Thank you for your wonderful support- We got 10 reviews on Great Non-Profits and met our goal this year! We are so grateful to be able to connect with so many families and professionals and push safe mobility for blind toddlers into the mainstream!! We're hoping everyone has a FUN Safe Mobility Halloween! Please send your photos and videos of how you incorporated your pediatric belt cane into your Halloween costume!! We claimed our google page too! Check us out!!! https://local.google.com/place?id=18055600172994954404&use=posts&lpsid=3962154205133531970

Co-hosts of the Safe Toddles Pediatric Belt Cane podcast, Grace Ambrose-Zaken and Kelvin Crosby, discuss the origin story and impact of White Cane Safety Day and propose it be called Safe Mobility Day. Safe Mobility Day would be all inclusive of the various mobility devices that exist (human guides, dog guides, rectangular canes, pediatric belt canes AND long white canes) and those new (as yet undiscovered) devices that we hope will soon be developed for those who are blind and unable to benefit from the current tools - as the wrong tool is one that does not easily provide them with safety all day, every day. #SafeMobility#PediatricBeltCane Watch if you would like answers to: 1. Whose speech led to the events that resulted in white cane safety day? 2. Why is the cane white and red? 3. What is a Lions Club Cane? Please watch, like and share! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZJF9zoWuvQ

Safe Toddles has 20 days left to be a 2021 Top-Rated Nonprofit! We need 10 positive reviews by October 31st to gain our place on the Top-Rated Nonprofit List. If you love our work then tell the world! Stories about us from people like you will help us make an even bigger impact in our community. Great Nonprofits is honoring highly regarded nonprofits with their 2021 Top-Rated List. Won’t you help us raise visibility for our work by posting a brief story of your experience with us? All content will be visible to potential donors and volunteers. It’s easy and only takes 3 minutes! Go here to get started! https://greatnonprofits.org/reviews/write/safe-toddles-inc

Happy JoJo Day! to one and all!! Every September 5 is remembered as the day JoJo demonstrated the transformative effect of safe mobility. This video explains why we celebrate September 5! https://youtu.be/Qa6duraKlbE JoJo is a four-year-old with optic nerve hypoplasia. When his mom, Jasmine, watched him running and playing so effortlessly with the remote controlled toy- her first thought was "his vision got better". September 5, 2017 was the first successful test of the pediatric belt cane and JoJo was the first to wear it and show us what a boy can do with guaranteed safe mobility. Since that day we have become a nonprofit, we have sent over 1200 canes to children who are blind and mobility visually impaired around the world. Most of those canes were donated. Consider sending in a donation to help us continue our transformative mission. To provide toddlers who are blind and mobility visually impaired with a solution for walking safely - a pediatric belt cane for clear path detection.

Amazon Prime Day June 21-22, 2021 Whether you are stocking up on household items or starting back-to-school shopping early, you don’t want to miss the great deals offered on Amazon Prime Day. Did you know you can you support the Foundation on AmazonSmile with all your online purchases? At no additional cost to you, Amazon will donate .5% of purchases made using AmazonSmile to the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation. To use AmazonSmile, shop at smile.amazon.com/st/83-2525171 or enroll in the program via Amazon's mobile app. More information on how to use AmazonSmile is available here. Contributions made to the Foundation through AmazonSmile support provide free pediatric belt canes for families with toddlers and preschool learners who are blind and mobility visually impaired. Thank you for supporting Safe Toddles.

