Using Your Best Resources

Using Your Best Resources

Future Reflections Winter 1989, Vol. 8 No. 1
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USING YOUR BEST RESOURCES
by Kim Bosshart
Editor's Note: What happens when a teacher of
the blind teams up with the National Federation of the Blind in her community? That is what teacher
Kim Bosshart of Fremont, Nebraska, decided to
find out. First, she decided to attend the 1988 National
Convention of the National Federation of
the Blind in Chicago, Illinois. Then...but Ms. Bosshart
really tells it better herself. Here is a letter and
an article she recently sent to me. It is a wonderful
testimony as to what can happen when a teacher
decides to "use her best resource."
Barbara Cheadle
230 Beaumont Ave.
Baltimore, MD 21228
Dear Barbara,
I know we only met briefly at national convention,
but I am looking forward to talking with you
in the future. Barbara Walker and others I have
met speak so highly of you.
I have heard through several sources that you
were having great difficulty getting the services
you wanted for your son. I do hope all has worked
out for the best. I know that sometimes as
parents we have to reach down inside for every
last bit of strength to continue fighting for the
rights of our children, But in the end it usually
pays off.
I would like to personally thank you for sending
all the back issues of Future Reflections. I have
already spent many enjoyable nights reading. I
just don't ever seem to get enough; the more I
know, the more I don't know.
Barbara Walker said that you might be interested
in an article about some of the things that
have been going on in Fremont. I have tried to
put together an article for you, but please bear in
mind, I am a teacher, not an author. Please feel
free to edit this as you wish.
As you can tell from the article it has been an
exciting year. I also learned so much at convention.
Barbara said we need to be aware of those
people who have never been here before in case
they become overwhelmed. Of course, I thought
and snickered to myself. Little did I know that
that person would turn out to be me. It took me
a solid week just to get over the physical trauma,
and the emotional experience will remain with
me for a lifetime. I am excited more than ever to
be establishing a program for visually impaired
students in Fremont, especially since I have so
much wonderful backing from all my newfound
friends in the NFB.
I am looking forward to our community
workshop in March. I am anticipating a good turnout.
I
hope you find your new year a good one. I'm
looking forward to talking with you at convention
this summer. The time will be here before you
know it!
Sincerely,
Kim Bosshart
USING YOUR BEST RESOURCES
by Kim Bosshart
Educating blind students, their parents, school
staff and the community about blindness can be
an overwhelming mission. That is why I have
relied on the most valuable resources available
to me, blind people themselves.
One very pleasurable activity I have implemented
as part of my curriculum has been inviting
blind individuals to visit school with me for a
day. I have been doing this once a month this
year.
The students spend time talking and getting to
know the blind person. Oftentimes, I will make a
request that the guest zero in on a certain topic.
For example, if the student is having trouble accepting
a cane or using it properly, I request that
the blind person talk about his own personal experiences
and the benefits he has derived
through using a cane.
Such tactics have been used successfully in other
areas such as Braille, social skills, dating, and
career exploration.
The students always look forward to the visit.
Not only do they benefit, but so do all the other
students and teachers in the school system who
see blind people competently traveling about the
school.
The following are some comments from students
and teachers about the visits:
My visually impaired student had a
hard time admitting that he had an impairment.
He refused to work with a
cane and walked with his head down.
After being introduced to other visually
impaired people and observing how
proud and happy they were to be using
a cane, he has also accepted the cane.
My class has benefitted greatly from
visually impaired people visiting with
us. It is an excellent opportunity for
them to learn about specialized equipment
and aids that are available for
visually impaired people. It also
helped them realize that there are always
ways to deal with problems. --Joan Everett, Resource Teacher
I am Kristen Holmer, and I go to
Fremont Jr. High. I feel the blind
people I've met have helped me to be
more comfortable about my blindness.
