While it's important for the little ones to learn to use a cane to navigate the outside world the reality is they don't need it in familiar territory.
The kids can run and play around a room they are familiar with and you would never even know they are blind. I however, with perfect vision, still manage to run into my dresser atleast twice a week and have the bruises to prove it.
So what was lesson number two for me working with visually impaired kiddos?
"C" taught me that you can't move things in the room and not inform the children.
I didn't personally move the trashcan, but it was moved to clean up the aftermath of craft project.
This may not seem to suspicious yet.
You see little "C" was chewing gum, which is outlawed in the school for multiple reasons so he was asked to throw it away (do you see where this is going?)
Of course the trashcan was missing and little "C" was just doing what he was asked- the problem is I was unfortunately tying "J's" shoe in almost the exact place where the trashcan belonged.
That's okay "C" I needed a hair cut anyways :).
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
The joys of school
Oh why oh why did I have to drive 35 miles and pay to park to sit in a room with 90 people and 60 chairs for two hours to receive an email address?
And why oh why was it mandatory?
Ah the joys of college bureaucracy - one more year and I will be a licensed SW :)
(ps I already the email addy)
I am wondering if there is a way to get some items donated for Dmitriy and sent to his orphanage. I know a humanitarian group works there and I know a starter cane and a small typical cane would do wonders for him.
And why oh why was it mandatory?
Ah the joys of college bureaucracy - one more year and I will be a licensed SW :)
(ps I already the email addy)
I am wondering if there is a way to get some items donated for Dmitriy and sent to his orphanage. I know a humanitarian group works there and I know a starter cane and a small typical cane would do wonders for him.
Dmitriy's Friends # 1 - Sargent
I am going to introduce you to some of the other little ones who happen to be in the same orphanage as Dmitriy - this means they can be adopted together for an additional 4k.
Sargent (4)
He's pretty cute! More to come -there are lots of little ones in Dmitriy's orphanage.
Sargent (4)Boy, Born April 4, 2007
Sargent was born with CP. He is doing very well, and is able to stand and move around with assistance. He is described as a smart boy, very teachable, and will truly thrive in a loving family environment!
From his medical records: cerebral palsy, spastic tetra paresis, delay of development, congenital right-side loxia (twisted neck), visual nerves atrophy. He walks a little with help, likes to play, sensitive.
He's pretty cute! More to come -there are lots of little ones in Dmitriy's orphanage.
Friday, August 20, 2010
School
That's my excuse for not posting in a few days.
I am a senior in a Social Welfare program.
This means 14 credit hours of classes.
16 Hours a week in required internship hours (oh how I wish I could talk about my practicum..but hippa laws and such prevent it..I am very excited though!!)
Not to mention the 40 hours a week at my actual job so I can pay for rent and the tuition on everything mentioned above.!
Phew - I'm exhausted already!
Dmitriy is still on my mind though - I know more families are apt to commit in the fall and winter months (according to stats) so lets hope this season brings his family. I bet they don't even realize he's missing from their family yet!
I am a senior in a Social Welfare program.
This means 14 credit hours of classes.
16 Hours a week in required internship hours (oh how I wish I could talk about my practicum..but hippa laws and such prevent it..I am very excited though!!)
Not to mention the 40 hours a week at my actual job so I can pay for rent and the tuition on everything mentioned above.!
Phew - I'm exhausted already!
Dmitriy is still on my mind though - I know more families are apt to commit in the fall and winter months (according to stats) so lets hope this season brings his family. I bet they don't even realize he's missing from their family yet!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Adopting a Visually Impaired Child
I have a lot of experience with visually impaired kids. More than most. I know all about starter canes and teaching kids about their orientation (knowing where they are) and how to navigate. I have fun stories about the kids I've worked with and even have a broad knowledge about many many different diagnoses of visually impaired kids.
But there is something I am honestly clueless about, that I have never experienced, and that I can't help Dmitriy's future family with. I have adopted a child.
More specifically a visually impaired child.
Luckily I can direct you to Trusted with Much.
This family adopted two children just a few months ago including a visually impaired sweet-heart.
