I don't know what or how to feel, my child is visually impaired...?

Question

My daughter who is now three years old, she was diagnosed with Optic Nerve Hypoplasia at 4 months. She is now in school at the Visually Impaired school where she has learned so much, very much every day. She has limited eye sight. I love her so much I think about her well being. In two years she is going to be going to a Public School, I don't want kids to look at her in a different way, she is like everyone else. She is a very smart young girl. She can watch tv very well, her favorite shows are Dora and Spongebob, I pray everyday that she is not totally blind. I pray every day for every little child that is blind. If you are parents of a visually impaired child, did you feel the same way? Do you think one day there is a cure for ONH?

Answer 1

I'm sorry that you all are having a difficult time adjusting.  I pray that you get your answers soon.

I just see it as God choosing her to carry this because he knows she's strong enough to educate the world about it (later).

My brother is visually impared.  I don't know the exact name of what he has but no surgery OR glasses will help (not even bifocals) he went to tons and tons of specialists who told him he had everything from ADD to legally blind!  Finally when he was 16 yrs old they found a name for what he had.... this was after going to doctors for over 10 years!!  

He lives a very normal life & was actually popular in school.  You would never know he had vision problems unless you really look at his eyes..

He needs help reading alot of things like the menu at McDonalds or when he looks at a computer it has to be HUGE..... but he jokes about it with his friends & he's a pretty cool guy..

No worries...... your daughter will find her way in this world.

Kids poke fun even if you have no disability.

So yeah she'll get picked on,.... but not more than any other kid....

Answer 2

My 8 yr old son has vision issues as well (can't think of the technical name for it right now, but legally blind with his glasses in left eye and without them in right -- and surgery isn't an option)...

Anyhow, I used to stress about how kids would treat him and how much of a disability it would be etc. What I have found is that since I don't treat him as if he has a disability, he doesn't act like he has a disability and is very matter-of-fact when he can't see something at school or whatever and is not in the least bit embarrassed. The kids at school (public school) don't treat him any differently than they do anyone else.

He is taking Braille classes at the school for the blind (I am always prepared for the worst while praying for the best) and has an IEP at his regular school (so he can get special help if needed, larger text in books etc) and that's it. I honestly think it effects me in my daily life - because I have to clean glasses, make eye dr appointments, get glasses adjusted etc - more than it does him.

Your little girl will be fine. She needs to understand that she has a disability but that it doesn't control who she is or what she can do. Good luck!

Answer 3

My youngest son was born with mild cerebral palsy due to a really bad delivery.  We had problems of course, running him 4 days a week to speech and physical therapies.

But one thing we didn't do was shelter him in any way.  He was picked on NOT because he had CP, but because at a young age he disliked the roudiness of the other boys who were busy trying to impress girls.  He thought it was absolutely stupid.  He also hated sports, and still does at age 24.

We were there for him and did what we had to do in respect of reporting the other kids to the school.  But basically, he learned to solve these problems himself.

We showered him and his brother with positive feedback.  Praise for a job well done and kept telling him that as he grows things will get better.

We never spanked either one of them.  We used their "not so favorable" behaviors as ways to teach them about themselves or whatever it was they did.  We encouraged free thinking.  We never forced them to join every after school program in the book.  They learned to entertain themselve.

Back to your daughter:  Encourage her to be just another kid on the play ground.  The teacher no doubt will let every one know that she doens't see well.  Never shame her in any way.  Help her develope all the other sensory skills and be there to praise her for her accomplishments and you just may end up with a real doll.

See, you are already set in your thinking that she is going to have a difficult time.  But kids are amazingly resiliet and adapt well to situations.  If she grows up with self-confidence, she will be fine.

My older young man also had things he was teased about.  But now he's doing research at the Univ of Minn-Twin Cities for his PhD in analytical chemistry.  He has about 2 years to go.  The youngest is an IT Specialist and works for a HUGE lawfirm downtown.

Try not to let your OWN fears rub off onto your daugther.

Answer 4

I am sorry to hear about your daughter.

My son last year had a visually impaired girl in his class at his local public school, and let me tell you, all the kids LOVED her. They were forever trying to help her with things, hold her hand and guide her around the school (she also had a stick), and be around her.

She was a favourite within the whole school.

I thought this was wonderful, she has left now due to her dad's work, and my son still sends her letters and misses her a lot.

Your little girl will be fine. Kids accept differences  well, and hopefully they are like the kids in my son's school.

I wish you a lot of luck with your daughter, she sounds like a wonderful little girl.

Answer 5

I would continue to pray for your daughter's eyesight to be healed. I really belive with all my heart that God wants us healthy. Pray for one another that ye may be healed the effective fervent prayer of a righteous man availath much.

I have seen people healead of things that there was no medical cure for. Many people poopoo healing for today, and think a person is carrying out some sort of grand plan for God by being sick, but God really wants us healthy.

I would get aligned with a good Christian church that belives in healing and get materials, tapes, videos, cds on healing and play them for your daughter. I would speak faithfilled words over her and stay far away from negative people.

I even had a doctor tell me as I prayed for hour over a person in a como for almost two weeks, "keep praying, it's working". They came out of the coma and are so happy to be alive.

Answer 6

My daughter has very bad vision (20/400) and has had to wear super thick glasses for 4 years. I'll be honest, she has been picked on from time to time, but she is strong. She is only 8 years old and handles her situation far better than I could.

As long as you have taught her to hold her head high and be proud of herself for her accomplishments, then there is nothing more you need to do.