April came in like lamb and then roared out the happiest of all jubilant roars imaginable. Our cover photos are of Jorge and his occupational therapist, Ronit from St. Mary’s in Nassau. The first photo is Jorge’s first time wearing a pediatric belt cane, the second photo shows his first time wearing his belt cane taking a walk outside holding Ronit's hand. The third photo is him walking independently inside his home. Ronit wanted to help. She googled "Pediatric white cane" and found Safe Toddles. We made Jorge a pediatric belt cane and delivered it, in person! We have been following Jorge's progress ever since. After 10 days, Ronit texted a video of Jorge walking independently with the message: “Look who is so proud of himself!” I wrote back “Such GREAT progress!! You ARE the best!! Ronit replied “Thank you but it was Safe Toddles’ device that gave him confidence. He did even better today. His mom cried when she saw him walking. I’ll send more video tomorrow.” Jorge’s progress is the most important part of the story- but the SECOND most important part of the story is that CBS-NY covered his story! Safe Toddles was featured on Friday, April 23, 2021! The screen shot featured here links to the online video. You see his father, Jorge, walking with his son. They did a terrific job. They aired a noon segment and again at 6PM with Dana Tyler introducing the story. The story set the correct tone – and despite the large, unfamiliar crowd of people gathered around him, Jorge did so well. A graduate of the Hunter College Combined Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Teaching and Orientation and Mobility is his O&M instructor, Tara Olson, she is featured in the story along with VISIONS Services for the Blind, where she works. It was a true New York City good news story! Last month’s featured wearer, soon to be three-year-old Miss Belle of Texas Kenedi, became a VIRAL sensation! First on Tik Tok and then on Twitter. One video showing Kenedi running while wearing her pediatric belt cane currently listed on Tiktok with 10.4 million views! The video starts with her running away from the camera, she’s fast. Then the caption reads “So many have asked about when she runs into things so here it is(heart emoji)”. Then we see Kenedi’s cane stop her – it found a stationary counter. Kenedi recoils like a pro and stands up straight, lifts her cane, walks towards it and begins to use the cane frame to investigate further. As you may remember, Kenedi is blind. The TikTok, Twitter and CBS-NY news story led to an outpouring of support. Donations came, overwhelmingly positive comments about the benefits of the pediatric belt cane spread across the land and people who have toddlers and preschool learners who are blind are finding us too! In Puerto Rico, India, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Our message is a simple we’re here to help. Our Mission is to find a solution for blind toddlers walking safely – the pediatric belt cane for clear path detection. Safe Toddles and Soterix Medical Awarded! Phase 1 Small Business Innovation Research The Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences selected our proposal among the highest submitted to fund! We will receive $200,000 over 8 months to begin creation of the EI/O&M app with PBC and smart belt (SB) sensor technology. The project began May 1, 2021! We will be developing an app system that connects with the cane to improve communication and evaluation efforts between professionals and parents. Gordon H. “Nick" Mueller, PhD, historian and former Vice Chancellor at the University of New Orleans, is a founding board member of Safe Toddles and brings all his expertise to our nonprofit, he is helping us to grow and meet the challenges using the same expertise he applied to building the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. Nick was President and CEO of the National WWII Museum, a project he began with renown historian and celebrated author Stephen E. Ambrose. Neither Ambrose nor Mueller had the faintest notion that their idea crafted first in 1990 over glasses of sherry in the Ambrose family backyard would one day mushroom into a mega museum on six acres in downtown New Orleans. The National WWII Museum is ranked by TripAdvisor users as No. 3 among American museums and No. 8 among museums worldwide. It is a must see! Mueller’s exceptional contributions to the preservation and interpretation of WWII history and his special contributions to public awareness of the D-Day landings in Normandy have resulted in numerous awards, including the French government’s Legion of Honor, which in May 2016 was bestowed on him and two national figures who have assisted the Museum since its founding, Tom Hanks and Tom Brokaw. Mueller has also been elected to the board of the National History Center in Washington, DC, the public advocacy subsidiary of the American Historical Association. We are very lucky to have Nick Mueller on our Board! --------------------------------------------- On-going Project Seeking Additional Participants Safe Toddles has five CHARGE Families signed up. We can admit 5 more families to this project. Please contact info@safetoddles.org if you would like more information go to www.safetoddles.org/research Project Team Dr. Grace Ambrose-Zaken, COMS, President and CEO Safe Toddles Dr. Marom Bikson, Shames Professor of Biomedical Engineering, The City College of New York of the City University of New York (CUNY), New York, N.Y. Dr. Lauren Lieberman, Professor, Department of Kinesiology, Physical Education & Sport Studies, School of Health, Education & Human Services, State University of New York, College at Brockport Dr. Melanie Perreault Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology, Physical Education & Sport Studies, State University