Meet Tavi!
But there is something I am honestly clueless about, that I have never experienced, and that I can't help Dmitriy's future family with. I have adopted a child.
More specifically a visually impaired child.
Luckily I can direct you to Trusted with Much.
This family adopted two children just a few months ago including a visually impaired sweet-heart.
Meet Tavi!
I'm pretty sure she is adorable!
I hope you'll all take the time to go visit this family and learn more about what its like to adopt a visually impaired child.
I hope you'll all take the time to go visit this family and learn more about what its like to adopt a visually impaired child.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Older Picture
This is the first picture that stole my heart. He looks so sweet even with the pink! I love how his little ears curve, and his squished nose and honestly he's just beautiful. Anyone else think so?
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Why Dmitriy?
There are lists upon lists of waiting children, children in desperate need, in medical distress, in horrible horrible situations. So the question may be. Why Dmitriy? Why is he so close to my heart?
Honestly I think it was timing, I had been watching RR for just a few months. I followed several of the early journeys including two children from Dmitriy's orphanage.
It was right around the time I started working at the preschool for visually impaired children, and there is a child whose disaablitiy is so similar to Dmitriy's its a bit crazy. He is also the same age (to the month) has the same color hair, is missing the same eye, and his name starts with a D.
I remember the day that Dmitriy was first listed along with others, including two other little boys who are now home with one family.
I was struck with how similar he was to my "D" and I think that experience lets me see his potential. From that moment I just had a place in my heart from him and honestly that has only grown with time. Each new picture digs him just a bit deeper into my heart!
Now he just needs a family who sees that same potential and has that special place in their hearts for this little boy.
Honestly I think it was timing, I had been watching RR for just a few months. I followed several of the early journeys including two children from Dmitriy's orphanage.
It was right around the time I started working at the preschool for visually impaired children, and there is a child whose disaablitiy is so similar to Dmitriy's its a bit crazy. He is also the same age (to the month) has the same color hair, is missing the same eye, and his name starts with a D.
I remember the day that Dmitriy was first listed along with others, including two other little boys who are now home with one family.
I was struck with how similar he was to my "D" and I think that experience lets me see his potential. From that moment I just had a place in my heart from him and honestly that has only grown with time. Each new picture digs him just a bit deeper into my heart!
Now he just needs a family who sees that same potential and has that special place in their hearts for this little boy.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
A New Picture!!
This brings the total of pictures I have of Dmitriy to three! I have the one posted below, the bunny shirt one (cute), and this one. Does anyone else have an pictures?? :)
Lessons Learned From Visually Impaired Children # 1
While the hokey pokey is great children's song/dance and teaches all about left vs right. It is HARD to do with visually impaired children.
With other kids you can demonstrate "put your right hand in..." and put your own right hand in and they can follow your direction.
Instead you really need 1 adult for every 2 children so you can use each of your hands to show them which limb goes in for them to shake all about.
What is even harder than that however is that these are young children, who are rambunctious and very very zealous about their "shaking it all about" and well, they can't see.
I really enjoyed when sweet "J" shook her right arm all about right into my nose as I bent down to help her! :)
We also had an unfortunate "head on collision" as two little ones where putting there "heads in".
I wonder who will teach Dmitriy to dance.
With other kids you can demonstrate "put your right hand in..." and put your own right hand in and they can follow your direction.
Instead you really need 1 adult for every 2 children so you can use each of your hands to show them which limb goes in for them to shake all about.
What is even harder than that however is that these are young children, who are rambunctious and very very zealous about their "shaking it all about" and well, they can't see.
I really enjoyed when sweet "J" shook her right arm all about right into my nose as I bent down to help her! :)
We also had an unfortunate "head on collision" as two little ones where putting there "heads in".
I wonder who will teach Dmitriy to dance.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Responsibility
We all have responsibilities.
Mine include work, school, an internship that allows me the privileged of working with special children, bills, and those close to me.
This list of responsibilities is tangible, physical, and demanding of my attention and they are literally right in front of me.
