Jesus is still, fortunately, a very outgoing and active youngster who is pretty much fearless. I was so thankful when I first met him that his mother didn't rein him in too much, but let him explore with wild abandon. Exploring for a blind child is a "hands-on" endeavor. I remember coming to his preschool class one day on my rounds from school to school to find him sitting on one of his hands and repetitively pressing one key on the braillewriter to make the letter "a". He looked absolutely miserable and my heart sunk. The teaching assistant had insisted he learn to write his name and like the other sighted students, practice his letters. The excitement he always had for learning was gone and at the sound of my voice he ran to me and jumped in my arms.

There's a lot more to that story, but what I want you to consider is your hands. How aware are you of what they touch? Of where you touch someone? Of how you touch? Of the depth, direction, and duration of your touch? All these factors are registered in the "touchee" and relate to the receiver's experience of comfort or discomfort. A little too long, a little too deep, a little too much movement, or a little too close to a sensitive spot, and a red flag is registered in the receiver, usually subconsciously. No wonder people have difficulty understanding when touch is appropriate or inappropriate. More later.

Paula Jeane, Ph.D.
lighten up! learning
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Founder of The Touch-Ability Project