PUBLICATIONSThousands of people in this country become blind every year. It need not be a tragedy, but it can be. Being informed about blindness can make the difference. Vision Loss and Senior Citizens: Rights, Resources, and Responsibilities Oh! Say Can You See... A book about
blindness published by the American Action Fund for Blind Children and
Adults Questions Kids Ask About BlindnessWhat is blindness? What are blind people like? What causes blindness? What is Braille? What is a white cane and how is it used? What is a dog guide? Where can blind children go to school? Do blind people feel bad about being blind? Do they like to talk about it? Are there some things blind people really can't do? What jobs can blind people do? Are any blind people famous? Simple questions and simple answers. Photographs enhance the effectiveness of the questions and answers. Children learn that blind people lead normal and full lives. Children need to know about blindness. This book makes it possible. The second part of the book, “A Day with Joe Jones,” is a practical and entertaining description of a blind sixth-grader who is successfully coping in public school. Joe Jones attends a variety of classes; is surrounded by a group of very normal sixth-grade friends at recess and after school; and takes his share of responsibility at home. The resource teacher for blind students at his school helps him, but Joe Jones doesn't need a lot of help from her. Anyone will enjoy reading this book. Children need the insight on blindness that is given. This book is an excellent presentation for a unit on blindness in the classroom. It is a must for school libraries. Quotes from Questions Kids Ask About Blindness“Blind people are all different from each other, just as sighted
people are different from each other. Some like to swim. Some do not.
Some are friendly. Some are not. Some are good students in school. Others
are not. Some blind kids and some sighted kids are good at math and have
trouble with spelling. Some blind kids and some sighted kids are good
in spelling and have trouble with math. Some kids like to ride bikes;
some like to ice skate; some like to dance; some like to do all these
things.” (page 2) “Okay, Mom,” he called, “I'm up.” “You'd better hurry!” Joe grabbed a pair of school pants from his closet and pulled on a shirt. He brushed his hair quickly, put on his shoes and brushed his hands across the top of his desk to find his school bag. Quickly, he put his hand inside, found Braille paper, slate and stylus, his math assignment that he had done last night and a Braille book about the Pittsburgh Pirates. He took the bag downstairs with him, dropping it on a chair near the front door. Joe's mother called to him from the kitchen, “There's oatmeal on the stove. Help yourself. Everyone else has had some.” Joe got a bowl and helped himself. He scraped the pan clean and said, “I'm glad I don't have to leave any for someone else. This will barely keep me alive until noon.” (page 17) These books are available from: American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults |
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Updated June 6, 2006 |