Do you help a blind person across the street?
Ask if assistance would be helpful. Sometimes a blind person prefers to proceed unaided. If the person prefers to wants your help, offer your elbow. You should walk a half-step ahead so that your body movements will indicate when to change direction, stop and start, and step up or down at curbside.

How do I give directions to a blind person?
Verbal directions should have the blind person as the reference point. Example: "you are facing Lexington Avenue and you will have to cross it as you continue east on 59^th Street.

How does a blind person handle money?
When giving out bills, indicate the denomination of each so that the blind person can identify it and put it away. Coins are identified by touch.

Should someone pet a Guide Dog?
These are working animals, not pets. Do not distract a guide dog by petting it or by seeking its attention.

May I use the words "see that" or "see you later".
Talk with a blind person as you would with a sighted one, in a normal tone. You may use such expressions as "See you later" and "Did you see that?"

Why is Early Intervention so important?
Early intervention is a service provided by your state. Your child is entitled to these services free of charge. A team of professionals determines enrollment eligibility through an evaluation that assesses the child’s abilities in gross and fine motor, language, self-help, social and early learning skills.

The programs offer academic and therapeutic services to the families of infants and toddlers up to three years of age with special needs. If your child is showing delays in reaching developmental milestones, or has a medical diagnosis or other factor that may put him/her at risk for delays it is important to contact your local agency about receiving services. By working with these professionals they will be able to map out an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) geared to your family’s particular concerns. Your IFSP, will be updated regularly to address your family’s changing concerns and will provide the educational and therapeutic program your child will need.

Why are glasses important to a blind child?
A small child may be at risk for eye damage due to the fact most cabinets, coffee tables and other objects are within eye levels. The glasses act as a shield to protect the eyes from damage.

At what age should you begin with a mobility specialist?
Mobility and Orientation should begin with infants. See orientation and mobility chart for suggestions on infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

My first instinct is to protect, how do I promote independence?
As a mother your first instinct is to protect, but allowing your child to make mistakes and learn from them is worth more. Independence comes from being able to accomplish a task independently without assistance. "I did it" usually is accompanied with a smile. Children love to success.

Why does my child always holds his/her head down?
For a blind child, the placement of head position is hard. A consist reminder to "hold your head up" or "put your chin up a little" will help your child to understand where he or she should carry their head when walking and talking. In addition, always remind your child to face their person they are talking to or to whom is addressing them.

Can my child learn directions at an early age?
As infants, start early with placement of toys by giving the location of the toy in relation to the child’s body. Example: The ball is on your right side, next to your knee. Always communicate with "in front" or "behind." The more verbal direction and body part identification the more familiar the child will be come with the location of objects in relation to one’s own body.

Community parks and play grounds
Mommy and Me Classes
Swimming Lessons (beneficial for spatial relations, jumping, hopping without gravity, underwater experiences.)
Horseback Riding(Spatial relations and sensory issues)
Music Classes
Gymboree (Little Gym) Gross Motor Skills

My child is not rolling over or crawling?
A child’s motor skills usually develop in a particular sequence; one skill may be required or muscle control to acquire the next skill. With babies who are blind or visually impaired, some motor skills take much longer to develop. For example, babies who are blind or visually impaired do not have the motivation to lift their heads because there is no visual reward. It may take longer to move on tummies or hands and knees because they don’t feel ‘secure" enough, and walking certainly is difficult because of the balance and control it requires.

How do I build a strong foundation for braille?
Start by playing in rice to find small objects. This will help your child to overcome sensory issues with touch. Under TIPS there are some suggestions regarding textures for your child to play with. Discrimination with objects that are the same and different. Take wiki-sticks in a straight line and have your child follow along with his/her finger on top of the line. Make the line curve like a snake. Make boxes and circles and ask which one is different and which ones are the same. Count objects. Line them up on a row, moving the child’s hand from left to right.

How do you teach a blind child about facial reaction and body language with gestures?
A blind child needs to understand the dynamics of socialization through facial reactions. Each time you react to something place your child’s hands on your face and listen to the appropriate sounds associated with the reaction. Example: "Ah…..Ah I’m tired." The sound and the facial reaction go together. A surprised look maybe prompted with a "Oh My." Describe happy, sad, surprised, scared or frightened, coughing, sneezing, clearing throat, clapping of hands, tapping foot, finger pointing, shrugging of shoulders (for "I don't know") for a Question: how are you feeling? Answer: so-so (use hand twisting side to side),  show finger against lips (for being quiet), holding nose (for things that smell bad), head shaking side to side (for no answer), shaking head up and down (for yes answer),  

How important is Socialization?
"Normal" social growth, gaining a good self-image and the ability to get along with others in a confident way, does not happen right away for the child who is blind or visually impaired. Direct help must be given that stresses correct feedback from the environment. This help must be provided to ensure the ability to get along with others. Successful social development includes helping your child develop a positive self-image by allowing them to make choices and succeed in different activities; develop self-acceptance by ensuring that the child understands their disability to the degree he/she is capable of understanding; and develop self expression by allowing he/she to explain and talk about their thought and feelings and encouraging frequent contact with people who offer acceptance, love and security.

