[blindkid] a mini vent about a summer program.

[Penny Duffy]

I r
My daughter Abby if you don't know was sighted with completely normal vision
a year and a half go.  She is 7 going on 16. She still has a lot of her
peripheral vision but little if no central vision.  She may be able to see a
bird flying in the sky but she can't find us if she loses track of us and
can't read text or do anything visually if it requires any kind of detail.

  So  Abby had a great opportunity to spend a week at Perkins School for one
of their school age summer programs. Its really the only option her her age.
 She had  great time and got to do so many things that are great for her to
do.  The PE activities where very valuable to her. She has always been
sporty and they did so many great things. I just got the 'report' for the
week.  Its talks about how nice she is, how well behaved she is, how much
she helps others, how independent she is. It was almost to the point it
sounded like she was some pod version of Abby. She isn't as organized at
home as she was there for she.  She always wants to show off to teachers.
These are all great things. I just became very clear they were comparing her
to her blind "classmates" (some of which who have other issues ) not where
she should be if she was sighted.

The only mention about braille was that she liked to borrow books. She is a
whole year behind in her reading level (though gaining quickly)

Lets not even get into what they thought of Abby's cane.  Everything they
'complained about wouldn't be an issue if she was using it right. i don't
understand how an heavy marshmallow tip, short cane magically
fixes technique. Much less makes her more independent. Ok I guess I got into
it but it shouldn't be a surprise.

I really think these are great programs.   Abby has gotten so much out of
them but I am thinking that they may not be the right fit for her next year.
 The programs are expensive.   They actually called her a visual learner.  I
see her more as a girl who used to be a visual learner and needs
help realizing that she learns much better using nonvisual techniques.

She is old enough next year to attend some of the camps for blind children
and it would give her the socialization with other blind children.   Is
there anything I should watch out for and look for programs like this?
 Other suggestions?


-- 
--Penny
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A lucky mother to two amazing children - visionfora.blogspot.com