Literature Review

Literature Review

Future Reflections Winter 1986, Vol. 5 No. 1
(back) (contents) (next)
LITERATURE REVIEW
FINDING MY WAY
review by Doris M. Willoughby
(Note: This is from The Best of Zoom Special Children. 8 minutes, color. 16
mm film or videocassette.)
Timmy Cummings is in the fifth grade.
He takes his turn as recorder for a
class discussion, writing notes in
Braille. He plays active outdoor games
with his sighted classmates and with his
brother.
In a mobility lesson, Timmy crosses
streets and proceeds for several blocks,
moving smoothly and learning quickly.
Some people feel sorry for him, explains
Timmy, but they really shouldn't.
He is getting along fine in school and
in life, and looking forward to choosing
a vocation.
This is one of the best films I have
seen of a young student in school. A
noteworthy strength is the emphasis on
strong cane travel skills at this age.
It would have been even better to show
the cane used indoors as well as outdoors,
and to use a straight cane rather
than one with a crook. But Timmy's cane
skill is impressive for a fifth grader,
and the all-around approach is extremely
positive.
The school apparently has seven blind
students served by a resource teacher.
One excellent scene shows Timmy and another boy talking about their travel
experiences.
Unfortunately, the printed discussion
guide which I saw was greatly inferior
to the film itself. The guide suggests
that students pair off to experience
"how it feels to be blind," with one
student verbally guiding, and with the
other blindfolded but using no cane.
This is one of the worst possible exercises,
increasing fear and misunderstanding rather than decreasing it.
Also, the discussion guide overemphasizes
the remark, "Crossing the street
is really taking a risk." When Timmy
said that, it was in the context of
walking briskly and successfully across
the street; also, he went on to say that
everyone must take risks in order to get
anywhere in life. The discussion guide,
however, brings out the negative aspect.
It also describes the Braillewriter
inaccurately.
This film is especially good to show
to classroom teachers who will soon be
having a blind student for the first
time. Enjoy the film, and throw away
the discussion guide.
WGBH-TV in Boston produced this film
as part of the Zoom series. Following
is a listing of how to purchase it.
Rental is also possible, but for only a
very few days.
FINDING MY WAY (from The Best of
Zoom-Children)
*** VHS Videotape--$99.00
*** 3/4" U-Matic Videotape--$149.00
*** 16 mm. film--$185.00
Order from the address below and indicate
that this is a "special order"
film. Purchase Orders are accepted from
schools, agencies, etc.; otherwise prepayment
is required. Films Incorporated
5547 N. Ravenswood, Chicago, IL, 60640;
INWATS: 1-800-323-4222.
(back) (contents) (next)