[Nfbf-l] ideas needed

[lappland]

Doreen,
i recommend that your daughter learn braille especially if she has a 
degenerative eye condition like RP. learning braille is like most things, 
picked up easier when young.
also, i didn't use my cane for 4 years after i loss my vision and started 
college. school age children want to fit in and not stand out. once we 
mature and aren't as affected by peer pressure, we can appreciate and be 
proud of our cane and how it helps us to be independent.
our center has started a kids club to get children with vision loss and 
their families together. we host an activity each month. tonight we are 
having a halloween festival with games and treats. some of our other 
activities have included bowling and a pizza party. the next event will be 
our Christmas party in december.
if you can't participate in our activities then you may want to start a kids 
club in your area. this will offer you and your daughter support and 
resources.
hope this helps! i would also advise you to learn your child's rights and 
trust your instincts. Good luck!
Sincerely,
Carolyn Lapp
Executive Director
Florida Outreach Center for the Blind, Inc.
Office: (561) 642-0005
E-Mail: info_focb at bellsouth.net

Please remember to support the Florida Outreach Center for the Blind by 
donating a dollar or more to help fund our worthy programs. Send your tax 
deductible gift to:
Florida Outreach Center for the Blind
2315 S. Congress Avenue
Palm Springs, FL 33461
Or use the Pay Pal link on our web site at:
www.flblindcenter.org
Thank you!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Doreen Franklin" <doreenproverbs3 at bellsouth.net>
To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>; "Blindkid 
List" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>; <Blindhomeschooler at yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, October 28, 2011 2:16 PM
Subject: [Nfbf-l] ideas needed


Hi to all ...

we are looking for some help with our 7-yr old, first grade daughter who is 
visually impaired. She needs a cane but refuses to use it with us. She will 
"use" it during her O&M instruction of 30-minutes, but I have no idea if she 
uses it, or uses it safely, during the rest of her time at school. Most 
times with us, she holds it off the ground, like a shephard's crook. She has 
also not accepted her visual disability and has told me "Mom, I can see." 
And the school has non-verbally told her that last year in kindergarten as 
well as this year -- she has a CCTV in class; she does not have Braille. She 
is being re-evaled this year and I have been told "best practice is to use 
her vision." I backed off to be more collaborative instead of being near the 
door to due process. It is killing me, but I want to be more collaborative.

Has anyone else experienced this? If so, how did you get around it? I can 
tell her about safety, but I know all she hears is "blah blah blah." She has 
said numerous times she HATES her cane, and I don't know how to get around 
it to make her see that she is safe with it and unsafe without it. She has 
gotten several bruises on her legs and her eye and all of those times have 
been because she has not used her cane. Again, she is hearing "blah blah 
blah." She did very well while at the national convention in July ... but 
within 2 weeks, she was not using her cane safely. There are no role models 
for her in school ...

Any and all suggestions would be appreciated ....

Thank you!!!!

Doreen
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