From the Editor
Future Reflections Fall 1991
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FROM THE EDITOR: It's a new school year; a time of new opportunities and
fresh challenges. But sometimes this isn't so exciting; sometimes it only
arouses doubts, fears, and more questions in the minds of parents and blind
students.
How can a blind student handle all the map work in social studies? Maybe we
should skip that. What possible interest could a blind kid have in team
ON PARENTING THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED CHILD
Future Reflections Fall 1991
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ON PARENTING THE
VISUALLY IMPAIRED CHILD
by Norman Balot
Editor's note: The following article is reprinted from the VIPS Parents
Newsletter, a publication of Visually Impaired Preschool Services of Louisville,
Kentucky.
Parenting is a difficult job. It's a tough job. It is not a job that any of
us, under any circumstances, can take lightly. And when the parenting process
What Blind Children Need
Future Reflections Fall 1991
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WHAT BLIND CHILDREN NEED
by Tim Day
Editor's Note: Tim is 7 years old and attends Roosevelt Elementary School in
Bellingham, Washington, where he will be in the first grade this fall. This
article was submitted in Braille with a print transcription. Tim's mother,
Debbie Day, is an active and enthusiastic member of the National Federation of
the Blind and its Northwest Parents Division. She also co-ordinates the
EDUCATION OF THE BLIND FOUR-YEAR-OLD
Future Reflections Fall 1991
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EDUCATION OF THE BLIND FOUR-YEAR-OLD
Editor's Note: Four years ago Robin Reynolds wrote one little letter which
forever changed the direction of her daughter's education. Emily, Mrs. Reynold's
daughter, was seven-months-old when she was diagnosed as blind. In the months
that followed, Mrs. Reynolds dug up every bit of information she could find
BLIND KIDS LOVE SPORTS, TOO!
Future Reflections Fall 1991
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BLIND KIDS LOVE SPORTS, TOO!
by Tom Balek
The whole world has gone crazy. Sports crazy, that is.
Fans pack stadiums by the tens of thousands to watch millionaires hit,
catch, throw, tackle, shoot, drive, and run. The airwaves are crammed with games
of all sorts and even the commercials during non-sports programs feature
athlete-superstars hyping everything from beer to bouquets.
Using Maps
Future Reflections Fall 1991
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USING MAPS
Reprinted from:
Handbook for Itinerant and Resource Teachers of Blind and Visually Impaired
Students by Doris M. Willoughby and Sharon L. M. Duffy.
Editor's Note: The book from which this article is taken is absolutely
top-notch. It is, in my opinion, one of the best investments any parent or
teacher of a blind student can make. If you doubt it, just read this segment on
maps.
THE WORK ETHIC APPLIES TO BLIND CHILDREN, TOO
Future Reflections Fall 1991
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THE WORK ETHIC APPLIES TO BLIND CHILDREN, TOO
by Catherine Horn Randall
Reprinted from the Month's News, the newsletter of the National Federation of
the Blind of Illinois.
An article published in the January, 1986, issue of Reader's Digest
entitled "How to Raise a Happy Child," by Edwin Kiester, Jr., and Sally Valente
Kiester, made me stop and reexamine my carefree childhood. The truths I read and
Functional Curriculum
Future Reflections Fall 1991
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FUNCTIONAL CURRICULUM: JUST COMMON SENSE
by Patty Merryman
Editor's Note: Reprinted from Perceive, a newsletter for parents published by
P.A.V.I.C. of Colorado, the following article was originally titled, "Spring
Conference Time."
One of the most exciting new (it's really old fashioned but full of common
Pouring in the Dark
Future Reflections Fall 1991
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POURING IN THE DARK
by Connie Weadon
Reprinted from Dialogue, Fall/Winter, 1990.
If you were to ask a newly blind person what is most frustrating to him, he
probably would not say mastering Braille or completing mobility. His response
more likely would be to name one of the ordinary tasks of daily living which
most people perform without a thought. One such task is pouring.
To pour liquids successfully, I recommend three methods:
BLINDNESS AND THE USE OF PARTIAL VISION
Future Reflections Fall 1991
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BLINDNESS AND THE USE OF PARTIAL VISION
by Alfred P. Maneki, Ph.D.
Editor's Note: Reprinted from the August, 1989, Braille Monitor, this article is
based on a speech Dr. Maneki, a leader in the National Federation of the Blind
of Maryland, gave at an NFB seminar for parents of blind children.
Despite what some have said about the National Federation of the Blind, we