Case of the Blind Leading the Blind

Case of the Blind Leading the Blind

Future Reflections Spring/ Summer1989, Vol. 8 No. 2
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CASE OF THE BLIND LEADING THE BLIND
by Juli Hunter, President

Parents of Blind Children Division
National Federation of the Blind of Colorado
[PICTURE] Federation conventions are great places for parents of
blind children to meet competent blind role models. In
this picture (taken at the 1988 NFB convention) Lori Le
Blanc, Jerry Whittle, and Russell Anderson prepare to
take a group of blind and sighted children to the zoo.
Editor's Note: There is an old English saying
that goes like this: 'The fox has many tricks but the hedgehog (porcupine) just one....one good one." Although there are many reasons why parents
should join the National Federation of the Blind,
just one good reason will do.
You've all heard the old adage, "the blind leading the blind." It is used to describe the attempts
of one person to show another person how to do
something when neither one has the slightest
idea what is going on. Well, the newly formed Parents of Blind Children Division of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado is determined to give that old adage new meaning. Allow me to explain.
Most of us do our best to give our kids every opportunity- to become independent. But no matter how conscientious we are about providing
those opportunities, the children often have the sense that they are being supervised and protected by a sighted person. As parents, we questioned how to bridge this psychological barrier to self-confidence. A group of us decided
that the answer lies in blind role models. We needed help from blind adults who could show
our children the ropes--for instance, how they
take the bus to the shopping mall and find the
items they need to buy, or how they manage cooking
and cleaning in their apartments and homes
-without a mom or dad there to help!
With the help of the National Federation of the
Blind of Colorado, we have been given the
chance to make our "big brother/big sister" role
model program a reality. The Colorado Center
for the Blind, established by the NFB of
Colorado to teach adaptive skills to adult blind
persons, has been able to provide us students and
staff members who have volunteered their time
to meet with our school-age blind children. The
children have been meeting monthly with their
"big brothers" and "big sisters" doing such things
as baking cookies, travelling in the neighborhood
on a scavenger hunt, and creating centerpieces
for a Valentine's Day party. In the meantime, the
parents have had the chance to share their concerns
about independence and travel issues.
The program has been so successful that in
January, the parents decided to formally organize
as the Parents of Blind Children Division
of the National Federation of the Blind of
Colorado. So far, we have had the enthusiastic
participation of about eight families. The
children in the program range in age from about
seven to 14 years old. We are hoping to increase
our numbers and welcome all school-age blind
children and their families. We will be meeting
on the third Saturday of each month from 1:304:00
p.m. at the National Federation of the Blind.
2232 South Broadway, Denver, CO. Anyone requiring
further information may contact Juli
Hunter at (303) 377-9021 or Diane McGeor^e.
(303)778-1130.
And what about that old adage, "the blind leading
the blind"? It appears that we have succeeded
in giving that new meaning. It now means being
shown the way as secure and competent friends.
I hope that your child will join ours in meeting
and learning from these new friends.
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