Future Reflections
Volume 38 Number 3 Fall 2019
A magazine for parents and teachers of blind children published by
the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults in partnership
with the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children.
Deborah Kent Stein, Editor
ISSN-0883-3419
Copyright © 2019 American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
For more information
about blindness and children contact:
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place, Baltimore, MD 21230 • 410-659-9314
https://nfb.org/nopbc • [email protected] • [email protected]
Contents
FEATURE
Happy Birthday, Dear Seedlings!
TEACHING
The Braille Monster: A New Take on Flashcards for Blind Kids
by A PDRIB Contributor
Victory Dance: Reversing the Roles of Teacher and Student for a Day
by Treva Olivero
Dear Teachers, Please Presume Competence When You Work with My Child
by Crystal Kostick
ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY
The Preschool Child Can Be a Cane User: An Article Review
by Merry-Noel Chamberlain
Rocking Revisited
by Elaine McHugh
How Do You Get Around? There's No One Strategy to Get There
by Sheri Wells-Jensen
BRAILLE
For the Love of Reading
by Angela Shambarger
The Encyclopedia and Me
by Robert Jaquiss
PASSAGES
Singing into the Mainstream
by Katie Sears
Paths and Transitions
by Mausam Mehta
DIVERSITY
Optic Nerve Hypoplasia: Unraveling the Mysteries
by Christopher Sabine
FINANCE
ABLE, A Tool for Life Planning
by Carol Akers
PROGRAMS
A Place of One's Own: The 2019 STEM EQ Program
by Natalie Shaheen
Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning
by Carla McQuillan
Regarding the Colorado Center for the Blind and My Experience
by Luc Gandarias
REVIEW
My Father's Blood
by Amy Krout-Horn
Reviewed by Donna W. Hill
Why Join the NOPBC?
Are you the parent of a blind or low-vision child? Don’t know where to turn?
Founded in 1983, the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC) is a membership organization of parents, educators, and friends of blind children reaching out to give each other vital support, encouragement, and information. We have thousands of members in all fifty states plus Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico.
The NOPBC offers hope, encouragement, information, and resources for parents of blind or low-vision children. NOPBC provides emotional support and a network of other families dealing with the same challenges you are facing. We also provide information, training, and resources to empower you to take an active role in guiding your child’s development and education. We can provide information on your child’s rights and on the laws and legislative issues that will enable you and your child to become strong and effective advocates.
Have you ever wondered what your blind or low-vision child will be capable of when he or she grows up? The answer to that question is that blindness does not have to stop your child from doing anything he or she wants to do. We can connect you with other families and blind adults who can serve as positive mentors and role models. They can teach you the attitudes and techniques that will enable your child to become independent and to succeed in life.
What is different about the NOPBC?
Our status as a division of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the largest and most influential organization of blind people in the world, provides many benefits. Our members are well informed about the societal, legislative, and technological issues that affect blind people. We also enjoy the resources, support, and expertise of fifty thousand blind people who can serve as mentors and role models for us and our children. Finally, as our children grow up, they have the Federation to belong to.
No other organization for parents of blind/low-vision children offers more programs, activities, and training to families, children, and youth. One of our most exciting activities is our annual conference. Every year since it was established, the NOPBC has conducted an annual conference for parents and teachers of blind children as part of the national convention of the NFB. The program has grown to include five exciting days of workshops, training sessions, activities for all family members, including sighted siblings, and countless opportunities to meet blind adults and other families and children from around the country.
What is the mission of the NOPBC?
The purpose of the NOPBC is to:
- create a climate of opportunity for blind children in home and society.
- provide information and support to parents of blind children.
- facilitate the sharing of experience and concerns among parents of blind children.
- develop and expand resources available to parents and their children.
- help parents of blind children gain understanding and perspective through partnership and contact with blind adults.
- function as an integral part of the National Federation of the Blind in its ongoing effort to achieve equality and opportunity for all blind persons.
Most states have an NOPBC affiliate chapter. You can find your state chapter at www.nopbc.org. If your state does not have a chapter and you would like to start one, please contact us. We may be able to offer training and other assistance to start a state NOPBC chapter.
What are the programs, activities, publications, and resources of the NOPBC?
- National and State Parent Seminars and Conferences
- Future Reflections Magazine
- NOPBC Website
- Books and Videos
- Blindkid and Other Listservs
- Early Childhood Conferences
- Pop-Up IEP Website
- Slate Pals Pen Pal Program
- AAF Free Braille Books Program
- Share Braille Book Exchange
- Writing Contests
- Junior Science Academy
- Youth Slam High School Science Academy
- National Center for Blind Youth in Science Website
- NFB-NEWSLINE® Newspaper Service
- Where the Blind Work Website
- Free White Cane Program
- Blindness 411 Facebook Group for Teens
- NFB-LINK Mentoring Program
- Scholarship Program
- Straight Talk about Blindness Video Series
- Parent Leadership Program (PLP)
Contact Us:
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
[email protected]
www.nopbc.org