Blind homeschool parents?

Question

What advice would you give a blind couple who wish to homeschool their kids in regards to minimizing the criticism and ridicule and possible unnecessary intervention (as they'll likely get enough of that just being parents... It's sadly quite common). One has enough risidual vision to read print with a heavy duty electronic vision aid. The other has no sight but is incredibly inteligant and computer savvy. Both are very well read and creative and have thought of many alternative methods to use in teaching their kids (such as teaching braille along with print, starting typing very early, implementing 20/20 Pens, raised-line paper in the early years, large print books, computers, physical teaching aids, etc) Any advice to avoid the possible problems with family, friends, and of course any others who could cause problems?

Answer 1

I think that this family knows that they can home school and knows that they can turn out well educated children who have more skills and more capabilities that every other student out there.

If I am understanding this correctly the concern is what the rest of the world will do/try to do/think/say/etc.

As many people have said get in touch with the Home school Legal Defense Fund and let them know you are out there and what you are doing *before* you need them.

And then as for family and friends and all the others they can all go jump off a cliff!  After all, they are too blind to see that cliff.  

The family already has thick skin it might just have to get a little thick until the people around them see that this school thing is working!!  That is what it took for my family to back off and not question what I was up to!

I would love to have this family in my co-op so our kids will have first hand knowledge of how capable people are when they choose to be.

Answer 2

The blind parents could maybe request the help of a caretaker I suppose?

Answer 3

The best ally to have is the Home School Legal Defense Association.  hslda.org

Family?  Well, ignore them or educate them.  Give them links to homeschool websites.  Print out information about homeschooling.  Recruit them to help with field trips if they will do that.

Friends?  If they are true friends they will show support.  If not ignore them.

Others?  Call HSLDA.

The tools of learning are available to the children --- if the children have good vision they can learn to read.  They can use flashcards and manipulatives to learn math-facts and they can use math text books such as Saxon Math from grade 4 on up.  The earlier Saxon texts are unnecessary if the mathfacts are mastered.  Writing can be learned up to age10 from copywork and then original essays each day from age 11 and up.  Reading for 2 hours+ each day can be done with little assistance.

We use The Robinson Self-Teaching Method Home School Curriculum.  It is amazing just how capable the children are of learning by studying on their own with parental supervision and minimal aid.

Criticism comes from people that lack understanding.  Ridicule comes from jerks.  Intervention comes from arrogance and ignorance.

These parents will most likely be excellent home-schoolers!  They already know so much more than most of us.  My most intelligent friend is legally blind -- I believe that the so called *handicap* is more of a blessing in many ways!

This if for anyone that thinks that blind parents cannot homeschool their children:

Blind people are not fools.  They are very smart and have learned to do things that I could never do!  They have a drive and a spunk that is incredible!  My blind friend is a Journeyman Electrician -- SHE has had her own electrical business for many years.  AND mind you, she teaches other people how to become top-notch electricians.  She works in conjunction with the State and manages apprenticeship training.  She also teaches continuing education for other Journeyman Electricians to update their licenses as required by the State.  She has also raised three children with great success.  Blind does not mean *stupid* and neither does it hold them back.  They can see things better than you and I because they see with different senses that are stronger than you'll ever know.  I challenge you to visit an Eye Institute of Medicine in your State --- meet the people that go there for help.  They are wonderfully smart and highly intelligent.

I once toured a cabinet shop that was managed and worked entirely by blind people.  The machinery was top-notch and the product was wonderful.   These people were business managers and cabinet makers -- they ran the equipment with no problems and unbelievable safety.  Their injury rate was 0.  Unlike the sighted cabinet makers that I have known in my lifetime that are missing fingers from saw accidents.

Blind parents will most likely be BETTER homeschool teachers than many sighted parents.  I believe this to be true because I have witnessed the strength of character and adaptability of being *blind*.  They truly see life in a different and better way.

On behalf of deaf music teachers:  They can give advice just fine.  There is more to *hearing* music than using the ears.  Vibrations, tones, etc. are detectable and actually stronger for someone who is accustomed to them.

Answer 4

Okay, I'm sorry if this offends you but I have to draw the politically correct line somewhere.

While there is no reason that blind people can't be tutors, it would be impractical and detrimental to the child's education.  For one, you won't be able to grade any sort of visual work and you won't be able to use visual aides practically for another.  Either get your kid a tutor or send them to a public school.

Seriously, this is like asking for advice for a deaf music teacher.

Answer 5

I suggest they get a tutor for their kids just in case they need extra help teaching their kids.

Answer 6

Well, I would suggest the same thing that I do to any parent who is receiving criticism from the public or family. Don't accept it.

I'd say "Thanks for your concern, but we are adults and fully capable of making choices for our family. Now please pass the dip." Just do not allow it to be up for debate. If someone insists, tell them, "We are leaving now, when you can talk to me about something other than our choices, please call." You cannot allow people to rule your life, and you can't afford to try and deal with the nitpicking in order to have a family relationship. It's not worth it (I should know, I just spent six months not talking to my mother about the choice we made to homeschool our children...it's worth it to say she broke first)

As for those who are asking how to grade papers and assignments, it seems quite reasonable to say that people who are impaired in any way are fully capable of finding alternatives. Instead of paper assignments, they could do it on the computer where the speaker program could read the questions as well as the answers. Like what happens  in school classrooms every day, siblings could grade work for each other.

I think it's wonderful, homeschooling SHOULD be available to everyone.