My plan for this blog had been to post at least once weekly. In June this just didn't happen. And that meant that I had started writing about curriculum planning and then left you hanging on that; I'm sorry. I hope to get back to the curriculum subject very soon.
June was a busy month. We had our newly-blind college son Paul here for a visit from Kentucky. Getting him here was a challenge because our flight got delayed, and in order to get him back my husband finally decided to drive. If you're interested, you can read about Paul's visit here:
http://margmary.blogspot.com/2007/06/more-about-trip-to-pick-up-paul.html
http://margmary.blogspot.com/2007/06/getting-paul-home.html
I've been rather anxious about him getting services, but it looks like it's finally going to happen:
http://margmary.blogspot.com/2007/06/mcdowell-rehabilitation-center.html
After Paul got back home, I had a Catholic homeschool conference to prepare for, where I had volunteered to be on a panel for homeschooling special needs - hoping there would be parents of blind or visually impaired children present to talk with. Although there might not be, I still wanted to be prepared. The speaker coordinator had told me she'd like me to help, regardless, since I know how to homeschool while overcoming obstacles...like you, probably, if you're reading this. So I gave a brief "You can do it" introduction of myself and then helped answer questions.
All of this, along with some concerns for my father who lives across the country, have meant that blogging here just didn't happen. Please bear with me and I will try to post on more curriculum topics soon.
Showing posts with label About Me. Show all posts
Showing posts with label About Me. Show all posts
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Thursday, April 12, 2007
A Bio
Someone wanting to share an article from here, asked me for a bio. What I wrote may be longer than she wanted, but I share it with you here, in case anyone wants to know more about me:
I had been homeschooling for 17 years when my youngest son suddenly became legally blind due to a gene I hadn't known existed. Wanting to continue homeschooling him, I immersed myself in the community of blindness education, both online and in person. That first year, I attended conferences of both the National Federation of the Blind and the American Council of the Blind, although we don't actually belong to either one. New friends came out of the internet and took my by the hand: teachers, other parents like myself, and blind people who just wanted to help.
I've taken a number of free correspondence courses from the friendly, helpful Hadley instructors. I was on the planning team for an Eye Olympics Day in Cincinnati, and I attended a three day workshop at the Kentucky School for the Blind; in both cases, I had the privilege of rubbing shoulders with wonderful, dedicated Teachers of the Visually Impaired. We've been helped long-distance by a kind and generous retired Braille teacher in Utah; in our home by our teacher of the visually impaired and good friend in Northern Kentucky; and now, once again, this time by our resourceful teacher of the visually impaired here in Baltimore.
Through all these wonderful people and resources, exposure to many different viewpoints, and the flexibility of homeschooling, I've been able to teach my son to use everything that works for him: audio tapes, a video magnifier, and Braille reading. As one friend at the Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired told my son, "We want you to have as many tools as possible in your toolbox." We've experienced the joy of learning; and the joy of sharing with others through the Blindhomeschooler Yahoo group and my VIP-Homeschooler blog.
I had been homeschooling for 17 years when my youngest son suddenly became legally blind due to a gene I hadn't known existed. Wanting to continue homeschooling him, I immersed myself in the community of blindness education, both online and in person. That first year, I attended conferences of both the National Federation of the Blind and the American Council of the Blind, although we don't actually belong to either one. New friends came out of the internet and took my by the hand: teachers, other parents like myself, and blind people who just wanted to help.
I've taken a number of free correspondence courses from the friendly, helpful Hadley instructors. I was on the planning team for an Eye Olympics Day in Cincinnati, and I attended a three day workshop at the Kentucky School for the Blind; in both cases, I had the privilege of rubbing shoulders with wonderful, dedicated Teachers of the Visually Impaired. We've been helped long-distance by a kind and generous retired Braille teacher in Utah; in our home by our teacher of the visually impaired and good friend in Northern Kentucky; and now, once again, this time by our resourceful teacher of the visually impaired here in Baltimore.
Through all these wonderful people and resources, exposure to many different viewpoints, and the flexibility of homeschooling, I've been able to teach my son to use everything that works for him: audio tapes, a video magnifier, and Braille reading. As one friend at the Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired told my son, "We want you to have as many tools as possible in your toolbox." We've experienced the joy of learning; and the joy of sharing with others through the Blindhomeschooler Yahoo group and my VIP-Homeschooler blog.
Sunday, March 4, 2007
About Me
In October of 2002, something life-changing happened in our family. Our youngest son suddenly could not see very well. Usually a worrier, I wasn't worried this time. My husband needed glasses from his youth, and so did my Dad. I simply made an appointment with the optometrist and didn't think much more about it...until the optometrist found no lenses that would help, and yet could find nothing wrong. In the meantime, my son's vision was becoming progressively worse.
To make a long story short, it turned out that my son had something we had never heard of before, called Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy, which caused him to become legally blind, and for which there is no cure or treatment.
Thus began a journey of discovery. I began to wonder if I should put my son in public school so that he could get special services that I wasn't trained to give him. But I had been homeschooling for many years and it was not an option I would give up lightly.
Along the way, many wonderful individuals have helped us, and we have received information and support from many organizations. During the past several years, money has been an issue, as well, so I have sought economical ways to teach. I've begun this blog in order to share with you some of the things I've learned and some of the new things I am delighted to discover.
If you have something you would like to share, you are welcome to let me know about it, either through the Comments or by posting an email to me at margmary53@yahoo.com
To make a long story short, it turned out that my son had something we had never heard of before, called Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy, which caused him to become legally blind, and for which there is no cure or treatment.
Thus began a journey of discovery. I began to wonder if I should put my son in public school so that he could get special services that I wasn't trained to give him. But I had been homeschooling for many years and it was not an option I would give up lightly.
Along the way, many wonderful individuals have helped us, and we have received information and support from many organizations. During the past several years, money has been an issue, as well, so I have sought economical ways to teach. I've begun this blog in order to share with you some of the things I've learned and some of the new things I am delighted to discover.
If you have something you would like to share, you are welcome to let me know about it, either through the Comments or by posting an email to me at margmary53@yahoo.com
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