Category: Parent Talk
Hi. For a few months we've known our son has some vision problems & we're tryin to figure out how we can make him feel ok. He has nastagmus & he's still young to know if the glaucoma even exists. I have both. Lately he has gotten more clingy. He gets frighten to stuff falling & such. We're not sure how to make him feel comfortable being in a room alone or needing one of us next to him. Even though i've gone through some of what he is going thru its not much of help. I don't remember much of 8yrs & younger, 9yrs to 12yrs things were not so clear & i just mainly remember some surgeries. I just want things to as easy as possible for him. How many parents have children with vision problem??? Any suggestions on how i can help him???
Thanks.
The NFB is a great resource for parents of kids with vision issues. I know, I know, I'm probably going to get a truckload of backlash from people who are against them, but that's not the point here. It's just one avenue you can explore.
At least give it a shot ...
www.nfb.org
Good luck.
Do you live in the U.S> In your area, there may be an Easter seals organization that will know where to direct you for the help you need. I'm an older person who has been blind all my life; my parents were involved with parents of the blind. Hope this helps too. I don't know if parents of the blind still exists but an eye clinic or eye doctor near you may know that answer.
You are blind, so do what you do. I think if you make it a bigf deal, then it becomes one, but if you treat is as usual it will be easier. You know what you needed, or need, so provide these things. Make sure you teach all the skills you know, and as posted get help with the things you don't know. Kind of like sighted parents, they have things around they use on a daily bases, and so do you, so make them available to him to use as you do. Leave him in a room alone, give him things to make him want to stay in that room alone. Tell him things, allow him to cling, but don't make it a need, if I'm making sense. If he has some vision tell him to go outside and play. I don't know his age, so that might not be possible yet. Take him to places you can allow him to play free, such as a play yard at McDonald's, or one of the pizza places that have them.
Mayb i should have word it differently...We're not looking for resources, we looking to see if anyone has gone thru what we are going thru & how they dealt with the situation. We're working with a DARS counselor, vision teacher & a lady from ECI program BUT the thing is they don't have blind/VI children so they can't really help me. They already said keep him in his room or let him cry but its not much help. I'm VI, i don't treat him any different then any other kids, but it can't just go by how i was brought up because he is still a baby. He's about to be 15mths. He seems to be scared of his room, i put him in there & he tries to crawl out as im closing the door or if he is in his playpen he is just screaming his head off. I would like to see him play in there but he doesnt unless someone is there with him. He gets this attitude with people & growl when he gets mad. I would take him to play groups but he fights & pulls girls hair. He hasn't started even walking. I'm hoping someone can relate to this cause i want him to be comfortable & know things will be ok.
there is a resource that you could join and get plenty of ideas. my daughter isn't blind, but many on the mailing list do have blind children. does your son have a cane? I know some of these parents start at like 8 or 9 months with the cane. the not wanting to be away from you isn't a blindness issue. it's his age and separation anxiety which is normal. perhaps if you want to keep him in his room, put a baby gait across the opening instead of closing him in his room. i don't know of any children that would want to be locked in their room alone, at his age.
do you fill his world with tactile things?
also, the walking thing isn't necessarily a problem. some children don't walk until later. I believe they say by 18 months is in the norm. if you are interested in joining a blind parents mailing list, just give me your email address either on here or pm it to me and i'll get you added. There are awesome parents there who are raising blind and visually impared children, who could definitely help you.
Pipi
No, my son doesn't have a cane. I don't think they are focusing on that just yet. Ijust don't really get why he screams & cries when he is alone in one room; its almost like he has to be right next to me or he freaks out. I have put the baby gate at his door, but that doesn't help nor does me talkin to him if he & i are in different rooms. He doesn't have tactile stuff except for the books the DARS counselor gave him. . There tryin to teach him, colors, shapes & textures. I would like to join the mailing group. I hope it helps cause i can use some help. Thanks.