How do I teach Mannerisms?
Repetitive movements such as body rocking, head swaying, eye poking or rubbing, wrist flicking and head dropping or extension, which are socially inappropriate because of the number of times they are done and the intensity with which they are done, may be called "blindisms" or "stereotypic mannerisms." These mannerisms can lead parents and others to fear the child or believe that he/she is retarded, autistic, or emotionally disturbed. They can lead to teasing and avoidance and may interfere with the child’s ability to learn from the environment. Also, constant eye rubbing and poking can damage the delicate tissue surrounding the eye. Which may result in turning dark in color, or the eye cavity to sink in.

It is difficult to pinpoint the reasons why some children develop these mannerisms, but the following suggestions may prevent them from beginning.

Some mannerisms may be comforting to the child in the same way as thumb sucking. Try to find a toy or blanket that can help the child calm his or her self.

Do not place your child in a rocker or swing for long period of time.

Do not play the television or radio for long period of time. They can block out other interesting and important environmental sounds and are a poor substitute for exploring and learning about the real world.

Encourage your child to engage in vigorous play, dancing and bouncing.

Do all that you can do to break these habits, but do not nag. If he/she realizes that it bothers you, they may continue it for that reason.

Interrupt the behavior and divert your child to a meaningful activity. For example, if your child is hand flapping, substitute a drum or clapping their hands along to a song.

Siblings, suggestions for family life?
The birth of a child with a visual impairment affects the whole family, not just the parents. Brothers and sisters need to be carefully observed for reactions of denial, anger, bargaining and depression - the same stages that you as a parent may go through as you try to come to terms with your child’s handicap.

When you inform your other children of the baby’s impairment, you need to take into consideration their age and level of understanding. Too much information is as harmful as too little information. They need to know how the impairment will affect the baby and how it will affect them. They also need to realize that it is not "catching", they will not "get it", and the didn’t "cause it."

Children are usually very sensitive to other children’s special needs and though they may be concerned about the problem, they may be exited about their role in helping their sibling to grow and learn. These feelings are to be encouraged, but you must always be ware of over-burdening your other children with extra responsibilities. A good rule to remember is to not expect anything above and beyond what you would expect from siblings of non-handicapped children.

Be aware that one of the most difficult things is that there is so much focus on the child who is visually impaired that you may not allow your other children to act normally. Everybody should be able to say that they hate their brother or can’t stand their sister. It is very hard to say that when you have a cute sibling who is handicapped and for whom everyone feels sorry.

Allow siblings to have a special time with parents away from the child who is handicapped.

Explain to them at their levels of understanding, about their sibling’s handicap, how it will affect them, and how they can explain it to their friends.

Involve them in activities the blind or visually impaired child is enrolled in.

SPECIAL NOTE: Just as you must be careful not to neglect the needs of your other children, do not neglect your own needs. In order to give to others, you must give to yourself as well.

My child is having trouble with buttoning their coat?
Try using playdoh shaped into a small flat pancake. Using hand over hand. Place a penny, dime or quarter in the between the thumb and pointer fingers and push the money through the playdoh and pull it out the other side. The concept of pushing and pulling will enable your child develop two hand coordination.

My blind child does not want to play with toys.
Your child’s fine motor development is crucial. He/she needs to learn to use their hands well in order to manipulate toys and to acquire self/help skills such as feeding and dressing. Children who are blind and visually impaired must learn to coordinate the movements of their hands and arms with their hearing. They need to learn to use their hands in ways which will be functional, motivating and enjoyable. Play is a child’s "work." Those who are blind or visually impaired need to be shown how to play with toys.

How do I know what my child sees?
You will notice your child turning towards bright lights, bright colors, large objects.

What do I say to people that ask me why he/she wears glasses.
Tell them that your child wears glasses to help her see.

Where can you get an infant evaluated for vision?
Wills Eye Hospital of Philadelphia

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia ( Satellite offices in New Jersey)

University of Pennsylvania - Sparks Program

How do I teach my child about object permanence?
Object permanence means that you know something exists, even if it is not in sensory contact with you. Having good vision makes the process easier - babies eventually learn that something they can hold and see such as their bottle - can be moved away from them, and it still exists. Children who are visually impaired have a more difficult time learning about object permanence. Without good vision, the loss of contact is sudden, and babies can’t relay on their vision to confirm that an object is still there even though they are not holding onto it anymore. Giving your child clues when you approach and walk away from him. Tell your child you are coming and that you will pick him up. Show your child how to go after dropped toys. Tie strings to toys (very short ones) and teach him/her how to find toys that are slightly out of reach. Play hide and seek games. Help your child to find sound toys hidden under a cloth, in a tub of oatmeal, in a covered box or container, in his pants’ pockets, inside a jacket.

How do I keep glasses on my child?
Visit your local optical store to obtain children's glasses that are specially designed with wrap around ear pieces.  You may also obtain head wraps which attach directly to the end of the ear pieces.  The faster you direct your children not to remove the glasses and enforce each time, the better.

Where do I go for information/support services?
Within The Little Rock Foundation website under "Helpful Hints" there is a listings for Adaptive Equipment, Sources for Toys, Parental Support, Internet Links.

Will my child be able to be in a regular classroom with other children?
Yes, depending on the school district that you live in. Some schools are now offering "inclusion" programs which enrolls a number of typical children with special needs children within the same classroom. The success rate is overwhelming. The children learn from each other and are not afraid