The Loving Congregation

THE LOVING CONGREGATION

by Harvey Lauer

In the following story Harvey Lauer captures the

experience that many blind church members have

had and

demonstrates the most effective way of educating,

reassuring,

and witnessing to congregations filled with

ordinary people

who fear blindness and are uncertain how to

behave with blind

people. Here is what he has to say:

"We can't ask them to help. What could they

do? They are

Ride Like the Wind

RIDE LIKE THE WIND

by Margie Watson

What do you do when your five-year-old announces

that she

wants to go bike riding with you--and, the

five-year-old

happens to be blind? Here is how Margie Watson

solved the

problem:

My five-year-old daughter, Katie, likes to ride

her bike.

That surprises most people, because Katie is

blind. My husband

or I walk about ten feet in front of Katie and

tell her when

to turn the corner, but otherwise she rides

HOMEWORK

HOMEWORK: THIS MOM'S PERSPECTIVE

by Patricia Maurer

Blind parents face the same challenges as sighted

parents. Here Patricia Maurer brings us her

perspective on one

common to all--getting the children to do their

homework. Here

is what she has to say:

My husband and I are both blind. We have two

wonderful

children, David and Dianna. My daughter, who is

eight, does

not find her homework much of a chore. She

doesn't really

Possibilities

POSSIBILITIES

by Carol Castellano

Carol Castellano and her husband Bill are leaders

in the

National Federation of the Blind's organization

for parents of

blind children. They live in New Jersey with

their children

Serena and John. Serena is blind and John is

sighted. For both

of these children, the future is filled with

exhilarating

possibilities. With sparkle, pride, and belief

Carol shares

some of them with us. Here is what she has to

say:

Help us spread the word...

You can help us spread the word...

...about our Braille Readers Are Leaders contest

for blind

schoolchildren, a project which encourages blind

children to

achieve literacy through Braille.

...about our scholarships for deserving blind

college

students.

...about Job Opportunities for the Blind, a

program that

matches capable blind people with employers who

need their

skills.

...about where to turn for accurate information

about

Beginnings and Blueprints, Contents

Beginnings and Blueprints

A Kernel Book

Edited by

Kenneth Jernigan

Beginnings and Blueprints

Kenneth Jernigan

Editor

Large Type Edition

A Kernel Book

published by

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND

Copyright 1996 by the National Federation of the

Blind

ISBN 1-885218-06-0

All Rights Reserved

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Editor's Introduction

Beginnings and Blueprints

An Old Fable and a Modern Tale

I am the Child

Future Reflections Winter 1986, Vol. 5 No. 1
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the Child
I am the child.
All the world waits for my coming.
All the world watches with interest
to see what I will become.
Civilization hangs in the balance,
For what I am, the world of
tomorrow will be.
Mamie Gene Cole
Masterpieces of Religious Verse
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Nancy

God, Table Manners, and Independent Travel: A Mother's Viewpoint

Future Reflections Winter 1986, Vol. 5 No. 1
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