"Milagro is now famous in Australia. My colleague Tricia D'Apice showed parts of her DVD at the South Pacific Educators of the Visually Impaired Conference for teachers of the visually impaired, to rave reviews. I have also sent it out to two different families so far, who both were so inspired by it. They have really taken to heart your message about not over-protecting their visually impaired child, at a level that I think is possible only when the message comes from another parent. These families are also in touch with other families with visually impaired children in their home state of Queensland and over the Internet, so I am sure there will be a ripple effect.

I also thought the Ed Weihenmayer quotes were brilliant. I agree strongly with him about physical confidence being the base for so many later skills.

Please accept my thanks again for creating such a wonderful resource for families around the world."

Elizabeth Bates
Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children Teleschool
North Rocks, New South Wales
Australia

"I showed the DVD to a group of teachers of students with visual impairments and they LOVED it! We will be ordering more copies of the DVD so the teachers can use them when visiting families who have children who are blind or visually impaired. Thanks so much for a wonderful training tool. It will be so beneficial for other parents to see how blind children need to be allowed and encouraged to move about as much as possible and explore. Thanks again!"

Deborah Thompson
Educational Specialist for VI/O&M
Education Service Center, Region 20
San Antonio, Texas

"I am so pleased that we have a DVD such as this to share with families and professionals. It is powerful to see how a child can learn and grow through movement and exploration. Being able to see a child over time allows for one to observe how the experiences a child has at one point in time influence her development down the line. Milagro is a beautiful child with motivated parents. What great role models!"

L. Penny Rosenblum, Ph.D.

University of Arizona

"I can't begin to tell you how excited I am to own this DVD. I loved your trapeze. I loved seeing her play the trombone. I was thrilled to see Milagro doing downhill skiing.

I thank you for taking the time to share Milagro's story so that other parents can learn from her experiences. I can't wait to start showing this DVD."

"Samuel Gridley Howe is best remembered as an innovator in education for the blind and deaf was quoted, "Let them run, better the bump or the scrap on the knee than the rust of inactivity."

This timeless sentiment is the theme of an important new DVD that is the inspiring story about Milagro Sato, an energetic and engaging (and as the title suggests), at times a wild and active child.

The 25-minute DVD is narrated by Grace Tiscareño-Sato, Milagro's mother, as she tells the story of her daughter Milagro, now in kindergarten.

Milagro, her name meaning "miracle" in Spanish, was born prematurely. She developed Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) and auditory neuropathy.

The DVD follows Milagro's motor development from birth to her current age of 6 years. Using video clips and photos, the viewer will see how this marvelous child, with tremendous energy and will, grows to walk, dance, swing and eventually ski. The lessons that Grace Tiscareno-Sato shares are not just her own--she quotes parents and other educators to promote a philosophy of letting children set their own limits.

Parents, Educators of the visually impaired, and Early Childhood specialists would benefit from viewing this DVD and sharing it with other families they may work with. This DVD imparts the important value of encouraging movement, especially active movement, for children who are blind and deaf-blind."

Attendees of live presentation of this content (CTEVH 2008,
Los Angeles):