Family Time Can Be Fun: Planning Outings With Your Blind or Visually Impaired ChildLeer este artículo en español"Look at me, Grandma!" shouted 4-year-old Cody as he climbed the ladder up the slide at the park. "I see you!" shouted Grandma as she turned toward her daughter and said, "Should he really be up there by himself? What if he lets go and falls? He doesn't even realize how high he is if he can't see down!" It was a constant battle for Cody's mom. She and her husband were trying to let Cody do the same things that other 4-year-olds did, even though he was born blind. At the same time, almost everyone else treated him like a china doll, concerned that he would get hurt. Once again she found herself defending to her mother how she was raising her son. You may find that ordinary family outings can be stressful when family members and strangers alike seem to need reassurance and information about your child's visual impairment. Some days you may think that it would be easier for your family to just stay home and watch a video or play in the backyard together.

Though your family needs time together at home, however, it's equally important that your family do things out in the community, too. You need to get out, and your child who is visually impaired needs to have different kinds of experiences. Try to come up with a few brief and good-natured responses that will satisfy the concerns and curiosity of friends or onlookers, for example, "Yes, Cody can't see very well, but he has practiced how to use the slide safely and now he can do it by himself." Puppies For Sale In Pensacola FlYou may want to talk with other parents to find out how they handle similar situations.Pullen Moving Company Va A family outing to play in the snow is fun for everyone. Where To Buy Virgin Pulp Toilet Paper

Father and daughter enjoy going fast down the hill together. You can get some ideas for ways to involve your preschooler in community outings from the article Helping Your Child Who Is Blind or Visually Impaired Learn About the World. Family activities can be planned, like Cody's afternoon at the playground or a trip to the zoo, or they can be spontaneous—a walk around the neighborhood after supper. (Remember to save some time to spend alone with your spouse and other family members as well!) When you're thinking about involving your preschooler with a visual impairment in family activities consider: If your child is resistant to trying something new (such as going on a new piece of playground equipment or entering a store with low lighting at the mall), don't push it. You may need to try the same activity on several different times before he gets comfortable enough to participate. Relate new experiences to things your child has done previously. Cody, the child in the opening vignette, has had a lot of experience with slides.

So, when his parents took him to the water park for the first time, his dad explained a water slide they were going to go on by describing how it was similar to and different from the familiar slide at the park. Be realistic about what you expect from your child. Most 4-year-olds get squirmy in a restaurant, so why shouldn't yours? If you're not sure what to expect from your child at this age, talk to other parents who have preschool-age children to find out what is normal. You want to have high expectations for your child, so he'll try to meet them and have a feeling of competence throughout life, but you also want to be realistic about what you're asking. If you have concerns about your child's interest in or ability to take part in an activity that the rest of the family is doing, have a back-up plan. If your child enjoys music, bring along a MP3 player to your niece's dance recital, just in case. This way, your child can listen to some music through headphones while the rest of the family watches the performance.

Try not to let alternatives like these become a habit, however. You want to encourage your child to participate with everyone else if at all possible. If you're doing something new, like going on a new ride at a carnival or trying tee-ball for the first time, realize that your preschooler is most likely going to need some hands-on instruction. Be ready to assist by using the hand-under-hand or hand-over-hand technique. Try to keep your family activities in perspective. Although you may need to do some extra preparation for family outings with your child who is visually impaired, remember that time spent with preschoolers is rarely all smooth sailing. What's important is to spend time together as a family, while letting your child explore the world outside your home.Next: Orientation and Mobility ActivitiesPrevious: Parent's Perspective: And Cane Makes ThreeTell us what you think! Find Services Near You: AlabamaAlaskaAll USA States OnlyArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaGuamHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaPuerto RicoRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirgin IslandsVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

Featured BookVision and the BrainVision and the Brain Help us expand our resources for people with vision loss. I'm the blind dude from #TheVoice!!! 17 Photos and videosViewing Tweets won't unblock @theblindjoe.Wyoming Motorcycle Accident Attorney Serving Cody, Yellowstone, the Big Horn Basin, and Surrounding Communities for Over 40 YearsMotorcycle accidents can lead to particularly severe injuries. Regardless of wearing a helmet or taking other safety precautions, a negligent driver of a car or truck hitting or side-swiping a motorcyclist leads to catastrophic injury or death all too easily. Sadly, in addition to head injuries, brain injuries, and back or spine injuries, bikers are particularly vulnerable to serious injuries like crushed or amputated legs or severe road rash leading to infections or disfigurement.Wyoming's scenic byways and national parks attract motorists and motorcyclists alike. In most cases, motorcyclists and automobile or truck drivers peacefully share the road.

But if you or a loved one was seriously injured by a negligent driver while riding a motorcycle, we recommend that you seek legal assistance immediately to protect your rights to recovery.Steve Simonton — Attorney and Avid MotorcyclistAttorney Steve Simonton himself rides his motorcycle regularly and is a staunch advocate for motorcycle accident victims. He knows Wyoming law and the rules of the road. And he knows how to communicate with judges, jurors and insurance adjustors who have never been on a bike. Often non-bikers are unaware of the level of training and safety precautions undertaken by most motorcyclists — some even wrongly assume that all bike owners are daredevils with little care for life or limb. Accident reconstruction and other testimony may be required to overcome these stereotypes and firmly establish the negligence or recklessness of the car or truck driver who caused the accident.Steve believes strongly in protecting motorcycle riders' rights to enjoy Wyoming's roads.

And he will not let insurance companies get away with offering lowball settlements that fail to compensate severely injured bike owners for their losses.How We HelpStephen L. Simonton, P.C. offers legal services to injured motorcyclists at no cost until you receive compensation. We know how the insurance industry operates, and we know what it takes to achieve justice for you. We will negotiate on your behalf — and will fight hard in court if necessary. We will find medical and financial experts who have years of experience proving the ongoing physical and monetary results of motor vehicle accidents. We select only experts who are well-versed in proving the common causes of car / motorcycle accidents — including negligent drivers failing to see bikes in their blind spots before turning or changing lanes.Located in Cody, we work with Wyoming residents and out-of-state visitors who were injured throughout Wyoming, particularly in Park County, Yellowstone, and other communities in and around the Big Horn Basin.Free ConsultationYou have nothing to lose through a free consultation with an attorney — and potentially a lot to gain.