[misc.handicap] Hello New User

Vicki.Ireland@f810.n104.z1.fidonet.org (Vicki Ireland) (08/14/90)

Index Number: 9813

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

I am interested in the comments you made in a recent message regarding 
the public schools.  It occurs to me that I should probably quote your 
message but I'm right in the middle of writing yours on limited time.  
I'm also not sure I could find it again.  Anyway, the long and short of 
it seemed to me to be that public schools are not equipped as they 
ought to be for education needs of blind or partially sighted students. 
 While I agree for the most part, I think the encouraging thing is what 
I believe to be an up-surge in the use of Braille and teaching of 
Braille.  I work for the Mile High Chapter, American Red Cross, Braille 
Services and it seems that we are getting more requests for upper level 
books from our Department of Education.  I'd be interested to know your 
thoughts on this. Also good luck as a new user.  I still feel somewhat 
in that catagory myself.
Vicki

--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!104!810!Vicki.Ireland
Internet: Vicki.Ireland@f810.n104.z1.fidonet.org

Stew.Bowden@f6.n377.z1.fidonet.org (Stew Bowden) (08/23/90)

Index Number: 9954

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hi Vick: certainly I agree that public school experiences for the
blind can be positive if one has very strong family support, or, as
you suggested in your message, a good foundation. I'm afraid that in
most instances, parents of blind kids are being hoodwinked into
believing that by sending their kids to public schools, somehow that
will make them normal. I seriously doubt that, and suspect you will
agree. Congratulations on working for the electronic library. Thats
super. Hope to hear from you again, and thanks for your comments.

--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!377!6!Stew.Bowden
Internet: Stew.Bowden@f6.n377.z1.fidonet.org

Bill.Koppelmann@f114.n104.z1.fidonet.org (Bill Koppelmann) (09/04/90)

Index Number: 10067

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Vickie, I don't think we can generalize here, but I certainly think that in 
some cases, maybe more than you might think, a child can and does thrive 
better at a public school than they might at a school for the blind.  Of 
course, that would imply a lot of things, like good braille teaching and the 
like, but I hope you can see what I'm talking about.
BK.

--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!104!114!Bill.Koppelmann
Internet: Bill.Koppelmann@f114.n104.z1.fidonet.org

Vicki.Ireland@f810.n104.z1.fidonet.org (Vicki Ireland) (09/05/90)

Index Number: 10125

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Bill: I certainly think you're right about the skills which are taught 
in public schools.  They have to be taught in such a way that thee 
student gets them.  I was in both environments and graduated from 
public school.  For my own situation, I happened to have preferred it. 
I honestly feel, however, that so much is dependent on the school 
But I don't think a school can make a 'normal' person. 
To my way of thinking, there are lots of other factors.

--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!104!810!Vicki.Ireland
Internet: Vicki.Ireland@f810.n104.z1.fidonet.org