The question beyond that is if we have knowledge, if we know suffering exists, if our hearts our opened, is that too a responsibility? Should Dmitriy, and others like him, be on that list?
I know where Dmitriy is (although I will only say he is in Eastern Europe).
More importantly I know where Dmitriy is going if he is transferred.
It is a place not designed for a little boy who can't see. No one has educated him on how to navigate his surroundings.
No one has taught him to keep his hand to the wall in new places so he won't get lost.
Or how to create a pattern of circles if he drops something and can't find it (so he doesn't spend hours searching the same area).
No one has defined his environment for him, taken the time to let him feel each object while explaining its purpose and meaning.
No one has taken the time to be Dmitriy's eyes.
In a different post, on a different day, I will tell you my fears for Dmitriy but for now I take on the responsibility of this knowledge, of this adorable little boy.
Mine include work, school, an internship that allows me the privileged of working with special children, bills, and those close to me.
This list of responsibilities is tangible, physical, and demanding of my attention and they are literally right in front of me.
The question beyond that is if we have knowledge, if we know suffering exists, if our hearts our opened, is that too a responsibility? Should Dmitriy, and others like him, be on that list?
I know where Dmitriy is (although I will only say he is in Eastern Europe).
More importantly I know where Dmitriy is going if he is transferred.
It is a place not designed for a little boy who can't see. No one has educated him on how to navigate his surroundings.
No one has taught him to keep his hand to the wall in new places so he won't get lost.
Or how to create a pattern of circles if he drops something and can't find it (so he doesn't spend hours searching the same area).
No one has defined his environment for him, taken the time to let him feel each object while explaining its purpose and meaning.
No one has taken the time to be Dmitriy's eyes.
In a different post, on a different day, I will tell you my fears for Dmitriy but for now I take on the responsibility of this knowledge, of this adorable little boy.
3 Years
Three years, that's how long sweet Dmitriy has been waiting for his family to find him on Reece's Rainbow.
Three years.
I remember the first picture I saw of him. He was so small and easily the cutest thing I had ever seen, and he was wearing a shirt with a bunny. I thought surely someone would snatch him up, blindness, while life altering, is something that many cope with.
I have had the privileged of working at a preschool for visually impaired children around Dmitriy's age and it was a life changing experience.
In the future I will share some stories from my work with these children.
In the three years I have known about Dmitriy I have celebrated each new "found" child while also silently mourning that it was not Dmitriy.
Three years.
I remember the first picture I saw of him. He was so small and easily the cutest thing I had ever seen, and he was wearing a shirt with a bunny. I thought surely someone would snatch him up, blindness, while life altering, is something that many cope with.
I have had the privileged of working at a preschool for visually impaired children around Dmitriy's age and it was a life changing experience.
In the future I will share some stories from my work with these children.
In the three years I have known about Dmitriy I have celebrated each new "found" child while also silently mourning that it was not Dmitriy.
Meet Dmitriy
Dmitriy (4)
Boy, Born December 26, 2005
SIGNIFICANT RISK, PLEASE ADOPT ME SOON!!
Little Dmitriy may not be able to see you, but he can hear you and feel you and wait for you to come for him. He is 4 1/2 years old and was born with only one eye and the other is blind. He is blessed to still be at the baby house, but is facing the institution soon.
Dmitriy has been listed with us for nearly THREE YEARS :((( We are so glad to have an updated photo of him and greater opportunities at this orphanage.
From his medical records: multiple congenital abnormalities of the central nervous system and facial bones, congenital cleft hard and soft palate, microcephaly, congenital cataract (leucoma) to the right, anophthalmos to the left. He is blind.
One of our adoptive families who visited with him in March of 2008 says this of him: " This little guy is very much still a baby, but has very little chance of being adopted because he has no eyes. He was responsive to the caregivers and liked the security of their arms."
This new photo is from October of 2009, when Dmitriy was visited by our facilitation team. He is doing amazingly well, considering the fact that he can not see anything at all. He is able to stand on his own now and is very active! There are many families out there hoping to adopt a blind child, maybe Dmitriy will find his "forever family" at the end of Reece's Rainbow!
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