[Nfbf-l] ideas needed

Mon Oct 31 21:53:04 UTC 2011

Jody, you're advice is great. For the first 12 years of my life, I got 
around without a cane. I went through my whole neighborhood to visit 
friends, crossed streets, etc. I also learned to ride a bike and 
roller-skate. I too got negative messages about my cane when I got one. My 
family always said, "You don't need that!" If Torri can be presented with 
actual examples where she can realize having her cane is a plus and not a 
minus, that would be a good thing.

Braille is another matter. Everyone I have observed reading with a CCTV 
reads slowly. Let her hear people who are good Braille readers and again, 
let her see the positives. One big plus I had in reading Braille you might 
share with her is I could read under the covers at night in the dark without 
anyone finding out. Lol! The cool thing now with all the down-loadable 
Braille and refreshable displays is that I can carry a huge amount of books 
with me, like my scriptures, which would have been impossible to do before 
the notetakers.

As Jody said, though, lots of this has to be learned with time and maturity, 
but she is very fortunate to have parents who are so aware.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Judith Hamilton" <jrhamilton51 at earthlink.net>
To: "NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, October 31, 2011 4:09 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] ideas needed

> Excellent advice, Jody.
>
> Judy
>
>
>
>
>> [Original Message]
>> From: Jody W. Ianuzzi <jody at thewhitehats.com>
>> To: NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
>> Date: 10/30/2011 5:56:14 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] ideas needed
>>
>> Hello Doreen,
>>
>>
>> I could write privately but this is such a good subject to share.
> Everyone
>> has their own perspective to compare to.
>>
>> I think Carolyn's programs for kids are fantastic as are all her 
>> programs.
>> It isn't that far to WPB for these events and they sound fantastic.
>>
>> When I was growing up it was assumed I saw better then I did and just 
>> this
>> afternoon my mother said that I should have described my vision better so
>> they could understand it.  I explained to her that I had nothing to
> compare
>> to and I had no idea what 'normal' vision was so when they asked f I 
>> could
>> see things I said yes.  I could see them but my images were a blur and
> their
>> images were clear.  We had a communications problem and that lead to many
>> problems, missed opportunities and some really dangerous situations as I
>> attempted to 'pass' as sighted and do things like everyone else.
>>
>> Torrie is so lucky to have parents who understand how limited her vision
> is.
>> the problem is that her teachers don't realize the limitations so when
> they
>> ask if she can see she says yes.  The same assumptions are being made as
>> when I was growing up with neither Torrie nor the teachers understanding
>> that the images are different.
>>
>> There are two factors here the physical and the social.  Socially Torrie
>> wants to be like everyone else.  Don't we all?  It takes a real mature
>> understanding of the world to realize that each person is different in
> their
>> own way.  some people are tall, others are short, some are fat and others
>> skinny.  We come in all kinds of shapes sizes.  Imagine how boring the
> world
>> would be if everyone was exactly the same.    at one point in your
> maturing
>> you realize you really don't care what people think.
>>
>> Torrie doesn't have to decide to be normal and sighted or different and
>> blind.  she can be normal and blind.  she can realize that blind people
> ARE
>> like everyone else they just don't see well.  By using the tools she is
>> being given she can compete and succeed but she needs to use the tools 
>> not
>> try and make believe she is something she is notbecause the energy that
>> requires takes away from her learning the skills she needs.
>>
>> Since you and her NFB friends have a positive attitude towards blindness,
> I
>> wonder who is giving her the negative attitude?  If her teachers, parents
>> and friends are all positive about it then she would be positive too.
> Some
>> where she is getting negative messages and that is the problem, the
> problems
>> you are seeing are only symptoms.
>>
>> As ffor safety, I didn't realize how many clues I was getting from the
>> people I was walking with.  We lived out in the country so if we went to
>> town I was always with someone.  When they saw the light change we 
>> crossed
>> the street.  When they stepped off a curb I was there and follwed their
>> lead.  Right now Torrie is following.  One thing you might do is have her
>> lead and try and make decision of when to cross the street and don't tell
>> her if there are obstacles or stairs, let her bump in to them Obviously
> you
>> should let her fall down stairs but if she falls in the little puddles 
>> she
>> will learn to avoid the big puddles.
>>
>> Since she assumes she sees more then she does you might comment on things
>> that she can't see to point out the difference.  I didn't realize this
> until
>> my children were little and told me about things at a distance they saw
> and
>> I didn't see.  Don't ask her what she sees because she has nothing to
>> compare to.  I hate it when people do this because I can't tell them.
> This
>> ight sound mean but set her up in situations where she would benefit from
>> having her cane and be there if she needs help.  Let her discover what 
>> the
>> cane does for her.  Leave it home and see if she starts asking to bring
> it.
>>
>> Torrie is going to have to realize these things on her own, you can't 
>> tell
>> her.  You can show her by explaining the differences in people and you 
>> can
>> step back and have her discover how much she needs her cane but you can't
>> make her see these things.
>>
>> Kids will be kids and if you make them do something they resent it.
> Torrie
>> doesn't realize how lucky she is because so many of us were told to put
> the
>> cane away by parents and family.  You are encouraging and I envy Torrie
>> that.  But you have to let her discover on her own.
>>
>> Life isn't very demanding for a 7 year old but as life throws more and
> more
>> at her she will be glad you got her started on the right foot.
>>
>> JODY
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Nfbf-l mailing list
>> Nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Nfbf-l:
>>
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/jrhamilton51%40earthlink
> .net
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Nfbf-l mailing list
> Nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Nfbf-l:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/flmom2006%40gmail.com 