Post by Ms. Kathy on Oct 7, 2004 10:40:32 GMT -6
On the main site I have a page called "Blind Etiquette." It concerns protocol in how to treat the blind with consideration to their sight or lack of sight. Below are some etiquette tips for children with visual impairments to remember.
Meanwhile, here are some things to remember:
1. Your child is like other children--but with the inconvenience of lack of vision. He/she should be treated like any other child with chores and responsibilities.
2. The only differences made for the blind child should be for their vision. For low vision conditions, let her sit closer to the TV at home and closer to the chalkboard at school. Large print or Braille should be provided depending on the reading medium she uses. But special pity privileges because she doesn't see well or not at all make life worse and much more difficult for the child in the long run.
3. Help your child to be his own advocate. He should be able to speak up and say, "I can do that, too! Don't leave me out!"
4. Teach your child common courtesies. The blind should be considerate of others as well. He should turn his face to a speaker or to the person to whom they are speaking. With little ones I remind them to hold their heads up and "point you nose at me".
Often others don't know what to make of the cane so they freeze when a cane user comes by; the child doesn't know they're there. It may seem like the sighted child should apologize for being in the path of the blind one.
Teach your child to teach the behavior he expects from others. If he runs into another with his cane, he should say "Excuse me, sorry I hit you. What's your name? ... Nice to meet you, (name). My name is... Next time you see me, say hello, and I'll say hello to you, too. That way I'll know where my new friend is and I promise I won't hit you with my cane!"
5. I remind my kids who don't want to appear different that they are different and nothing is wrong with that. Each one of their classmates is different from the next and that makes life interesting. Pretending to have 20/20 vision around the school yard so that one doesn't "look" blind just looks crazy and fools no one. Be yourself! Some kids will like you and others will not-- and that's life!
To see the etiquette page use this link:
community-2.webtv.net/mskathy0724/MsKathysClass/
or
www.mskathyskids.org/BlindEtiquette.html
Meanwhile, here are some things to remember:
1. Your child is like other children--but with the inconvenience of lack of vision. He/she should be treated like any other child with chores and responsibilities.
2. The only differences made for the blind child should be for their vision. For low vision conditions, let her sit closer to the TV at home and closer to the chalkboard at school. Large print or Braille should be provided depending on the reading medium she uses. But special pity privileges because she doesn't see well or not at all make life worse and much more difficult for the child in the long run.
3. Help your child to be his own advocate. He should be able to speak up and say, "I can do that, too! Don't leave me out!"
4. Teach your child common courtesies. The blind should be considerate of others as well. He should turn his face to a speaker or to the person to whom they are speaking. With little ones I remind them to hold their heads up and "point you nose at me".
Often others don't know what to make of the cane so they freeze when a cane user comes by; the child doesn't know they're there. It may seem like the sighted child should apologize for being in the path of the blind one.
Teach your child to teach the behavior he expects from others. If he runs into another with his cane, he should say "Excuse me, sorry I hit you. What's your name? ... Nice to meet you, (name). My name is... Next time you see me, say hello, and I'll say hello to you, too. That way I'll know where my new friend is and I promise I won't hit you with my cane!"
5. I remind my kids who don't want to appear different that they are different and nothing is wrong with that. Each one of their classmates is different from the next and that makes life interesting. Pretending to have 20/20 vision around the school yard so that one doesn't "look" blind just looks crazy and fools no one. Be yourself! Some kids will like you and others will not-- and that's life!
To see the etiquette page use this link:
community-2.webtv.net/mskathy0724/MsKathysClass/
or
www.mskathyskids.org/BlindEtiquette.html