They shared many feelings with me. I
especially enjoyed relating to one
specific person whose family had gone
through the same things my family went
through. His family felt uneasy with the
idea of his using a cane, even though he
had a good idea what the cane could do
for him. I also felt the same way and
was afraid to share my feelings with
others about using a cane.
The blind people I talked with have
helped me feel more at ease about
using my cane and showing others how
it is used. They also helped me realize
that it is very important to acquire good
cane travel skills so I can get around
wherever I want to go.
I found it interesting to learn how
they handled their bank accounts and
recordkeeping. I have learned a lot,
and I'm glad I have the opportunity to
meet other blind people. --Kristen Holmer, Student
Another attempt was made to educate the school
staff and parents about the abilities of blind
people by hosting a workshop. A panel of five
blind people answered many questions, first for
school staff after school and later in the evening
for parents. The following are some responses
from teachers/parents who attended the
workshop.
Recently I had the opportunity to attend
a panel discussion consisting of
five visually impaired adults and young
adults. I was most impressed with the
positive outlook each person had and
their individual ways of overcoming
obstacles and misconceptions. I would
like to see future discussions be available
to the public as well as parents of
visually impaired.
-- Carole Strunk, Parent
The panel of blind persons has enabled me to grow enormously in the
area of personal understanding of the
emotions of blind persons. Each person
related how they became blind and
how they dealt with becoming blind.
They discussed where they were at, at
the present time in their acceptance of
blindness.
Each of us secretly is afraid of a
handicap --and especially blindness,
and then to have someone talk about it
actually happening! It brings out a lot
of emotion!
The panel talked about their
abilities as a blind person, what they expected
from other people, and what
other people should expect from them.
Most people are quite ignorant about
blindness, and many have preconceived
ideas about it. Most of our attitudes
about blindness are not even in
our consciousness, and made me feel
quite ignorant. Most of us are not
around successful blind persons to see
that they can do the same things that
you and I do every day.
Another thing that impressed me
was the sense of humor they held. This
sense of humor put me at ease. They
were joking about the things I felt really
uncomfortable with and didn't know
how to react to in some cases. A blind
person who is comfortable with himself
is the example that should be introduced
to blind students. They seldom,
themselves, come into contact with
blind persons.
The panel made me realize that
whether you are sighted or unsighted,
it's your attitude that is going to get you
through life. Your attitude is what really
counts, what you will become, how
happy you will be, and what kind of
relationships you make with other
people
--Mary Herkenrath, Para Professional
I attended a conference in which
five blind people spoke about how they
handled being blind. I was quite impressed
with them--not just because
they could do the same things I can do,
but with their confidence and general
outlook on life. Until the last two years,
I had never come into contact with
anyone who is blind before. I just
thought that blind people were kept
apart in some "home" somewhere for
their protection. Now that I've had two
blind students and had the opportunity
to hear the five blind adults in the conference,
my attitude has changed.
'Hey, these are people just like me,' was
my reaction. Before I was very uncertain
about mainstreaming blind people
into 'normal' society; now, I think it is a rnust and people like myself should be
educated in advance for it. --Rich Hirschman, Teacher
After attending a panel discussion
with blind individuals, I gained a great
understanding of the normalcy of a
blind person. After meeting and talking
with the panel, I would and do feel
confident and comfortable interacting
with a blind person.
I also know that it is good to keep my
high expectations for the blind student
I have in my classroom. --Paula Price, Special Education
Teacher
From the positive responses we received, we are
now planning a largescale community workshop.
Plans are underway to present this workshop in
March of 1989.
In my opinion, it is a real injustice nol to bring
blind persons together to share emotions, experiences,
attitudes and goals. Knowing someone
else is having the same feelings and/or
problems can make or break the attitude of a
blind child growing into adulthood. They
deserve the best. Most blind persons are very
willing to share with all of us.
So many of us have gained so much from the
guests who have visited the Fremont Public
Schools. So utilize your resources and please
make it a point to have your students/children
meet other blind children and adults. It is a wise
investment for their future.
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