather convincing for about 5 or 10
> seconds,
> but then I take pause and realize that sighted kids don't "understand"
> walking at first either. Who exactly tells parents of SIGHTED children to
> stop them from trying to walk until THEY fully understand the concept?
That
> isn't how learning works in ANY early development concept of which I'm
> aware, and I'm fully convinced it has nothing to do with walking with a
> cane. Parents who are new to this situation (at least from what I recall)
> may tend to think they are waiting for some professional-- (maybe a
> doctor?)
> to "prescribe" a cane. It doesn't work that way of corse, but how would
> they
> know? And it isn't like there is a white cane department at Wal-Mart.
> Doctors rarely (if ever) are going to tell parents to go and get a white
> cane for their child. Many vision centers, by-and-large, tend to delay
> suggesting canes early on. Many O&M instructors in schools are slow to get
> canes into young kids hands as well. I know of cases where they have also
> brought canes for O&M lessons but taken them away between lessons to
> control
> the canes and insure they are being used (and learned about) properly.
>
> This is no exaggeration-- in our situation at the local center they
> literally took every other parent in our daughter's class aside when she
> was
> around 18 months old and told them that they objected to use of a cane for
> a
> child so young as ours. They told these parents that they were supporting
> our specific wishes AGAINST their better judgement. (Meanwhile my wife and
> I
> were distributing free NFB canes to all the other kids in the class we
> could
> behind the scenes, so to speak.)
>
> If any of you are not aware, "pre-cane-devices" are generally little PVC
> trapezoids with the narrow end at the top (where it is held) and the wide
> end at the bottom. Larger PVC rollers are typically added on the bottom
> (big
> pipe around small) and allegedly assist the walker with forward liner
> motion. In fact, I'll agree they probably do that. Unfortunately, they
also
> are heavy and cumbersome. (Compare the weight to a fiberglass NFB cane I'd
> estimate it is at least 10x the weight, probably more.) The devices
> generally cause children to lean forward, creating posture issues, and
> let's
> face it, the last thing we need to do is encourage blind kids to look down
> all the time, right? How many of us are constantly trying to get kids with
> little or no vision to sit straight and keep their face looking forward
(so
> to speak). These devices prevent in-step motion with the hands which we
all
> need to develop. They occupy both hands as well and they are entirely
> useless for navigating stairs, needing to be carried by an adult or
hoisted
> onto the child's shoulder as they attempt to traverse a staircase. I'd
also
> suggest they make a child stand out a lot more than a cane. There may be
> cases where some small percentage of blind kids benefit from such devices,
> but I don't believe there are many cases where children, at least children
> with blindness as their sole impairment, need to use pre-cane-devices over
> a
> white cane. I say, if you feel you need something like that for a very
> young
> child, give them a push toy that is fun and age appropriate and can serve
> the same purpose. If they can move about with a toy shopping cart in front
> of them, they'll be ready for a cane soon enough instead. Besides, they
can
> explore with a cane when just standing or even sitting down as well. Very
> early cane use is as much about extending a blind child's reach and world
> as
> it is about learning to walk effectively.
>
> "Old school" O&M practices would have the general public as well as the
> blind population believe they know all the answers and there is some
> "secret
> formula" involved in teaching cane travel, especially to small children. I
> have huge respect for many in the O&M profession, but the ones I respect
> the
> most are the ones who realize that since traditional O&M was developed as
a
> model for rehabilitation of previously sighted adults who had lost their
> vision in World War II, some adaptations may be appropriate in the
teaching
> method needed for use with children, especially when they are very young
> and
> have had little if any vision ever.  (Not that I have a strong opinion on
> the matter or anything like that, LOL...)
>
>
>
> On Apr 11, 2011, at 8:30 PM, Carol Castellano wrote:
>
> > Some historical perspective:  it wasn't that long ago that kids were not
> even getting canes till they were 14 or 15 years old (there WERE no little
> canes!).  (See
> <
>
http://www.blind.net/alternative-techniques/mobility/cane-and-preschoolers-
> the-eight-year-revolution.html>
> http://www.blind.net/alternative-techniques/m
> obility/cane-and-preschoolers-the-eight-year-revolution.html for some
> history.)
> >
> > Virtually all of the adults you see walking with canes who are in their
> 30s or older learned these techniques after they were 15 years old.   So
> your little guys who have had canes in their hands since they could stand
> up
> are really ahead of the game.  I'm sure you've seen many extremely good
> travelers who are older than 30.  If they can get that good even tho they
> started late, just imagine how terrific your kids are going to be!!!
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Carol
> >
> > Carol Castellano
> > Director of Programs
> > National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
> > 973-377-0976
> > carol_castellano at verizon.net
> > www.nopbc.org
> >
> > At 03:40 PM 4/11/2011, you wrote:
> >> Our phrase has become "get your good grip" (or "is that your good
> grip?")
