Getting Ready for College Begins in Third Grade

A volume in Critical Concerns in BlindnessSeries Editor Edward C. Bell Louisiana Tech UniversityAll parents hope for an independent future for their blind/visually impaired child. To turn thathope into a reality parents need to understand the scope of skill development that must beaddressed along with the importance of equal expectations for the child's development propertraining and opportunity to practice and develop skills. But what if expectations are lowtraining in blindness skills is scanty or even absent and overprotection prevents the blind/VIchild from learning and practicing skills? The idea of an independent future can remain adistant dream.The purpose of this book is to guide parents and teachers in fostering the blind/visually impaired child's skill development in suchcritical areas as academics independent movement and travel social interaction daily living and self-advocacy so that he or she willtruly be on the road to an independent future. A practical easy to use guide written in plain English the book warns about commonproblem areas and provides ideas for getting and keeping the child's education and development on track. It highlights the interplaybetween skills and competence confidence self-respect and the respect of others.Of the small number of books and videos available on the subject most were written by professionals in the field and many beginwith the supposition that blindness is at best sad and at worst tragic. Few --maybe none --have the ardent passion for independence thatthe parent of a blind/visually impaired child brings to the subject. Instead of overwhelming parents and teachers with the difficulty ofthe undertaking before them Getting Ready for College Begins in Third Grade will inspire their confidence and enthusiasm for the taskat hand.