Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

Future Reflections March/April/May 1984, Vol. 3 No. 2
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Hear Ye!
Hear Ye!
PARENTS WANT INFORMATION
The following letter comes from the Illinois parents
of a blind toddler.
Bilateral Third Nerve Palsy Information
Wanted
Our child, Matthew, age two, has a rare eye
condition that shows very limited eye movements.
Also his pupils are of different size and
do not react to light. One eye was closed at
birth and at 14 months he had an eye "sling"
surgery done because he surprised everyone
by pushing that eye open. Dr. Ellis, I.U. Med.
Center, Indianapolis, IN. did that surgery and
also did another surgery to adjust his eyes to
look straight ahead. His vision seems to be
good at close distances. For example, as we
were walking up the stairs he dropped his
gum and picked it up and stuck it back in his
mouth.
I would be interested in any information
anyone has on these symptoms. Has anyone
come up with a good way to test vision at
home so you will have some suggestions to
give the doctors?
Julie Delaplane
R R #2 Box 272
Bloomington IL 61701
(309)378-4314
Pennsylvania parents request information as
follows:
Information wanted concerning Bilateral
Optic Nerve Hypoplasia. My son was born
with this condition. He is now six years old,
and is presently under care for growth harmone
deficiency. Would like to find other
parents whose children were born with Bilateral
Optic Nerve Hypoplasia, and its linked
condition of growth harmone deficiency. Any
reply will be appreciated.
Mrs. Bonnie Fairchild
POBox 134
Abbottstown, PA 17301
(717)259-7437

FINGER PLAYS AND RHYMES
(From the PAVIC NEWSLETTER, a publication of
Parent Advocates for Visually Impaired Children of
Colorado.)
Finger plays are a convenient way to promote
social interaction with your child. In addition, it is an
opportunity to teach your child many important skills
which he will need for further learning. The finger
plays combine kinesthetic and auditory cues which
provide a feeling of movement which is independent
of vision. They can be used to entertain your child
when you go places where there are strange noises,
to make a long ride in a car bearable. You can recite
them going down the aisles of supermarkets, whisper
them in places where your child must be quiet,
waiting in doctors offices and restaurants. Write them
down on 3x5 cards so all family members can do them
with him, and they are a good way for your child and
the babysitter to make friends.
MY BABY
Five fingers on this hand,
Five fingers on that;
A dear little nose,
A mouth like a rose,
Two cheeks that are tiny and fat.
Two eyes . . .
Two ears . . .
And ten little toes.
That's the way (name of baby) grows.
Gently touch each part of your baby's body as it is
named.
OUTREACH PROGRAM
The Missouri School for the Blind has asked us to
publicize information about their new Outreach Program.
Here is what they say:
"The Missouri School for the Blind has initiated an
Outreach Program which serves visually impaired
and/or blind individuals ages three through twenty
years of age whose parents or guardians live in
Missouri.
"Outreach is designed as a resource program to
assist parents of pre-school blind children in obtaining
services from appropriate state agencies and local
community services, to serve as the liaison between
the Missouri School for the Blind and Local Education
Agencies throughout the state on prospective students,
to consult with educators of mainstreamed
students on such things as methods of teaching the
visually handicapped, and to disseminate information
on the American Printing House materials center
services to local school districts serving visually
handicapped students.
"A brochure describing the Outreach program is currently available upon request. The information is
also available in braille and on cassette. Please
address inquiries to:
Kay Koncen, Outreach Director
Missouri School for the Blind
3815 Magnolia
St. Louis, MO. 63110
Or
Telephone: 314-776-4320, Ext. 62"
CROCHET, KNIT, TAT AND COOK
Horizons for the Blind is offering a variety of new
Braille booklets with such titles as: "Knitted Animals,"
"Learn to Crochet," "Muffin Mania," "Crocheted
Critters," etc. The booklets will also soon be available
in large print.
For more information contact:
Horizons for the Blind
7001 N. Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60626
(312)973-7600
LANGUAGE GUIDE
TALK TO ME: A language Guide For Parents of
Blind Children is a new booklet published by the
Blind Children's Center of Los Angeles, CA. Linda
Kekelis of the center sends us the following information
about its availability.
"We hope this booklet will help parents of the blind
to enjoy their children while they promote their
children's language development. The pamphlet,
available free of charge to parents, can be obtained by
writing to the Blind Childrens Center, 4120 Marathon
Street, P.O. Box 29159, Los Angeles, CA 90029-0159.
"The Center is offering the pamphlet to any interested
professional at a cost of $1.00 per copy. For
more information contact Nancy ChernusMansfield,
Blind Childrens Center at (213)664-2153 or Linda
Kekelis, University of California, Berkeley at
(415)642-7923."
NEW PRODUCT
The Boston Information and Technology Corp.
(BIT) has asked that we publicize the availability of a
new product for the blind and visually impaired. Here
is what they say:
"NEW POCKET-SIZED MACHINE FOR TALKING
BOOKS -- B.I.T. Corporation has introduced the BIT
Talkman, a Walkman-sized FM stereo cassette recorder
adapted for playing both the Library of Congress
4-track, slow speed cassette books and commercial
two-track stereo cassettes. The BIT Talkman
also features stereo recording from FM radio or
external microphone jack; special three-track, mono,
slow speed recording; tone indexing recordings;
variable speed control; automatic recording level
system; one-touch recording; auto-stop mechanism;
mechanical pause button; metal/chrome or normal
tape selector; and built-in condenser microphone.