> because that used to be the key issue-- not holding it correctly. Now she
> actually may have her good grip, but she's either not going side-to-side
> (fairly common for her), or using the "magical floating technique" with
the
> tip hovering just above curb height in front of her. Mentioning her grip
> usually gets the fastest response.
> >>
> >> The other thing I keep working on is her remembering when to go to a
> staff grip, like in close quarters with others, when standing in a line,
or
> at stairs. All I have to say now is "staff" if she forgets, and I think
> that
> is getting to be needed less often as well.
> >>
> >> There is a lot to remember and there are so many distractions for us
all
> when we're out and about-- it is no wonder it takes a while for all of
this
> to become automatic...
> >>
> >> Richard Holloway, Vice President
> >> Georgia Organization of Parents of Blind Children
> >> www.gopbc.org
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> On Apr 11, 2011, at 3:00 PM, Samantha Parker wrote:
> >>
> >> > I agree with "tough love" in a safe way!  My 6 year old doesn't use a
> sweeping motion in front and wow...she misses things...all I have to say
is
> "Bev, that's why I tell you..." and she finishes with "sweep your cane."
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > --- On Mon, 4/11/11, Richard Holloway <rholloway at gopbc.org> wrote:
> >> >
> >> > From: Richard Holloway <rholloway at gopbc.org>
> >> > Subject: Re: [blindkid] Stages of cane use?
> >> > To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)"
> <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> >> > Date: Monday, April 11, 2011, 11:08 AM
> >> >
> >> > Merry-Noel and Brandy both make good points. Our daughter spent a
good
> deal of time dragging the cane behind her for a while. No matter what, I'd
> remind him that you're glad he has his cane with him because if he starts
> leaving it or throwing it down then you have another battle to fight.
> >> >
> >> > When Kendra would fail to use her cane properly, apart from reminding
> her over and over, I'd sometimes  let her walk into things, trip, and
> sometimes even enhance the opportunity for her to have a minor crash.
(That
> may overstate, but I would not always give her any verbal warning of
> something in her way for example.) Mind you, I was always poised and ready
> to grab her when she was very little before a major crash or fall. It
> sounds
> a little mean, but far better to have a few trips and falls when we're
> there
> to help than for her than to figure someone will always be around to guide
> her. Someday, we won't be there, and we know that.
> >> >
> >> > Ultimately, we could often make this into a funny discussion and
avoid
> any crashes up front-- "Your cane is telling you what's behind you-- you
> already know where you've been. Don't you want to know what's in front of
> you?"... That sort of thing. Kendra uses her cane very well now, but at
> times she still "floats" her cane in the air and stops clearing her path
> properly. Then I may remind her that her cane is just telling her what's
in
> the air in front of her-- not on the ground, but after that, I will let
her
> trip herself on a curb or stair if it is in a fairly safe place (no cars
> nearby, nothing major to fall over if she stumbles). It is all sort of a
> calculated risk in "tough love" trying to let her learn from small
mistakes
> to avoid huge ones later on.
> >> >
> >> > Richard
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > On Apr 10, 2011, at 8:47 PM, Merry-Noel Chamberlain wrote:
> >> >
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> Marie,
> >> >> Has Jack ever had O&M without using his eyes; aka using sleepshades?
> Perhaps I would try that.  If wearing shades is difficult for him - locate
> a
> dark room (a room that has no windows) and shut off the lights.  Sometimes
> I
> use a school gym.  I will play games in the gym such as Red-light,
> Green-Light with no light on.  We practice running in there, too.  This
> builds some confidance in the cane.  Also, tell Jack he needs to hold his
> head up when he walks because that is the proper posture.  By wearing
> sleep-shades he learns the cane lets him know things such as curbs and
> stairs.  Prase him (or the cane - smile) when you notice that his cane
> found
> something that his feet didn't find.  Walking faster helps quite a bit.
> >> >> Merry-Noel
> >> >>
> >> >> --- On Sun, 4/10/11, Marie <empwrn at bellsouth.net> wrote:
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> From: Marie <empwrn at bellsouth.net>
> >> >> Subject: [blindkid] Stages of cane use?
> >> >> To: "Blindkid email" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> >> >> Date: Sunday, April 10, 2011, 11:19 PM
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> I am getting very frustrated with Jack who is slowing down and using
> his feet rather than maintaining his rhythm and using his cane to find
> curbs/obstacles. Yet he insists on carrying his cane. Is this just a
phase?
> Tips anyone?
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> Marie (mother of Jack, born May 2005)
> >> >> Check out our blog at http://www.allaccesspasstojack.blogspot.comfor
> glimpses into our busy life with a boy who is busy growing and developing
> in
> his own way in his own time
> >> >>
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-- 
--Penny
----------
Adventures with Abby - visionfora.blogspot.com
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