of New York at Brockport Dr. Pamela Beach, Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology, Physical Education & Sport Studies, School of Health, Education & Human Services, State University of New York, College at Brockport Mohamad FallahRad, Biomedical Engineer, The City College of New York of the City University of New York (CUNY), New York, N.Y. The purpose This study will help determine whether the feedback from wearing the PBC helps children with CHARGE Syndrome to walk independently. This project will provide pediatric belt canes to ten families whose children ages 12 to 84 months with CHARGE Syndrome are demonstrating difficultly achieving independent walking. Families will receive free belt canes and be compensated for providing feedback to the project. To learn more please contact Safe Toddles info@safetoddles.org or call us at 914-204-9292 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Dear A Family: A three-year-old who is blind and can bear weight, meaning independent walking is a goal, needs both. We agree that every device that will help him walk is important. Since physical therapists focus on the mechanics of the motor skill and orientation and mobility specialists focus on safe mobility tools; together we can collaborate for the best outcome for your son. Below is a photo of Damien. His mom Ashley Zellner, recently participated in our podcast/vodcast series. She attempted to provide her son Damien with the pediatric belt cane without his rear-facing walker. We recommended they use both, at first. It wasn’t long afterwards, that Damien no longer needed his walker. He now walks independently. Independent walking is a visual motor skill – the motor is balance, foot placement, leg and arm coordination (swing). The visual information is what is in the path- vision tells the walker whether the path clear or blocked. Pediatric belt canes provide effective sensory information that takes the place of vision. It stops the child who is blind at a stationary object. It allows the child who is blind to know that the path is clear, flat and with that information- he can go. Increasing a child’s independent walking time eventually builds the muscle and balance skills needed to let go of the walker. Have a Safe Mobility Day! Grace Three Rules for Pediatric Belt Cane Success Make putting on belt cane part of the daily routine -get dressed, put on cane, go brush teeth, etc. When wearing the belt cane help the child free herself and right the cane (less and less overtime). Wear it most of the day, every day. When the lights are on the belt cane is on. ----------------------------------------------------- Podcast/Vodcast May will be interviews with more users- please let us know if you would be willing to share your pediatric belt cane story with us – info@safetoddles.org To listen: https://www.safetoddles.org/podcast and watch https://www.safetoddles.org/family-professionals If you know someone who has a child younger than five who is not able to visually avoid obstacles, please tell them to go to: www.safetoddles.org/application If you are able to donate a cane, part of a cane, or help us build our network of donors, please go to www.safetoddlers.org/donate

We've added these handy size charts to our website. We still make custom sizes. These are our standard sizes and demonstrate how we use the measurements that we request for obtaining the size cane we ship. Size Chart Condensed All standard sizes Example of three specific pediatric belt cane sizes

Miss Belle of Texas Accessorizes with Pediatric Belt Cane Kenedi Creed became the Texas State Ambassador for the Belle and Beast Pageant. She is almost three years old and blind due to optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH). Kenedi's mom took the winning photo of her daughter who regularly models for designer clothing lines and her mother's jewelry business. Kenedi plans to use her platform to raise awareness of the abilities of children born with disabilities- anything is possible! Andrea is a social media influencer with a large following on platforms such as Tik Tok. She posts about her life as a single mother raising two children, one of whom is blind. Through her posts and advocacy she has helped to raise awareness and introduce effective products and resources to many families of children born with ONH; including the pediatric belt cane! Kenedi's belt cane was a donation made by a fellow Texan. We thank Andrea and all our donors and supporters who keep making important contributions and taking positive actions to change the public understanding of visual impairment and blindness. ------------------------------------ Board Member Highlight! Professor Anne Corn Anne Corn, Ed.D., is professor emerita of Vanderbilt University and researcher at the University of Cincinnati Department of Ophthalmology. In 2012, she was inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame in recognition of the positive impact she has had for many thousands of students who are blind and visually impaired and their teachers throughout Texas, across the United States and around the world. Anne Corn is a visionary within the field of blindness and visual impairment. She has worked as an educator, researcher and advocate. Her groundbreaking contributions in low vision have changed the way children born with visual impairments are educated. She is and will forever be celebrated for her work bringing low vision devices into the classrooms of elementary, middle and high school students with low vision to allow them immediate access to their visual environment. She has served on the boards of multiple organizations, including Prevent Blindness Texas. Safe Toddles is so proud to have Professor Anne Leslie Corn as an honorary board member! She brings to Safe Toddles