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Document 1 of 1

Being Legally Blind: Observations for Parents of Visually Impaired Children

Author: Skorin, Leonid
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Full text: Being Legally Blind: Observations for Parents of Visually Impaired Children by Justin
Oldham Shaddow Fusion, Anchorage, Alaska 2010, 114 pages, $7.99, paperback ISBN: 978-19359-6400-1
This book is a small gem. It is written by a young man who was born with seriously impaired vision
from aniridia. Its target audience is the parents who have just learned that their child has a visual
disability.
The author takes us through the life of a visually impaired youngster. He presents the difficulties
and traumas that a disabled individual experiences while growing up. Although the experiences
are purely his, he skillfully expands on them to cover a broader area with helpful and meaningful
insight. Many of his stories are very poignant. In one chapter he discusses the various types of
cruelty inflicted on him by others because he was different. This was not just from outright bullies
but also other children who would trip or push him or even steal his glasses. He gives the readers
the hard facts of life and reminds parents that they would function best as a good sounding board
with appropriate empathy. He discourages isolation of the child as a form of protecting them. Kind
words, small survival strategies and perseverance will help these youngsters endure school and
the playground. He does not encourage the victim mentality and points out that this approach can
often by overplayed by adults, such as parents, strangers and various school teachers and
administrators.
The author gives valuable and essential tips and suggestions to parents on all aspects of their
child's well-being. He addresses the thorny issue of when or even whether to introduce the legally
blind child into the school system. He also debates the pros and cons of attending a specialized
school for the blind. Throughout the book there are many useful explanations of ophthalmic and
medical terms written by a layperson for other laypeople. This helps the book work. With the
addition of information about support groups and beneficial resources, this compact book
becomes a great introductory resource to the overwhelmed parents of these children. The author
includes a short and simple glossary and several pages of suggested reading materials at the end
of the book.
My only misgivings about this book are the factual errors regarding the definitions of both
hyperopia and myopia. These are found in both the body of the book and in the glossary. More
annoying are all the misspellings, word omissions and incorrect word usage. There are at least two
dozen such errors peppered throughout this book. When these errors are all corrected, this little
gem of a book will really shine.
In 1961, the Reverend Thomas J. Carroll published his classic book, Blindness: What It Is, What It
Does, and How to Live With It. In this book, the reverend outlined 20 substantial losses, or
"deaths," of previous identity that people suffer when they lose their sight. Many of these are
applicable to individuals who are legally blind. The author of Being Legally Blind, Justin Oldham,
may have not given us such a specific list, but through his own life experiences he eloquently
covers every one of them. I highly recommend this book to all clinicians who deal with children
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who are legally blind or have low vision. I also encourage them to recommend this book to the
parents of these children so that they can have elucidating glimpses into their child's world.
AuthorAffiliation
Reviewed by
Leonid Skorin Jr., DO
Albert Lea, Minn.

Publication title: Ocular Surgery News

Volume: 29
Issue: 19
Pages: 56
Number of pages: 1
Publication year: 2011
Publication date: Oct 10, 2011
Year: 2011
Section: Medical Library
Publisher: SLACK INCORPORATED
Place of publication: Thorofare
Country of publication: United States
Publication subject: Medical Sciences--Surgery, Medical Sciences--Ophthalmology And
Optometry
ISSN: 87503085
Source type: Trade Journals
Language of publication: English
Document type: General Information
ProQuest document ID: 906022546
Document URL: http://search.proquest.com/docview/906022546?accountid=160991
Copyright: Copyright SLACK INCORPORATED Oct 10, 2011
Last updated: 2011-11-25
Database: ProQuest Central

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Bibliography
Citation style: APA 6th - American Psychological Association, 6th Edition
Skorin, L. (2011). Being legally blind: Observations for parents of visually impaired children.
Ocular Surgery News, 29(19), 56. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/906022546?
accountid=160991

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