My aunt Maureen has a quality that I absolutely envy. Actually, the word envy might not be quite accurate. I would probably agree to give up a few small body parts in exchange for this ability…..not any major part, but probably a pinky or maybe a baby toe. Continue reading “Peripheral Hearing”
Author: joy
Caged
I’m not sure why the conversation made me weep only seconds after hanging up the phone. Was it because he was calling from his room at a nursing home that I could barely bring myself to set foot in?
The content of the conversation wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. He told me how the pop machine ate his quarters and how the laundry service never returns his handkerchiefs and even lost a pair of his pants. He said he was wearing the Chicago Bears sweatshirt my mom gave him for Christmas and assured me he would never send that to the laundry. Continue reading “Caged”
Live the Life You Want: Advice for Parenting Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired Tip #8
Tip #8: Live Your Life and Allow Your Child to do the Same
With July upon us, I couldn’t resist squeezing this final tip into the series!
All of our tips are meant to be incorporated into your vibrant, rich lives. They are not meant to be at the forefront of your mind or schedule at all times. Focus on the approach you’d like to take and the advice that seems to make sense for your child, integrate it into your lives, and then move forward.
Seek Out Mentors: Advice for Parenting Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired Tip #7
Tip #7: Seek Out Mentors
My very first mentor was an attorney from Utah. Mormon. Married, with children and grandchildren.
I was a 24-year-old teacher from the Midwest, entering a Master’s program, newly married and just on the cusp of adult life.
How to Talk About Blindness: Advice for Parenting Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired Tip #5
Tip #5: Talk About Blindness in Positive Ways in Everyday Conversation
Your child’s blindness doesn’t have to be the elephant in the room, even if your child struggles to talk about it. I think it’s possible to help normalize a tough topic when you find ways to bring it into casual conversation. While you don’t want your child’s eyes to be the thing you’re constantly talking about and obsessing over, you also don’t want it to be the thing you never bring up.
Navigating the Education System: Advice for Parenting Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired Tip #4
Tip #4: There’s No Such Thing As Over-Communication With Your Children’s Vision Itinerant
Growing up, my sister and I had a Vision Itinerant who was responsible for meeting with our teachers and parents to go over our IEPs and any necessary modifications. She came to meet with us monthly in elementary school and every so often in middle school and high school. I always dreaded her visits, Continue reading “Navigating the Education System: Advice for Parenting Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired Tip #4”
Why Braille: Advice for Parenting Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired Tip #2
Tip #2: Make Braille a Priority
Young children are like sponges when it comes to languages and literacy, so if your child has a degenerative eye condition such as RP, allow them to learn Braille early on, instead of waiting until their vision declines or until adulthood, when it will take far more time and effort. Continue reading “Why Braille: Advice for Parenting Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired Tip #2”
Hands
Hands,
stacked and held,
matted and framed
hanging on a hook above my bed.
Four hands. Mine is at the bottom, followed by my grandmother’s, my mother’s, and the tiny newborn hand of my eldest daughter. When a friend took the picture 8 years ago, I had no concept of the significance it would hold for me in future years when the physical hands would begin to perish.
The Importance of Positive Blind Peers: Advice For Parenting Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired Tip #1
In honor of Mother’s and Father’s Day, during the months of May and June, we’d like to give all the moms and dads of children with RP and other eye conditions a gift: some free advice from 2 people who grew up with low vision.
Each week, we will be featuring a different tip. We would LOVE your feedback, comments, and any questions you might have.
Tip #1 Find Comrades for Your Child
Spending countless hours researching adaptations and technology for your children is time well spent, but if you’re taking the time to do those things, then also take a few minutes to connect your child with peers they can relate to regarding their vision. Continue reading “The Importance of Positive Blind Peers: Advice For Parenting Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired Tip #1”
Not Fade Away: A Book Reflection
I first saw Rebecca Alexander on the Today show back in 2009, and I was intrigued by this young, peppy athlete, who was my same age and also losing her eyesight.
The idea of going progressively blind has always sent a nervous chill down my spine, if I’m being honest, yet I’ve always taken comfort in the capabilities of my other 4 senses, thankful that they help compensate for my failing eyes. So the idea of losing another sense, especially one as crucial as hearing, seems unimaginable to me. Yet this is the story Rebecca unravels in her memoir, Not Fade Away. Continue reading “Not Fade Away: A Book Reflection”