a wealth of knowledge in the field of visual impairment, important experience in nonprofit work and a true belief in our mission – so much so she helped us to craft Safe Toddles’ mission statement which reads: To provide toddlers who are blind with a solution for walking safely – a pediatric belt cane. Safe Mobility Moment Dear Grace: We love the pediatric belt cane and so does Henry who is blind and age 2. When does he need to wear his cane, should he continue to use it at home? Sincerely, Wanting only the best in Arizona Dear Wanting only the best in Arizona: Thank you for reaching out and this great question! We have a saying - when the lights are on, the belt cane's on. That's because we view the pediatric belt cane as having the same function a light bulb has for sighted toddlers. Sighted people need light to see the path ahead, to feel safe and to avoid most obstacles. After sunrise, sighted people rely on sunlight. After sunset they rely on artificial light. Sighted people use light in their familiar homes and in unfamiliar places. Sighted people like me never think twice about whether we "need light" to see for safety- we just use it all the time. Incandescent light bulbs fueled the industrial revolution. Light bulbs allowed the workers to work longer hours. Without light, they could not work easily or move about with the same confidence. A sighted toddler needs an adult to turn on the light switch and a blind toddler needs an adult to put the belt cane on him, at home and everywhere. Thus, our recommendation is Henry can wear his belt cane most of the day, every day because wearing the belt cane, is like turning on the lights. We turn on the lights in our own home, so we need to wear our belt canes at home, too. We're here to help! Sincerely, Grace and the Safe Toddles Team ------------------------------------ Helpful Hints Quick-Start Guide to Your New Pediatric Belt Cane NEVER USE THE BELT WITHOUT THE FRAME. The pediatric belt cane is custom-made to fit your child. For gradual introduction, introduce wearing the belt cane as a unit. It is either all on or all off. The child gets no benefit from the belt alone, therefore walking with just the belt is the wrong goal. The only goal is walking with both the belt and the frame, all benefit is from the frame. The more your child wears the belt cane as a unit the better the acceptance. As children grow, they will need their next larger size belt canes until they are able to transition to hand-held mobility tools. Older children are able to disconnect and reconnect the frame independently. This helps them transition to begin pushing it as a rectangular cane. The most important outcome is that they use a safe mobility tool every day, most of the day. Goal: Wear the belt cane every day, most of the day. Belt: The belt works best when it is snug. The size is correct when the belt ends close only half-way. The fastener has an extraordinarily strong grip and takes a strong pinch to close securely. Two cane frames: 1) The longer frame design is the daily frame. It is the correct length for your child’s height and recommended to be used the most. If there are any drop-offs (curbs, stairs) the daily frame gives the most warning. The daily frame tips’ metal glides move across most surfaces. 2) The shorter, tight spaces cane, frame is designed for use in living rooms that contain furniture with legs. This shorter frame does not have metal glide material on the tips and the angle of the frame is less forgiving, that’s why it is recommended only for use in small, cramped spaces. For example, in a large indoor mall, the daily frame is recommended. Q. Does my child have to hold on to the frame? A. If it is within your child’s developmental potential your child will eventually reach down and begin to control the frame, however this does not have to happen right away. Independent control of the cane frame can be encouraged. A child who is not yet able to independently right the frame or get it unstuck will need adult assistance and instruction. Q. What lessons does a child need to learn how to wear the belt cane most of the day? A. Allow child to stand still, twist, sway and bang the cane. B. Help child learn to regain balance, C. get unstuck, backup, D. locate a clear path, E. contact and investigate objects with the cane frame, F. keep the tips on the floor. During O&M lessons: ask child to walk to a destination for a specific purpose – (e.g., to engage in an activity, once there). Avoid simply asking child to “walk”, instead say, “let’s go to the toy room and find your ball so we can play bounce ball.” Goal: child to independently sit down and stand up from the floor, at a table. There are videos on www.safetoddles.org/belt-cane-how-to that show various ways young children learned to stand up wearing their belt canes and other skills. ------------------------------------ Pause for Fun Take time for you! Sudoku Puzzle The object of the game is to fill all the blank squares with the correct numbers. Each row of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Each column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Each 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9. (solution included at the end of the newsletter) As an orientation and mobility specialist - solving puzzles is a lot like teaching orientation, or rather - re- orienting after becoming disoriented. Orientation is a cognitive activity that builds the brain's muscle. Getting lost and learning to find your way is an important activity to experience and practice. In fact, one outcome of wearing the belt cane is the more children who are blind gain self-confidence the more likely they are to wander away from the group. This means they need to learn the rules! Orientation strategies: Stay with the group, tell