Twinkle Toe Shoes cause epileptic seizures?

[PrincessMomto2]

I can't believe this post is still going. Only on DIS.

 

[Jennasis]

I agree, kids can be distracted by anything. Instead of banning them why doesn't the schools do something useful that would serve the kids for life and
TEACH them how to ignore and work around distractions! How are these kids going to work in college or in cubicles at work.

Oh please. They'll get along just fine. Besides, no one in their right mind is going to be wearing light-up disco shoes to the office.

 

[Toad_Passenger]

Oh please. They'll get along just fine. Besides, no one in their right mind is going to be wearing light-up disco shoes to the office.

You obviously have never worked in an I.T. department. I've seen light up shoes, striped stockings, hair of various colors. I will say, though, hardest working people I've ever dealt with!

 

[Jennasis]

You obviously have never worked in an I.T. department. I've seen light up shoes, striped stockings, hair of various colors. I will say, though, hardest working people I've ever dealt with!

No no no...I said people in their RIGHT MIND would never do it. IT folk (like my DH) are obviously not in their right mind.

 

[rodeo65]

I have no idea if you are lying but let me put it a better way. While I may notice them (and I don't notice them) they are not noticeable in a distractable way. To me they are no more noticeable than having tinkerbell on your shoes. You look and think "cute" and then it is off the radar.

I think that a school should make reasonable accomodations for every child. However- the rest of the school is wearing them! The alleged (since we don't even know if there is a child) sufferer is going to come across these kids everywhere. Is the kid going to eat lunch and go on the playground? Are they going to gym class? While I would happily do what I could to help someone who is going to help the OP? She bought her child shoes that were acceptable according to the school code. Now they are not- regardless of the reason - so who is going to pay for new shoes? It doesn't matter if the shoes were $50 or $1. This mistake/change is going to now cost another family money and to be quite honest not all families have the extra or want to spend it when they bought a perfectly good pair of shoes in the first place. Who is going to accomodate this child that needs shoes to wear to school?

I'm only about half way through this thread - wow it got long fast - so I don't know if this has come up yet. The bolded part...we have a similar disagreement between DH and I over "noticability" on a different subject.

We've just moved into a new house. Across the street there is a dog that yaps incessently. All day, all through the evenings. It gets left outside often or the windows in the house are left open. It's just the noisiest dog EVER! And piercing - it's small so just yappy! Even when the family is home, it yaps.

It has driven my DH almost around the bend. He complains about this dog many times EVERY day. He works from home, so that is about hourly. THAT is driving ME nuts - the complaining.

I notice the dog - but not KWIM? It's there in the background but it doesn't bug me the way it does him. I can hear it start and then just kind of tune it out. He, apparently is incapable of tuning it out. I don't get that. He doesn't get how I can't "hear" it, and why it doesn't bug me the way it does him. Two people exposed to the exact same stimulus at the same time for the same quantity of time and we reactly in a completely opposite manner. Not everyone is built the same and because you can look at the shoes, or not look at them and they have no effect on you, for someone else it may be nails on the chalkboard (or migraine inducing).

Now I have to read the other half of this thread and see what the outcome has been with the OP's school. So far other kids were wearing them but not other kids in her DD's class.

 

[dzorn]

According to one poster (maybe the OP?) the company says that the shoes do not flash in the range that most commonly causes seizures. That does not rule out the possibility of migraines being induced by the shoes, however, or seizures in those rare people who are sensitive to things outside the usual range.

The frequency range they gave was not the same frequency range that the Epilepsy Foundation gave as the range for seizures so that is why I was wondering if they gave the actual frequency of the shoes.

Denise in MI

 

[VeganCupcake]

Wow after reading a lot of these posts I have come to 2 conclusions

1. Don't buy fancy shoes for DS when he is ready for school
&
2. Tonight I'm going to hug my son tight and thank God for his good health & be grateful that all I have to worry about is buying cheap shoes and peanut free lunch supplies when he starts school.

