Ask HN: My son might be blind – how to best support

Post by squigz » Thu, Sep 19, 2024, 2:21 PM UTC

Der_Einzige wrote: post #99

steve_adams_86 wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Coping is quite literally necessary. It’s the same for people with cognitive or psychological disabilities. The world isn’t organized or structured with you in mind… You need to cope with the immediate challenges and find solutions, and often you need to cope with the psycho-emotional aspect of living in a world that often works against rather than with you. It’s difficult. Not coping is a recipe for a really bad tim…

I’m comfortable with it but most members of the various disability communities would not like me since, among other things, I strongly advocate for pre natal testing and elective abortion of people with serious issues like blindness. I think that being blind makes life not worth living. I’m extremely supportive of MAID and physician assisted suicidal for these exact reasons. “Coping” by telling those who don’t want t…

Post by dunghill » Thu, Sep 19, 2024, 2:31 PM UTC

isoprophlex wrote: post #18

I have, I think, no real expert advice to offer you. Except this small anecdote. One of the kids in my 4-year old son's class is blind. I went along for a day to help out on a school trip to some massive playground, which involved loading 60 kids into a bus (they usually walk/bike to school, so not everyone was used to the idea of large buses); keeping track of them in the playground, feeding them, etc etc. Lots of p…

Post by fsckboy » Thu, Sep 19, 2024, 2:38 PM UTC

dunghill wrote: post #103

isoprophlex wrote: post #18

I have, I think, no real expert advice to offer you. Except this small anecdote. One of the kids in my 4-year old son's class is blind. I went along for a day to help out on a school trip to some massive playground, which involved loading 60 kids into a bus (they usually walk/bike to school, so not everyone was used to the idea of large buses); keeping track of them in the playground, feeding them, etc etc. Lots of p…

It's interesting how kids can adapt so naturally. We've got so many preconceived ideas about difficulties. When I was young there was a deaf kid in our school. We just figured out communication as needed. Kids don't overthink things like adults do. The environment matters, but sometimes we should just let kids figure it out.

Post by mwcampbell » Thu, Sep 19, 2024, 2:49 PM UTC

Der_Einzige wrote: post #88

mwcampbell wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And yet, blind kids must learn to integrate into the mainstream world. And schools for the blind are few and far between; at least in the US, they're typically residential (boarding) schools. One option, if it happens to be feasible in the OP's area, might be for the kid to attend a school for the blind early on, then move to a mainstream school later.

If blind communities are like some deaf communities, they may have a strong separatist bent which does indeed allow their child to avoid integrating with the rest of the world if they so choose. This is an option.

Post by zdragnar » Thu, Sep 19, 2024, 2:58 PM UTC

DanielleMolloy wrote: post #83

Moru wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My daughter had a few disabled children in the same group during her kindergarden/school years. No more than one or two at the same time. It was always started with a proper explanation of the handicap and the problems and how to handle the situations. And after that there was just natural playing with eachother in the group. Children are wonderful at learning, accepting and adapting. It just takes a good teacher to…

I see the necessity good intentions behind it, but also believe this singling out can lead to developing this sense of shame the user mentioned.