Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Gifts/Adaptive Tools for a 7 Year Old Blind Girl (self.Blind)
submitted by BlueFamily
About a month ago I found out I was going to be father to a (currently) 7 year old blind girl. My wife and I are trying to get ready for her to join our family, but I'm realizing really quickly that I'm in a bit over my head. I know adaptive tools can be user specific, but I could use some help getting started. She's , is learning braille, and can only see a little light in one eye. What kind of things do you think would help her most?
IHaveAFunnyName 3 points 6y ago
I'm not going to be much help as my son is much you get and has some sight, but I wanted to make sure that you are on the Facebook support groups as well as having multiple resources is always a good thing. I believe the national federation for the blind for a start, and parent of blind children may be another. The federal quota may give you some money for equipment, do you have a TVI or OM helping you guys?
And congratulations :)
And congratulations :)
BlueFamily [OP] 2 points 6y ago
Thank you. We don't have any specialist assistance at all yet. We've contacted some "local" schools for the blind, but typically they haven't provided much assistance apart from "come take a tour!" We don't yet know the actual level of blindness, and likely won't ever know the real cause. We also won't know the level of treat ability until we get back to the US. I would love more resources, but I'm not on Facebook much (darn politics). My wife is a teacher, and we intend on advocating to the fullest in her school. The only "schools for the blind" within an hour are boarding schools, and those are not acceptable for an adoptee in the bonding stage.
We're a bit overwhelmed right now, getting ready to travel and trying to sort some of this stuff out. I realized we needed more assistance after the agency recommended gifts like crayons and bubbles, and I'm like "I really don't think she's going to get much from this."
We're a bit overwhelmed right now, getting ready to travel and trying to sort some of this stuff out. I realized we needed more assistance after the agency recommended gifts like crayons and bubbles, and I'm like "I really don't think she's going to get much from this."
IHaveAFunnyName 2 points 6y ago
Oh goodness. Well, I totally understand about Facebook politics (yuck) but perhaps a vision only no friends type of a profile might be helpful, I know I've found the resources there invaluable. If not there are a few websites: national federation for the blind, Perkins school for the blind, and wonderbaby which has great articles. My son has cortical visual impairment (cvi) from brain bleeds and hydrocephalus caused by prematurity (cvi is when the brain doesn't process what the eyes see very well. He sees bright toys best when they are against a solid background and when there is some movement involved, if you think her blindness may be from cvi I highly recommend you look up Dr. Christine Roman in Pennsylvania, she is the leading expert in the US and cvi is still relatively unknown by some eye doctors. Also the fb groups for cvi are great and I am happy to help in any way I can. But I digress.) He also has optic nerve atrophy from hydrocephalus where the nerve appears pale.
As my son is under three, we have early intervention helping us and they found us a TVI consultant from the local school for the blind who comes and works with us. You should look into finding a TVI or OM to come work with your daughter, perhaps by contacting the EI program nearest you and asking for resources even if they can't provide you services they should be able to direct you to help. If she is behind in motor skills you may also need to seek out physical or occupational therapy and finding one who is familiar with children who are blind would be a wonderful thing. (Edit: I just realized you're not in the US so....that may not work in your country, sorry!) An OM would help her with her cane, too, if she uses one.
I believe there are annual conferences for families who have a child or parent who is blind...we have never been but it sounds great. (Again, US)
For us, we wanted toys that have good texture and sounds, light especially for his cvi. I would mostly recommend calling all blind resources near you and asking where you should be looking, or if there are families with similar aged children you can connect with. Having support from others is huge for us, even if it is through messages.
Label everything and describe where she is, what is going on around her. If you walk in or out of a room tell her. Movies and shows can have audio descriptors so she can enjoy movies with you. I have been reminded by others as well to always push him and not restrict his activities because of blindness, you may just have to adapt. Best wishes and please let me know if I can help in any way. :)
As my son is under three, we have early intervention helping us and they found us a TVI consultant from the local school for the blind who comes and works with us. You should look into finding a TVI or OM to come work with your daughter, perhaps by contacting the EI program nearest you and asking for resources even if they can't provide you services they should be able to direct you to help. If she is behind in motor skills you may also need to seek out physical or occupational therapy and finding one who is familiar with children who are blind would be a wonderful thing. (Edit: I just realized you're not in the US so....that may not work in your country, sorry!) An OM would help her with her cane, too, if she uses one.
