What I did this summer!

At my summer camp experience at the Nebraska Center for the Education of Children who are Blind or Visually Impaired (NCECBVI), a very talented 16 year old student and I reworked an old Beach Boys tune and recapped our adventures at camp. Watch it now!

Here it is!

I check my favorite blogs everyday and get so sad when they are the same as when I checked before. Then I thought, will anyone read mine if I don't post a doggone thing? So here is my latest post. Enjoy!

new experience

I am working on a degree to teach blind or visually impaired students. I have worked in the area of special education for more than 15 years. I been working with deaf and hard of hearing students for a long time. I am sensitive to the needs of those with disabilities. I am politically correct not for the political reasons of it, but for the human needs of it.

I had a new experience today. I am attending a workshop and the presenter is himself deaf and blind. His teaching environment was too dark, so they brought in extra powerful lights. Well, since my eye surgery in the spring, I have light sensitivity in my vision. While the lights were accommodating for the presenter, they were blinding to me. I got repositioned in the back hallway of the room. I felt so dis-connected with the group being shoved off to "crip corner".

My question today is how can we accommodate everyone. I (selfishly) feel his need for more light is the same as my need for less light. We can't be in the same room. He is a presenter and I am a learner. I guess he wins today.

How can I learn from this experience and apply it to my profession?

I welcome your comments.

Driving down the highway...

Here is a recent question from Sophie. "Momma, is that a police car or a pizza delivery car?"

Gotta love it!

snap, crackle, pop

My daughter learned to snap her fingers. She has been trying for a few years. I keep telling her it is a 6 year old thing. At the ripe old age of 5 1/2, she figured it out. She feels so smart. Her imaginary brother, David, is so jealous! You should hear the conversations they have about it in the backseat of the car.

I wish I had...

I wish I had a computer (blackberry with internet?) with me all the time. My little one experienced the need for emergency surgery last Sunday and as we phoned rellies to discuss the diagnosis, they all got on line and looked up the information. I did not have that luxury and frankly was a little jealous. The hospital communicated clearly however and that real people contact was very nice as well.

What do you wish you had?

friday five

1. If you knew that you had only one day left to live, what would you do for the 24 hours?

Once a friend said she would sit at a table drinking hot cocoa with her mom. I like that idea. I would want to talk to as many friends as I had energy for. Part of me would like to curl up with a meaningful book, but I think being with people would be better. Wouldn't it be nice if we really had a choice!

2. Do you think that life has meaning?

With no doubt.

3. What was your favorite childhood toy/object, or some of your favourites?
(Remember childhood according to the United Nations is anywhere from 0-18 years, so this is a fairly broad span of time).

I still like my yellow pet bunny I slept with until my own child confiscated it for her own. I believe like the Velveteen Rabbit, he is real. His name is Josh.

4. When you clasp your hands, do you put your right thumb over your left thumb, or your left thumb over your right thumb?

My left thumb goes over my right.

5. If you had to teach the most ignorant person on earth the most difficult thing you have ever learned, how would you go about doing it?

I think I do this everyday. I would find what would make it meaningful to the person and try to connect. What is my goal here? Why does my most difficult thing need to be shared with this person? Can I make it funny? Oh so many more questions than answers. Wait, this may be my most difficult thing to answer!