Chapter 6 - Leo’s Care Team
Leo’s visual impairment had been diagnosed early.
Not complete blindness.
Severe low vision.
He could detect light.
Large high-contrast movement.
Some close objects under good conditions.
Nobody could predict exactly what his functional vision would become.
Early intervention mattered.
Not because therapy could magically give him ordinary sight.
Because visually impaired babies learn important skills differently.
Reaching.
Orienting.
Exploring.
Recognizing predictable spaces.
Responding to voices.
Dad had built a team.
Developmental pediatrician.
Low-vision specialist.
Occupational therapist.
Early-intervention home visitor.
Orientation-and-mobility consultant as Leo grew.
Valerie had attended the first sessions.
Then she started complaining.
“Every week there’s someone else in this house.”
Dad said:
“They’re helping.”
“He’s a baby.”
“Exactly.”
According to Dad, the arguments never seemed dangerous.
Valerie did not say:
I hate my child.
She said:
“We need normal life too.”
May you like
That phrase can be reasonable.
Until normal means excluding whatever reminds you the disability exists.