I believe there are annual conferences for families who have a child or parent who is blind...we have never been but it sounds great. (Again, US)
For us, we wanted toys that have good texture and sounds, light especially for his cvi. I would mostly recommend calling all blind resources near you and asking where you should be looking, or if there are families with similar aged children you can connect with. Having support from others is huge for us, even if it is through messages.
Label everything and describe where she is, what is going on around her. If you walk in or out of a room tell her. Movies and shows can have audio descriptors so she can enjoy movies with you. I have been reminded by others as well to always push him and not restrict his activities because of blindness, you may just have to adapt. Best wishes and please let me know if I can help in any way. :)
BlueFamily [OP] 2 points 6y ago
Thank you, this is all really helpful. We are in the US, she's not yet. We'll be bringing her home in June, but we're travelling to be a family next week. I'm keeping it a bit vague because I don't know what I can and can't share in a public setting, since she's not legally my child yet.
Unuhi 2 points 6y ago
Cool then. Hook up with wonderbaby, perkins and similar to learn more about your options.
A lot of options will depend on which state you are in (unfortunately).
What does she like? That is the key.
I hope a lot of the things will be like for any girl of her age. So if dolls or cuddly toys, it doesn't matter if blind or sighted because what is in with friends of the same age often matter. If they like something that you have no idea of it'll suck as the kid. So enable and learn to do everything like the others, ideally, although for now i guess the practical problem is not being in the same country.
A lot of options will depend on which state you are in (unfortunately).
What does she like? That is the key.
I hope a lot of the things will be like for any girl of her age. So if dolls or cuddly toys, it doesn't matter if blind or sighted because what is in with friends of the same age often matter. If they like something that you have no idea of it'll suck as the kid. So enable and learn to do everything like the others, ideally, although for now i guess the practical problem is not being in the same country.
Diabroticavirgifera 2 points 6y ago
Asked my boyfriend, who is blind. His first suggestion was an iPad.
BlueFamily [OP] 1 points 6y ago
TIL. thank you
-shacklebolt- 2 points 6y ago
check out the [national organization of parents of blind children.]
(http://nopbc.org/)
They have many resources, local chapters, people you can reach out to, a mailing list, a facebook group, convention meetings, etc.
You're asking a very broad question, and while I'm not a parent of blind children (but a blind adult) I would certainly be happy to answer more specific questions or point you in the direction of the right resources.
(http://nopbc.org/)
They have many resources, local chapters, people you can reach out to, a mailing list, a facebook group, convention meetings, etc.
You're asking a very broad question, and while I'm not a parent of blind children (but a blind adult) I would certainly be happy to answer more specific questions or point you in the direction of the right resources.
BlueFamily [OP] 1 points 6y ago
Thanks, it is a very broad question, mostly because we haven't met her yet, so we're uncertain of the actual level of blindness. I'm mostly unsure of what kind of gifts would be best, bubbles didn't seem like the best.
-shacklebolt- 1 points 6y ago
Honestly, I'm a little confused. Gifts? This is your (future) kid we're talking about. If you're asking what toys to get her, whatever she likes? Any kid can play with dolls and blocks and stuff no matter their vision.
For blindness specific things, I'm not sure "gifts" is the word I'd use? There are a lot of things to buy and adaptations that need to be made, and the resource I sent you can get you started in the right direction on that sort of thing.
For blindness specific things, I'm not sure "gifts" is the word I'd use? There are a lot of things to buy and adaptations that need to be made, and the resource I sent you can get you started in the right direction on that sort of thing.
ravenshadow2013 1 points 6y ago
depending on where you live might I suggest consulting your local NFB chapter(National federation of the blind) they can deffinatly give you tips and assistance on where to go and what to do
BlueFamily [OP] 1 points 6y ago
Thank you, we did a few months ago, but since the child wasn't home they kind of suggested we wait ntil we have her home to determine what she needs.
ravenshadow2013 1 points 6y ago
the nice thing is that at 7 years old toys for sighted girls are about the same for blind, think barbie dalls and stuffed toyes there are a great many audio books for children if you are in the US you can sign up for the Library for the blind which will send you a tape player and speacial tapes with audio books on them there are audio discript movies that you can get . I know disney has gotten real big into that lately
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