[blindkid] More than just blindness

[Ashley Bramlett]

Lalena,
I've been lurking a little while and will intro myself soon after most of 
the list get back from convention.
I'm actually the child; grown now and career exploring, and my parents are 
sighted.


I agree with you. There are not enough resources for addressing the needs of 
multiple disabled kids and yes the NFB focusses on bright normal developing 
kids. But many blind kids have multiple disabilities.

You raise some concerns which I'm sure others deal with. So your kid is 
completely blind? like no vision even of close up objects?
How far delayed is he? how old? Where do you live? is bay area ca?

What are the issues with braille reading? Perhaps with more info someone may 
be able to help.

I've seen those communication devices with pictures. Will he ever speak with 
intervention, or is this permanent?
Does your TVI not have ideas? I mean, surely she or he has encountered 
nonverbal blind kids before.
Maybe he can hold up objects to communicate to start with. For instance, toy 
food can mean hungry and a common bathroom object like a towel can mean 
needs to go to the bathroom.

I'll also write off list with some more thoughts.

Ashley
-----Original Message----- 
From: Lalena Fayre via blindkid
Sent: Monday, June 30, 2014 10:19 AM
To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
Subject: [blindkid] More than just blindness

As I read through my latest issue of Future Reflections, I was struck with
a further sense of isolation. The same holds true when I read this listserv
and review the agenda of the upcoming national conference.

My son is totally blind with multiple other disabilities - nonverbal and
global developmental delays that impact every area. I'm fortunate to have a
good foundation and understanding of blindness education. But when you add
the other issues to the blindness, one is struck with how much blindness
complicates things. For example, typical adaptive communication devices are
vision based. Another, pre-Braille work is important but after 3 years of
it and no significant progress made, you are forced to deal with functional
skill development which the therapist don't know how to do with a blind
child, let allow a blind cognitively delayed child.

I turn to the NFB for support and resources, yet publications are full of
typically developed children who happen to be blind. I call my local
organizations here in the bay area (which I know are inline with NFB
philosophy) looking for social opportunities for my son, but he can't
participate because of his developmental delays.

At the end of the day I'm left wondering......am I the only parent of a
child with multiple disabilities, developmental delays, AND blindness? Are
the majority of blind child typically developed? And where do I turn for a
network of parents who may understand?
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