 

[onescgirl]

After reading these post I have come to conclusions:

1. There are no children who have had a seizure from Twinkle Toes.
2. There are no children or adults who have suffered migraines from Twinkle Toes.
3. There are a lot of adults that say staring down at a child's shoes 'would' cause them a migraine.
4. There are a lot of adults that must not know how to 'not' stare at a object that would cause them a migraine.
5. Some people do not realize that you do not keep your head 12" from someones feet, like the distance the video camera was in the Twinkle Toe video.
6. I do not for one minute think these shoes are a distraction and it is not the reason for complaint about shoes.
7. If the worst distraction a school has is lights on a shoe, then that is the best school in America.
8. Teachers deal with distractions greater than lights on shoes (that you don't see unless you're looking at them) I just had to add that last part . Examples would be the child that does not stop talking to neighbor during lesson, the tattle-tale of the class, the bully of the class, parents complaining about non-existing issues, etc...
9. If a teacher cannot handle distractions they have chosen the wrong profession. (I'm not talking about our teacher, she rocks!)
10. I'm glad I bought my DD these very cute shoes. She will not be little girl much longer. I'm enjoying the little girly things as long as I can.
11. The principle told me in car line today not to worry about the shoes, there is no problem with shoes, DD can wear them.
12. DD will be Twinkling her way through this school year.
13. I am twinkling my way out of this issue as it has been solved.

 

[ems_mom]

I confess I didn't make it through all 28 pages when I came across this thread, just the first 20. So if I'm repeating someone else, I apologize.

I truly believe that if all the people upset with the school nurse's request had ever witnessed a grand mal seizure first hand, they would be more understanding. Yes it is inconvenient and expensive to buy new gym shoes. But totally worth it if it spares someone else the experience of a grand mal seizure.

I know from personal experience that flashing lights (and other peculiar things) can trigger seizures. They see or smell or whatever the trigger is, experience an aura and know the seizure is imminent. (Like the office employee.) Imagine a child having to deal with this threat...an oncoming aura everyday, that she/he couldn't avoid. Very scary.

$50 is a lot of money but not enough to risk a child's health and wellbeing. I am surprised by all the callous responses to people with seizure disorders.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

After reading these post I have come to conclusions:

1. There are no children who have had a seizure from Twinkle Toes.
2. There are no children or adults who have suffered migraines from Twinkle Toes.
3. There are a lot of adults that say staring down at a child's shoes 'would' cause them a migraine.
4. There are a lot of adults that must not know how to 'not' stare at a object that would cause them a migraine.
5. Some people do not realize that you do not keep your head 12" from someones feet, like the distance the video camera was in the Twinkle Toe video.
6. I do not for one minute think these shoes are a distraction and it is not the reason for complaint about shoes.
7. If the worst distraction a school has is lights on a shoe, then that is the best school in America.
8. Teachers deal with distractions greater than lights on shoes (that you don't see unless you're looking at them) I just had to add that last part . Examples would be the child that does not stop talking to neighbor during lesson, the tattle-tale of the class, the bully of the class, parents complaining about non-existing issues, etc...
9. If a teacher cannot handle distractions they have chosen the wrong profession. (I'm not talking about our teacher, she rocks!)
10. I'm glad I bought my DD these very cute shoes. She will not be little girl much longer. I'm enjoying the little girly things as long as I can.
11. The principle told me in car line today not to worry about the shoes, there is no problem with shoes, DD can wear them.
12. DD will be Twinkling her way through this school year.
13. I am twinkling my way out of this issue as it has been solved.

 

[Scurvy]

After reading these post I have come to conclusions:

1. There are no children who have had a seizure from Twinkle Toes.
2. There are no children or adults who have suffered migraines from Twinkle Toes.
3. There are a lot of adults that say staring down at a child's shoes 'would' cause them a migraine.
4. There are a lot of adults that must not know how to 'not' stare at a object that would cause them a migraine.
5. Some people do not realize that you do not keep your head 12" from someones feet, like the distance the video camera was in the Twinkle Toe video.
6. I do not for one minute think these shoes are a distraction and it is not the reason for complaint about shoes.
7. If the worst distraction a school has is lights on a shoe, then that is the best school in America.
8. Teachers deal with distractions greater than lights on shoes (that you don't see unless you're looking at them) I just had to add that last part . Examples would be the child that does not stop talking to neighbor during lesson, the tattle-tale of the class, the bully of the class, parents complaining about non-existing issues, etc...
9. If a teacher cannot handle distractions they have chosen the wrong profession. (I'm not talking about our teacher, she rocks!)
10. I'm glad I bought my DD these very cute shoes. She will not be little girl much longer. I'm enjoying the little girly things as long as I can.
11. The principle told me in car line today not to worry about the shoes, there is no problem with shoes, DD can wear them.
12. DD will be Twinkling her way through this school year.
13. I am twinkling my way out of this issue as it has been solved.

