Amber Bobnar

Originally from Hawaii, Amber and her family moved to Massachusetts to be closer to Boston Children’s Hospital where her son, Ivan, now receives medical care.

 

She has a Master’s degree in English from Tufts University and spends most of her “free time” writing about being a parent of a disabled child on WonderBaby.org. But really most of her time is spent caring for and playing with her son.

Ivan and his mom sitting on a cement bench in a park.

Parenting, Special Needs

Love Languages for Kids With Disabilities: 5 You Might Miss

Learn 5 love languages you might miss in kids with disabilities and special needs, plus simple ways to recognize and respond to their unique signs of connection and affection.

A digital blueprint-style illustration showing a pair of glowing wireframe smart glasses on the left, connected by a horizontal arrow to a stylized wireframe brain on the right. The glasses and brain are drawn with bright blue neon lines against a dark blue grid background, symbolizing advanced vision technology sending information from the glasses to the brain.

Parenting

Could Future Implants Help Blind Kids See?

Learn about new research exploring advanced vision-restoring technology and what these emerging tools could mean for children who are blind or visually impaired.

Ivan sits peacefully in his wheelchair inside a softly lit cathedral, bathed in warm light from stained-glass windows.

Special Needs, Support

The One Thing I’d Tell Every Special Needs Parent

If you could give one piece of advice to parents of kids with disabilities, what would it be? This mom’s surprising answer might change your perspective.

A partially decorated pumpkin wrapped with yellow yarn and a few colorful buttons sits on a wooden table beside a divided container filled with yarn, buttons, and fabric squares, in warm natural light.

Holiday Crafts and Ideas

Sensory Pumpkin Decorating for Kids Who Are Blind

Create a sensory pumpkin with yarn, buttons, and fabric! A fun, non-carving fall craft for blind kids that builds tactile and fine motor skills.

Five Thanksgiving crafts displayed together — a gourd turkey, scented wreath, playdough, textured collage, and gratitude jar.

Holiday Crafts and Ideas

5 Accessible Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired

Celebrate Thanksgiving with five accessible, sensory-rich crafts for kids who are blind or visually impaired.

Happy mother with sad little son reading book at park.

Parenting

How to Use Dialogic Reading to Build Literacy Skills for Kids Who Are Blind

Learn how dialogic reading can boost literacy for blind children. Discover the PEER method and practical tips for interactive storytime.

Illustration of a mother and baby practicing tactile sign language outdoors.

Communication, Visual Impairment

Understanding Tactile Sign Language for Deaf-Blind Children

Tactile sign language allows deaf-blind children to communicate through touch. Multiple forms of tactile sign language can be adapted to meet individual needs.

A medical assistant robot wearing a name tag that says ChatGPT.

Advocacy, Special Needs

How We Built an AI Medical Assistant with ChatGPT (and Why Every Complex Care Family Should Too)

Learn how one family turned medical records into a powerful AI medical assistant using ChatGPT. A practical guide for parents managing complex care.

Teacher having meeting with parent of schoolboy.

IEPs

What Should I Bring to My Child’s First IEP Meeting?

Prepare for your child's first IEP meeting with confidence! Discover exactly what documents to bring, including educational records, medical info, and questions to ask.

Mother cleaning a bottle.

Special Needs

5 Spring Cleaning Tips for Families of Children with Disabilities

Spring cleaning is an opportunity to create a more accessible, organized, and supportive space for your child with disabilities. Declutter, deep clean, and refresh!

Skylar and Peter playing piano together.

Visual Impairment

The Gift of Understanding: How a Young Child Helps His Blind Father Navigate Life

When a parent is blind, it’s natural for people to wonder how their sighted child will adapt. Will they struggle to understand their parent’s needs? Will they feel burdened by...

Three pictures of children being helped by volunteers at May We Help.

Assistive Technology, Support

May We Help: Engineering Independence for People with Disabilities

May We Help is dedicated to designing and building custom solutions that help individuals of all ages achieve mobility, access, and independence, all at no cost.

Br'eye device with dominoes.

Braille and Literacy

Making Braille Fun: Introducing Handi Exceller’s Innovative Learning Tools for Blind Students

Handi Exceller was born from a simple idea: learning braille should be both fun and accessible. The company creates interactive and gamified ways to teach braille.

Sensory wall art in a child's bedroom.

Parenting

Sensory Wall Art: 5 Tips to Create a Room Your Blind or Low-Vision Child Will Love

Even if your child can’t see their surroundings, personalizing and decorating their room with thoughtful, sensory-friendly design can make a big difference in their confidence, independence, and joy. 

An illustration of an android caring for a child in a wheelchair.

Assistive Technology, Special Needs

Caregivers vs Carebots: Are Androids the Future of Disability Care?

Explore the futuristic world of android caregivers and their potential to revolutionize disability care. Are robots the caregivers of tomorrow?