a grown up when you feel lost, know the "meet up location" - a place to wait if we get separated. Learn your phone number or better yet- learn to use a smart phone to call mom. ----------------------------------------- Podcast Update We finished our March of COMS selection and they are ready for listening on our website www.safetoddles.org/podcast or any where you get your podcast. Our final COMS interview had technical issues, we will be able to post it soon. April podcast is devoted to families who use the belt cane. Please check our website each Monday to get the weekly installment. Schedule below: --------------------------------- How to Obtain a Cane Purchase a cane - $180* per cane set - cane ships approximately in three to five weeks. Free Canes - We are committed providing free canes to any child in need, because belt canes are essential safety equipment that enables toddlers with visual impairments to develop to their full potential. Option one - provide videos and feedback - cane ships in two to three months. ​ ​Safe Toddles seeks families and professionals to join our video library by contributing before and with belt cane videos. These videos assist in improving belt cane design, demonstrating outcomes to potential users and demonstrates the abilities of toddlers and preschoolers who are blind once they acquire consistently safe mobility. Everyone who is obtaining a pediatric belt cane is encouraged to consider participating by submitting videos to us - we need you! Option two - Submit measurements and a free pediatric belt cane ships in four to six months. ​ *Limited quantity of reduced cost cane sets available to families (submit in-take form, use buy now to pay with a credit/debit card) ---------------------------------- PLEASE DONATE A PEDIATRIC BELT CANE TODAY! Help Safe Toddles give children who are blind the freedom of independent mobility. ​ www.safetoddles.org/donate Soduku solution

Next time you shop with Amazon, please consider using their https://smile.amazon.com/gp/chpf/homepage?orig=%2F link. Select Safe Toddles as your charity to benefit through your purchases. Safe Toddles uses donations to send free canes to toddlers and preschool learners in 21 countries and 45 US states. Thank you!

We ARE so pleased to announce that Safe Toddles was awarded a research grant by The CHARGE SYNDROME FOUNDATION! Project Team Dr. Grace Ambrose-Zaken, COMS, President and CEO Safe Toddles Dr. Marom Bikson, Shames Professor of Biomedical Engineering, The City College of New York of the City University of New York (CUNY), New York, N.Y. Dr. Lauren Lieberman, Professor, Department of Kinesiology, Physical Education & Sport Studies, School of Health, Education & Human Services, State University of New York, College at Brockport Dr. Melanie Perreault Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology, Physical Education & Sport Studies, State University of New York at Brockport Dr. Pamela Beach, Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology, Physical Education & Sport Studies, School of Health, Education & Human Services, State University of New York, College at Brockport Mohamad FallahRad, Biomedical Engineer, The City College of New York of the City University of New York (CUNY), New York, N.Y. The purpose This study will help determine whether the feedback from wearing the PBC helps children with CHARGE Syndrome to walk independently. This project will provide pediatric belt canes to ten families whose children ages 12 to 84 months with CHARGE Syndrome are demonstrating difficultly achieving independent walking. Families will receive free belt canes and be compensated for providing feedback to the project. To learn more please contact Safe Toddles info@safetoddles.org or call us at 914-204-9292 ------------------------------------------------------------------ New Board Member Welcome! Roxann Mayros joined Safe Toddles' Board of Directors Roxann Mayros is here to help! Many of you know her as she has held leadership roles in the field of blindness and low vision for over 30 years. Her experience is as a leader and innovator. Roxann rescued the Florida Lighthouse for the Blind from ruin and under her guidance grew it into a multi-million dollar benefit to the community. She helped to build the nonprofit VisionServe Alliance, a national organization for nonprofits that provide services to people of all ages - from babies to the elderly, in to what it is today. She has written legislation, advocated at the Federal and state levels of government, grown new nonprofits into successful organizations, turned distressed nonprofits into impressive nonprofits and she has led large and seasoned nonprofits to greater glories. Roxann has served on national and local boards, and along the way she earned a Master's Degree in Nonprofit Management and became a certified board consultant. We are so grateful to include Roxann Mayros on our team!! --------------------------------------------- Safe Mobility Moment Some new belt cane users have expressed concern that their experiences introducing the belt cane didn't go so smoothly. We ask them to not give up on the goal of their child who is blind wearing the belt cane most of the day, every day. With a little patience and understanding, they can help their child through the transition, it is sometimes darkest before the dawn. Dear Grace: My child is two-year-old and when I tried to put the belt cane on, she rejected it. She doesn't like to wear the belt cane, what should I do? Sincerely, A Family Dear A Family: We believe you and we are here to help! Yes, little toddlers and preschoolers who are blind and mobility visually impaired will have opinions. The reason one child appears to reject wearing the belt cane may not always be the same as another child's reason. Adults