Congrats, OP. It's great that your child gets to wear her flashy shoes. It's also great that you learned some new things. It's a shame several of them are wrong.

What I learned from this thread:
1. People believe what they want to believe.
2. It's easier for some people to believe that others are lying than to believe that they might not know everything.
3.Some people believe that everyone is exactly the same. They believe if one person can't notice something, no one can. If one person doesn't have migraines or seizures, no one does. And no first hand accounts to the contrary will ever convince them to even consider the possibility, because clearly they are experts on everyone.

I hope your daughter and her classmates all have a great migraine and seizure free year.

 

[HsvTeacher]

1. These obnoxious, blinking shoes are a HUGE distraction, especially when five girls are wearing them at the same time, and they are constantly blinking.

2. It is also a HUGE distraction when said girls are constantly hitting their feet against their desks trying to make the shoes blink.

3. The above distractions, along with the other distractions that happen every day in classrooms, make it more difficult for some students to learn.

4. I take my job, educating children, very seriously. I like to keep distractions to a minimum so my students get the best education possible.

5. In my classroom, you CAN see the blinking when not looking directly at the shoes, because they are extremely bright.

6. There is a time and place for everything.

ETA: Come to think of it, I've had four migraines since school started. Could it possibly be the Twinkle Toes that are causing them? I may have to do some research of my own.

 

[HsvTeacher]

Scurvy, I just realized we're from the same city! Great minds think alike!

 

[C.Ann]

Congrats, OP. It's great that your child gets to wear her flashy shoes. It's also great that you learned some new things. It's a shame several of them are wrong.

What I learned from this thread:

1. People believe what they want to believe.

2. It's easier for some people to believe that others are lying than to believe that they might not know everything.

3.Some people believe that everyone is exactly the same. They believe if one person can't notice something, no one can. If one person doesn't have migraines or seizures, no one does. And no first hand accounts to the contrary will ever convince them to even consider the possibility, because clearly they are experts on everyone.


I hope your daughter and her classmates all have a great migraine and seizure free year.

Excellent summation!

 

[ems_mom]

OK, I just got through pages 20-28. And I do think most people seem to be very insensitive, if not callous, about a child's seizure disorder.

It's not about the school having to be PC "whatever that means". Its about the health of a child.

Some posters seem cold, very cold. So your child's fashion should come before another child's health?

 

[Scurvy]

Scurvy, I just realized we're from the same city! Great minds think alike!

I was out at Little Rosie's the other day and all of a sudden my husband said "There are those light up shoes!" and it was a little girl in Twinkle Toes. My mom, who is a retired teacher, was horrified. Her first response was to say that if her students had worn those shoes it would have given her a blind spell. (She has occular migraines.) They both carried on about how terrible the shoes were. Neither one could understand how anyone could not notice the shoes. Maybe it was one of your students!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

OK, I just got through pages 20-28. And I do think most people seem to be very insensitive, if not callous, about a child's seizure disorder.

It's not about the school having to be PC "whatever that means". Its about the health of a child.

Some posters seem cold, very cold. So your child's fashion should come before another child's health?

I think this is where we disagree. No one was saying they didn't care about anyone else's child. Some of us simply thought that it wasn't handled in the proper way. Since the principal has now backtracked and said it's okay, and the shoes are NOT a problem, it was probably one of two things -- an irritated teacher or a jealous student/parent. If it was indeed a medical issue, all children should have been banned from wearing them, not just one child. And if it's a distraction, then ban them and say it's a distraction. If OP hadn't questioned this, her daughter would be the only child in school who was not allowed to wear these shoes. How is that fair?

 

[mamacatnv]

OP great summation.

What I learned from this thread.
People have an inherent need to be right.

 

[HsvTeacher]

I was out at Little Rosie's the other day and all of a sudden my husband said "There are those light up shoes!" and it was a little girl in Twinkle Toes. My mom, who is a retired teacher, was horrified. Her first response was to say that if her students had worn those shoes it would have given her a blind spell. (She has occular migraines.) They both carried on about how terrible the shoes were. Neither one could understand how anyone could not notice the shoes. Maybe it was one of your students!

My DH, who also works at one of our wonderful schools, was telling me about a pair of "horrible, blinking shoes" that one of his students was wearing. Apparently, Twinkle Toes are taking over our city! Cover your eyes!

 

[Elmo9607]

I can't believe this post is still going. Only on DIS.

I second this.