Re: Teaching/classroom strategies needed

[Guest guest]

Hi Esmé,

I can't remember anything in particular that my teachers did with me, or

that I would have liked them to do. Except that they assumed, for some

reason, that I was a bit 'slow', which greatly infuriated my mother. In

the typical (if there is such a thing) BPES-enhanced kid, there isn't a

lot to worry about, except, as you've noticed, some tilting of the head

for those whose ptosis hasn't been fixed yet. In fact, one might argue

the less " specially " they're treated, the better. I'm a little surprised

that BPES is considered to qualify for " Special Ed " , unless there are

other factors?

Some BPES-enhanced folks have dry eyes, and if so they might want to

keep some PolyTears (or Refresh or whatever) at the school office and

not sit under a classroom fan. But not all have dry eyes (I didn't, but

my son does sometimes).

Note that a BPES-enhanced person with their eyes closed isn't

necessarily asleep, just resting their lids. (That's what I say at work

meetings and in church, and get away with it as long as I don't snore).

What part of Australia are you in? (Ottawa? Moosejaw? Edmonton?) I'm in

Syd-er-ney myself.

If I think of anything else that's relevant, I'll pipe in again.

Rob W

Oz

e.liebenberg wrote:

> Hi everyone,

>

> I am a Special Education teacher in Australia and now has a student

> with Blephariphimosis. I've reveived quite a lot of info about the

> diagnosis and related medical issues, but I couldn't find anything of

> much value for me as a teacher.

>

> In order to enhance learning outcomes for this student, I would like

> to hear from anyone that can give me some strategies that I can pass

> on to her classroom teacher. So far we have relocated her so that she

> faces the board. I also suspect light sensitivity.

>

> Maybe there are other teachers who might be able to help, or parents

> who have had the problems solved within the classroom.

>

> I'm looking forward to hearing from anyone who can help me.

>

> Esmé Liebenberg

[Guest guest]

Hi Esme

I, too, suffer from light sensitivity. Here are some things that I do:

1. at night times I make sure that the curtains are completely drawn. If

there is a little gap that lets in bright light in the morning - that can

cause discomfort.

2. at work I will make sure that I am not seated facing a window or door.

Watch out for restaurants - they have big glass windows.

3. if I am asked to use a projector, I have to stand well away from the

beam.

4. if I am looking at a whiteboard, I will try to sit in such a way that it

isn't a struggle for me to raise my eyebrows to see. It can get tiring.

Maybe lowering the white board is better, or sitting at the back of the room

on a platform. A simpler solution is to use the lower part of the white

board and hope everyone can see it.

5. I find lamps above me (ceiling light) annoying. The only exception is

light with " uplighter " shades or those paper lanterns that are completely

round (like a globe). Luckily my local discount store sells these for less

than 5 dollars each

6. I find bright table lamps also stressful.

7.Sitting near a source of wind (eg a fan) or next to the window on a windy

day can be irritating. I tend to sit with my back to these sources of air.

8. I nearly always wear hats when I am outdoors for a while (beach, in the

garden, out for the day). This helps with direct light above my head in the

summer time. This is in addition to wearing dark sunglasses. If you don't

want to single the child, then ask all the kids to wear a hat and

sunglasses.

Other things you may like to watch out for:

Swimming in the pool or sea. For me, not really possible to do these without

goggles. However, having said that, if you are planning a trip and you

forget the goggles, it is better to just simply say " swim, but try not to

put your head under water " .

I have a lot of problem with some specific types of make up. When I used to

participate in school plays these items caused irritation:

1. mascara

2. some eye liners - but not kohl pencils

3. eye shadow that is creamy - no problems with powder types.

I don't know this for certain - but I doubt of school theatre supplies have

good grade make up. They may have " adequate " make up. So maybe if the

situation comes up then you can enlist mother's help in trying to find some

suitable make up.

I hope that this helps. Above all, I really don't like people making a fuss

about things, but I truly appreciated people looking out for me discretely.

Thank you for taking the trouble to write, and find out.

Regards

Shireen

London, England

(now 45, fond of school days - wishes she tried harder when at school)

[Guest guest]

I have BPES and I am also a teacher. No one ever treated me like I

was slow and I never even considered that I needed any special

accomodations. I do remember the PE teacher being frustrated when I

would get hit on the head with a volleyball, but, beyond that it just

wasn't a learning issue.

Since my daughter was born, I realized people might make the

assumption that she is learning challenged or however you want to say

it. A resident at the hospital asked me if I was literate (after I

explained to him about the genetic disorder which he obviously never

heard of). This struck me as very odd.

I have to agree that as a mom and an educator, my husband is a

special educator, we really would shy away from any " labels " or

accomodations that are not absolutely necessary.

Sorry to go so far off subject, I hope some of this helps.

Anyway, treat the symptoms the child has, not the disorder. I really

don't think I would bother telling any of my child's teachers that

she has " blepharophimosis " that really would mean nothing to them.

More likely, " she needs to wear her sunglasses when outside " .

Beth 35 yrs

Lily 18 mos.

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > I am a Special Education teacher in Australia and now has a

student

> > with Blephariphimosis. I've reveived quite a lot of info about

the

> > diagnosis and related medical issues, but I couldn't find

anything of

> > much value for me as a teacher.

> >

> > In order to enhance learning outcomes for this student, I would

like

> > to hear from anyone that can give me some strategies that I can

pass

> > on to her classroom teacher. So far we have relocated her so that

she

> > faces the board. I also suspect light sensitivity.

> >

> > Maybe there are other teachers who might be able to help, or

parents

> > who have had the problems solved within the classroom.

> >

> > I'm looking forward to hearing from anyone who can help me.

> >

> > Esmé Liebenberg

>