Yes, Preschool children can and should use canes!!! Watch to see a child who is totally blind who is 2 years, 4 months use a cane independently as she navigates, probes and learns what is in her world.
She is definitely not a poor baby. My son is blind and he and amazes me every day. We will be starting cane training soon, so this video was very encouraging to see. Your little girl is amazing!
Growing up and learning how to use your body is difficult enough, but robbed of one of your most important senses must be a challenge. Yet, it seems this small girl is coping very well.
why poor? this girl will grow up in a world without having a concept of what sight is. this girl will not miss sight because she never had it. she will be perfectly happy and fine. being BORN blind isnt that bad for the person. the person adapts from a young age on. what is way worse is if you are 25 years old and THEN ou become blind. that is WAY worse...
Pencilus you would think that would be the case but there are people that are just doesn't happy even though they have never known anything different. I realize that while talking to someone else who is blind. I don't feel that way and it was weird to find that out, but it happens. Overall a good majority are happy.
Where do you live -I do presentations sometimes and would honestly LOVE to show you these little guys traveling-amazing. I have found it is a matter helping them realize that the cane can give them feedback and infomation about their world - then they want to and do use it -no cane tossing. I start with them with canes even before they walk just touching toys out of their reach with cane or long object so they realize what is beyond their reach and use this extention of their body to find it.
Good idea - I will see if I can get some. It is now a year later and she is awesome with her cane - unprompted!!! My subcontractor actually teaches her now, but I will see if I can get some video. I have some videos of some others I would LOVE to show but need to get parental consent to post first.
Oh trust me! I see all sorts of things I see I could improve upon when I video my lessons and look back and reflect on them! Several things I would have done differently on this one if I could do it over again. As a professionally trained orientation and mobility instructor, we still are not perfect. In the case of calling a 2 year old to come towards my voice by saying “this way” though, what directions would you have given instead that a 2 year old could conceptually understand?
+Bookofeternity She's not suffering. She is actually doing very well! It is great that they started teaching her how to use a cane this early on because she will grow up and be able to get around independently. Unfortunately she was born blind, but that doesn't mean she is suffering.
+Erika Halpin that is a good thing that she is learning how to do the cake at that age. The more and more kids like her talk the better everyone is. She is doing very well. She is far from suffering. She is succeeding.
My professor linked our class to this video and it's so sweet! I know it's been 7 years since you posted this, but I hope she's doing well! I hope you post an update!
I'm not even told me why I am partially blind and I still run into I don't know how many things yeah sure I ran into three things and I actually got a bump in my head and it really hurts really bad and knowing how well she does makes me happy and makes me think I need to try harder.
I USED to think that too! Through my 21 years of teaching, I have gradually changed my thoughts. As COMS trained, I am not opposed to using AMD's or push toys for some children. What works for one is not necessarily what is best for another. Use of an AMD/push toy is NOT in the best interest for this child or several other toddlers I have instructed. They are not only capable of, but ARE already using their cane to protect themselves and as a probe to identify objects in their envoronment.
love these videos. I agree that the use of a cane is the best approach even at this age. I think we should be careful how we write on here as sometimes people may come across as pessimistic instead of realistic and optimistic. Great job, please post more of your students w parental approval;).