can help their children learn to accept the belt cane, once the adult is convinced of its benefit. If you prefer your child who is blind to walk without it, pay close attention to the speed of the gait and the outcome. Do you want your child to walk a lot or a little, fast or slow? If you have a younger child who is sighted and he is walking faster, more frequently and with greater ability than his sister who is blind, understand, that is because she is not wearing her belt cane. She does not have the same safety to build self-confidence. Mom turns the lights on for her sighted brother- he can't turn them on for himself. Mom needs to put the belt cane on his blind sister- she can't put her cane on for herself. There is no reason a blind toddler or preschooler should not be able to walk as fast or as well as her younger brother. The sooner you begin providing the belt cane the better. Just remember Rome was not built in a day. You know your child best, you will find a way to achieve your goal, once you're sure. Keep smiling, Grace When 2-year-old's resist wearing the belt canes When a two-year-old child who is blind or mobility visually impaired is exerting important social behavior of defiance it has an unruly look and feel to it, and it may just be age-appropriate. In fact, this term Terrible Twos is found in most dictionaries. Terrible two behaviors are a good sign- because it shows the child has strength of character. Of course, the problem is at 2- years - a child doesn't know right from wrong. A saying I grew up learning was "cutting one's nose off to spite one's face"- Not wearing the belt cane keeps your two-year-old at risk whenever he moves about, he doesn't know that, only an adult can teach him the benefit. First, be happy and celebrate the child who is exerting her strong will, but do not make her pay the consequence for her lack of understanding. She is two. She does not know any better. Your two-year-old girl doesn't know to ask for the belt cane, she can only benefit from it when the adult provides her with this safety device (like a car seat). It is the rare child who never protested being strapped into a car seat, but as adults we must insist for the child's safety. Helpful Hints Introduction - introduce the belt cane - allow the child to touch it and talk about it before putting it on. Distraction - don't make it about the belt cane at all- make putting on the belt cane the least interesting thing about the activity- As you put on the belt cane say, "we're going to toy shelf and pick out your favorite toy". Interaction - make sure the frame of the belt contacts people and things along the way. It is important that a child who cannot see get lots of tactile feedback from the frame. Contraction - (it rhymes?) make a contract- for example, say "if you keep the belt cane on, we'll go to the trampoline and there we'll take it off and jump for five minutes." Keep clear in your mind when you can't see to avoid collisions, there is no benefit to walking without this protective frame. Q. It seems more awkward- each time the frame contacts something A. Yes, this is a WIN - because each time the belt cane frame contacts something is one time less the child's body contacts without warning. Q. My child pushes, pulls at the handles and belt. A. Making minor adjustments, figuring out its size, shape and impact- exploring the device is good. Q. My child just wants to stand still. A. Physical therapists count standing still as a positive sign. Q. My child stands and twists scraping the frame on the floor ahead. A. This is information gathering- clear path, smooth floor. Q. My child knocks the frame into things to make a noise and bangs it on the ground. A. This is information gathering, the child gains a better understanding of what's around him by exploring objects with the cane frame and tips. Parent's can control and redirect this behavior when it seems excessive or out of place. Rule of threes for belt cane success Make putting on belt cane part of the morning routine -get dressed, put on cane, go brush teeth, etc. When wearing the belt cane help the child free herself and right the cane (less and less overtime). Leave it on, leave it on, leave it on ----------------------------------------------------- Podcast Update Tun in Monday March 1, 2021 to hear Geri Darko, COMS kick off our month of talking with O&M specialists about their experiences with the pediatric belt cane. Geri discusses her experiences with her two students Jack and Wyatt! Geri is a fan, she is the only O&M at her school and the first to bring belt canes to Montana. Join us in March To listen: https://www.safetoddles.org/podcast Tik Tok Update In February we created weekly one-minute videos set to popular music 1. All about da belt, no trouble (set to Meghan Trainor) 2. Running with self-confidence (set to Beyonce') 3. Standing-up on my own (set to Lenny Kravitz) --------------------------------- How to Obtain a Cane Purchase a cane - $180* per cane set - cane ships approximately in three to five weeks. Free Canes - We are committed providing free canes to any child in need, because belt canes are essential safety equipment that enables toddlers with visual impairments to develop to their full potential. Option one - provide videos and feedback - cane ships in two to three months. ​ ​Safe Toddles seeks families and professionals to join our video library by contributing before and with belt cane videos. These videos assist in improving belt cane design, demonstrating outcomes to potential users and demonstrates the abilities of toddlers and preschoolers who are blind once they acquire consistently safe mobility. Everyone who is obtaining a pediatric belt cane is encouraged to consider participating by submitting videos to us - we need you! Option two - Submit measurements cane ships in four to six months. ​ *Limited quantity of reduced cost cane sets available to families (submit in-take form, use buy now to pay with a credit/debit card) ---------------------------------- Save the Dates! March 18, 2021 Dr. Grace Ambrose-Zaken will be presenting double session the importance of safe mobility to achieving developmental milestones for children who are congenitally blind or severe visually impaired Webinar 10 to 11 AM PST To Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZElc-qtrjoqGtbVz8BkcTNNN8NwCflt4rIx March 26, 2021 Dr. Grace Ambrose-Zaken will be presenting double session the importance of safe mobility to achieving developmental milestones for children who are congenitally blind or severe visually impaired at the Rocky Mountain Early Childhood Conference Part I 8:30 to 10 am MST and Part II 10:30 to noon MST To Register: https://denverearlychildhood.org/trainings-events/rocky-mountain-early-childhood-conference/ --------------------------------------- DONATE Help Safe Toddles give children who are blind the freedom of independent mobility. ​ www.safetoddles.org/donate

Children born blind and mobility visually impaired need safe mobility to thrive. Mobility visually impaired (MVI) is a term used to describe someone whose visual impairment impedes their ability to visually avoid obstacles when walking or running. Videos of 19, one-year-old children who are MVI and blind (MVI/B) aged 14 to 23 months, showed each child was being taught to walk absent any mobility tools. This is to say that before belt cane, the one-year-old toddlers who were MVI/B were standing or walking in their videos, their vision impairment was such that they lacked the ability to visually avoid obstacles, and none of them were protected by a mobility tool. Videos of two-year-old children (n=21) with MVI/B, three-year-old children (n=33), four-year-old children (N=12), and five to 10-year-old children (n=12), were mostly walking without mobility tools. However, there were an assortment of videos that demonstrated these children employing various mobility tools unsuccessfully. The devices included long, white canes, adapted mobility devices, hooples, hula hoops, various PVC crafted cubes, reverse walkers, heavy wooden chairs, rolling carts, and strollers. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate that the concerns raised by the confirmation that 97 children aged one to ten years who were MVI/B lacked effective mobility tools for the purpose of moving about independently. This will be demonstrated by listing and describing the five requirements of an effective mobility tool for someone who is MVI/B. When provided an effective mobility tool, children who are MVI/B are motivated to independently move about, explore, run and demonstrate self-confidence. This article identifies five requirements to judge whether the mobility device is the correct one for someone who is MVI/B. The five requirements that need to be met by the user who is employing the mobility tool. When employing the mobility tool, the user needs independent, consistent, reliable path information: 1. Independent: used without assistance from another person. 2. Consistent: the device can be used most of the day, every day. 3. Reliable: device locates most of the obstacles in the path 4. Path: device detects obstacles in the forward horizontal path width of the user 5. Information: The device checks the area upon which the next step will be trod with sufficient reaction time. When considering a mobility tool for a toddler consider that independent does not mean that toddlers with MVI/B will be responsible for locating or maintaining the device. Instead, toddlers with MVI/B will need adults to still be responsible for ensuring that the device they have is provided to them. By nature, toddlers depend on adults to provide them with the tools they need for safety. Instead, independent means, once the device is in place, toddlers will need little assistance from the adult to maintain its position or functioning. While there is no such thing as perfect functioning in devices operated by toddlers, the more their mobility device operates independently with them, the greater ease they will have to explore and learn. Any device that tethers them to an adult reduces their creativity and independence. However, as toddlers they will still require adult supervision. Consistent means the device is able to be used most of the day, every day- as often as the light switch is turned on for a sighted child, the child with MVI/B needs the same, consistent access to path information. An easy and important way for sighted people to understand toddlers with MVI/B need for consistent mobility tool access is that for all intents and purposes toddlers with MVI/B are walking in the dark whenever they are without their independent mobility device. This explains why they trip over obstacles, crash into people and objects and are more likely to fall down the stairs when they are walking absent a mobility tool. Reliable means the mobility tool will be in the right place at the right time to detect the obstacles in the path they are walking on most every time they are walking or running. They need to be able to trust the sensory information from the tool is relevant to their safety. When the mobility tool says stop, that is because there is an obstacle one inch tall or taller blocking the path. When the mobility tool dips down ahead of them, that is reliably because there is a down step. When the mobility tool changes vibration feedback, that means it has detected a change in surface that might challenge their balance. A reliable mobility tool teaches children with MVI/B to trust themselves. Path of travel is the width of the person; it is also importantly