The unit measures 3V4 by 51/2 by 1 Vi inches, weighs just
slightly over one pound, and comes with lightweight
stereo headphones, belt-clip, shoulder strap, operating
instructions on cassette, and a one-year warranty.
List price: $195.00 For more information on how to
order a BIT Talkman, please contact:
Boston Information & Technology Corp.
P.O. Box 70, M.I.T. Branch
Cambridge, MA 02139
Tel: (617)647-9555
Distributors' inquiries welcomed."
CANADIAN CONFERENCE
We have been asked to make the following
announcement:
"We just found out our baby is visually impaired. We
want to do something to help him -- but what can we
do? He's just a baby!"
"We want our child to be active and fit, and to have
interests and hobbies like other kids. What kinds of
physical activities is my child capable of doing -- and
how can he be taught to do these safely?"
"How can my child best be prepared for a career?
How can we teach him skills of daily living so that he
can grow to be an independent, well-adjusted adult?"
These are some of the questions that will be
addressed at Insight In Sight, the Fifth Canadian
Interdisciplinary Conference on the Visually Impaired
Child to be held in Vancouver, B.C. Canada on
October 18, 19 and 20 of this year. Co-sponsored by
the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, B.C. Yukon
Division and the Visually Impaired Program at
B.C. Children's Hospital, the conference will bring
together over 25 speakers from all over Canada and
the United States. Topics will be of interest to parents
of visually impaired children and to professionals
such as educators, therapists, physicians, and infant
development workers.
Invited speakers include internationally respected
ophthalmologist Dr. Creig Hoyt, infant stimulation
expert Lois Harrell, and renowned educator Dean
Tuttle. Presentations will cover such diverse topics as
recent medical advances, computers, electronic
travel aids, and self-esteem of the visually impaired.
During most of the conference two or three
speakers are presenting concurrently, and care has been taken to ensure that there will always be at least
one presentation of particular interest to parents. In
addition, on Thursday and Friday afternoons all
speakers who have presented talks on that day will be
available for a one hour question period. It is hoped
that parents will use this opportunity to ask questions
and discuss their concerns in a less formal
atmosphere.
To encourage parent participation, a special registration
fee has been established. The entire three day
conference will cost only $60.00 for the parent of a
visually impaired child or $100.00 per couple. A daily
rate of $25.00 is also available for those who are
unable to attend all three days. (Fees for professionals
are $135.00 with registration before July 1 and
$150.00 after that date).
The conference site is the beautiful Four Seasons
Hotel in downtown Vancouver, convenient to major
shopping areas and a short bus or car ride to such
notable tourist attractions as Vancouver's famous
Stanley Park, the Vancouver Aquarium, and the
second largest Chinatown in North America. Conference
participants may want to spend a few extra
days exploring this exciting cosmopolitan city and
the lovely surrounding beaches, mountains and rain
forests.
For more information, and registration brochures,
contact Insight In Sight, CNIB, 350 East 36 Avenue,
Vancouver, B.C. V5W1C6. Telephone: 604/321-2311.
(NOTE: Fees quoted are in Canadian dollars).
The following items are reprinted from the Braille
Monitor (The monthly magazine of the NFB).
RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT WORKSHOP EMPLOYEES:
Resolution 8301A
Support Of Workers
At The Raleigh Shop
Whereas, the Raleigh Lions Clinic (hereafter Raleigh
shop) has been known for its poor treatment of
employees, its very low wages, and its extremely
custodial attitude toward blind people; and,
Whereas, as a group, we, the organized blind of this
country, have worked steadily to end these practices
by assisting in obtaining union representation in
workshops in Cincinnati, Houston, Little Rock, and as
a matter of policy we intend to continue that practice:
Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Executive Board of the
National Federation of the Blind of North Carolina in
meeting assembled this 13th day of August, 1983, in
the city of Fayetteville, North Carolina, that this
organization express its support of the right to organize
by workers in the Raleigh Shop; and,
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution
be presented at the worker meeting August 18, and
that a copy be spread upon the minutes of this
meeting.
Byron Sykes, President
National Federation of the Blind
of North Carolina
HYMNBOOK:
We have been asked to carry the following
announcement:
"A New Braille Hymnbook Now Available. The
Evangel Hymnbook published 1983, contains 200
best loved hymns and gospel songs, available in two
editions: 1. The Evangel Hymnbook, (words only), 1
vol., cost $5.00. 2. The Evangel Hymnbook (words
and piano score), 2 vol., cost $10.00. Treat yourself or
a friend with this treasure of sacred music. Table of
Contents on cassette tape is available upon request.
"Order from Christian Education forthe Blind, Inc.,
P.O. Box 6399, Fort Worth, Texas 76115;
817-923-0603."
FROM NATIONAL BRAILLE PRESS:
The National Braille Press has just published a
book, A Beginner's Guide to Personal Computers for
the Blind and Visually Impaired. It includes a review
by blind users of six popular personal computers.
Price $6.00. To make orders or for further information
contact National Braille Press, 88 St. Stephen Street,
Boston, Massachusetts 02115; 617-266-6160.
ATTENTION WOODWORKERS:
William Porter of Illinois asks that we run the
following announcement:
"Prevent serious injuries when working with power
tools such as table saws, radial arm saws, jointers,
etc., by using Fingersaver Safety Push Sticks. A
professionally designed safety aid for use by blind
and partially sighted woodworkers. A must for every
shop -- a perfect gift. $5.50 for a set of two. Or, write
for information to Fingersaver, P.O. Box 5765, Pasadena,
Texas 77508. Satisfaction guaranteed or money
back."
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