the surface upon which both feet will trod. The mobility tool checks the surface ahead of both feet because both feet need a stable, clear path. The mobility tool checks the width of the body because the hips or shoulders may be wider than the width of the base of support created by the two feet. The more efficient walker has a narrow base, the feet swing near each other. The younger walker, 15-months of age, for example, notably exhibits a less efficient, wide-based gait. However, the wide-gait, with experience with effective, consistent path information narrows. Therefore, the mobility tool checks the surface ahead of the feet and the width of the body to make sure forward motion is through a path wide enough for the child. Information the most important purpose of a mobility device is communicating information that is otherwise not available to children who are MVI/B because their visual sense is compromised. Consider that lack of moving about is not due to lack of visual motivation and instead a response to negative stimuli of unexpected and unavoidable contacts with objects and others. These unavoidable contacts occur when they lack important information about how close or far away, they are from people and things. We all appreciate having the information about obstacles before our body contacts them. We also appreciate being able to decide whether we will explore objects further with our hands or ignore them. Nobody likes to be unexpectedly poked. Table 1 lists a few of the devices that have been tried with toddlers and preschool learners with MVI/B and their mobility device requirement score. One point for each basic requirement provided by the mobility device: For the device to be selected, it must score a five. Less than five means it is missing essential safety requirements and should not be provided to the child for the purpose of daily travel needs. Only one device scored a 5 for toddlers and preschoolers Pediatric belt cane offers toddlers and preschool learners all five requirements. The adult does need to put the belt cane on the child. Depending on the age and ability of the child, the adult may need to adjust the position of the cane frame for the child when it becomes off center. However, mostly the pediatric belt cane is a tool that toddlers and preschool learners with MVI/B can independently achieve consistent, reliable, path information. The remaining devices scored less than 5 for toddlers and preschool learners Regular white cane- to provide consistent reliable path information must be swung back and forth, one step, one swipe. This is not something children under five are able to do. Therefore, while it may be provided during instructional time, in between those lessons, the pediatric belt cane is needed by children aged five and younger. Adaptive Mobility Device – whether in the shape of a “rectangle”, “capital I” or “push broom”, toddlers with MVI/B have difficulty maintaining a grip on the device and keeping it in position. The fact that the device can be dropped means that it is unable to be consistent or reliable. When it is positioned correctly by the child, it provides path information. Preschool learners may have better success with rectangular adapted mobility devices, but this requires adults to be diligent about their use in all circumstances. Hoople – this device is hand-held, and it has a tear-drop shape. Because it it is hand-held, it cannot be consistent and reliable for toddlers. For preschool learners, it’s shape provides only a narrow contact with the surface, it doesn’t provide full path coverage, the tear-drop shape compromises the information it provides, especially when held off to one side. Push toys maybe independently employed, but are also easy for a toddler to lose interest in and let go of. The can be very difficult to steer and poor posture may be needed to move them. Strollers, wooden chairs and rolling carts are temporary contraptions that have no independent outcomes for a toddler with MVI/B. Each time you employ any type of mobility tool ask yourself what independence means for toddlers with MVI/B. Independence means once the adult has provided it, the child can independently move about with minimal adult support. What about hula hoops and reverse walkers? Consider recent videos showing children with MVI/B inside the hula hoop being led about by an adult. No part of the hula hoop is touching the ground. Therefore, hula hoops score a zero – as they are providing no independent, reliable, consistent, path, or information. Reverse Walkers Children with MVI/B who are not motor impaired, are provided reverse walkers for balance. The videos we see show some independence with them, but the open front indicates they do not provide the information needed for the child’s feet. The rank of this reverse walkers is not as important as it isn’t a mobility tool for someone who is MVI/B, instead in these instances the reverse walker is supplied by professionals outside of the field of orientation and mobility in response to the consequence of toddlers with MVI/B growing up without mobility tools that meet the five requirements and the result is that they are unable to maintain balance and develop an ineffective gait and slow pace when walking because they cannot see where they are going. If you can't see where you're going, you risk injury. That is why we need to find better mobility tools to meet the complex, diverse needs of children born MVI/B. Pediatric belt canes are an important advancement in a field that is thirsty for innovation. Consider the needs of older adults who are blind and people who are blind who also use wheelchairs- they need to better solutions than they have now. We seek better tools to meet these needs. In order to find answers, you must first ask questions.