Special Needs
Find support for parents of children with special needs. Learn how to advocate for your child, raise funds for needed equipment and find helpful organizations.
Filter by: Advocacy, Assistive Technology, Autism, Schools for the Blind, Support, Visual Impairment
Crawling, Visual Impairment
Crawling & Climbing for Blind Babies
Crawling and climbing are two very important developmental milestones for babies and children who are blind. Some babies may skip these steps or reach them later than their typically developing...
Advocacy, Visual Impairment
Learning Advocacy When You Have Low Vision
L. Penny Rosenblum is a TVI, a parent and student advocate, and has a vision impairment. She writes about what it was like learning to advocate for herself as a...
Visual Impairment
Positive Eye: Training and resources for practitioners working with children with vision impairment
Positive Eye was established five years ago to offer a consultancy and training service to professionals and parents on meeting the educational needs of children and young people with visual...
Holiday Crafts and Ideas, Visual Impairment
Decorating Tactile Easter Eggs with Your Blind Child
Tips and ideas for making accessible tactile Easter eggs with kids who are blind or who have multiple disabilities.
Communication, Visual Impairment
Teaching Your Visually Impaired Child Sign Language
Jennie writes about how she taught her son, Max, to sign. Max is totally blind and does have a few verbal words, but using signs to augment his early communication...
Education, Special Needs, Visual Impairment
Thoughts from a Preschool Teacher About Teaching a Blind Student
Heidi interviews her son's mainstream preschool teacher and asks her how she prepared to introduce a blind student to her classroom.
Communication, Visual Impairment
Helping your blind child develop effective listening skills
Learning to listen carefully and distinguish between different sounds is an important skill for any child, but espeically for children with visual impairments. Lesley Potgieter explains how to assess your...
Support
To my best friends and support network that I have never met
As the mother of a special needs child I need friends and support. Where is the best place for me to find a support network? Surprise! That's what social media...
iPad Apps and Accessibility, Special Needs
5 Ways to Get a Free iPad for Your Special Needs Child!
Just because iPads are cheaper than other pieces of assistive equipment doesn't necessarily make them affordable! Here are five tips on how to get grants and funding for a free...
Sensory Activities, Visual Impairment
How to Host a Sensory Play Party for Visually Impaired Kids
If your child has a sensory impairment like blindness should you still search out sensory play activities? Absolutely! Learn how to make sensory play accessible and host a sensory play...
Assistive Technology, Communication
Switch Play: Using a switch for communication and play!
For children who are non-verbal or have low motor coordination, switches can be a great way to augment their play. If you're just getting started with a switch you may...
Education, Visual Impairment
Transitioning Your Blind Child to Preschool
Megan writes about her daughter, Ava, transitioning from Early Intervention to preschool. Ava attended the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children and has isolated bilateral anophthalmia.
Eye Conditions and Syndromes, Visual Impairment
My child has LCA and presses her eyes. Is this normal? What can we do about it?
If your blind child is pressing or poking their eyes you may be looking for information on why they are doing this and what you can do to help them...
Special Needs, Support
What I Wish Someone Had Told Me When My Child was First Diagnosed with a Disability
If you could go back in time to when your child was first diagnosed with a disability, what would you tell yourself? What advice would you give?
Autism, Behavior
6 Strategies for Addressing Self-Injurious Behaviors
Self injurious behaviors are, unfortunately, not unusual for kids with special needs. These behaviors could be anything from biting, hitting or even banging their head on the walls or furniture....
Advocacy
5 Tips to Becoming a Legislative Advocate for Your Special Needs Child
Penny discusses how to become more active in advocating for your child through the legislative system. When you have a child with a disability you need to be heard -...
Advocacy, Visual Impairment
This Blind Boy Can! How to Teach Your Child Independence and Start a Movement
Sarah writes about the journey her family has traveled as they've taught their blind son Lucas to be as independent as possible. And now she wants to start a movement!...
Special Needs
Beyond Bake Sales: How to Raise Money So You Can Attend a Family Conference
Conferences for families of children with disabilities are the perfect places to meet people and learn about your child's condition, but they can be so expensive! Here are ideas that...
Holiday Crafts and Ideas, Visual Impairment
Talking Easter Eggs: Making Easter Accessible for Kids who are Blind
Talking or beeping easter eggs make Easter much more fun and inclusive for children who are blind or visually impaired. We'll show you a couple of places where you can...
Assistive Technology, Eye Conditions and Syndromes, iPad Apps and Accessibility
The “Big 3 Tool Kit” for Children with CVI: PLUS the 20 Best CVI-Friendly iPad Apps!
Children with CVI often prefer clear, crisp images with little background clutter. They respond well to high contrast, bright colors (especially yellow or red), movement and LIGHTS!
Cooking and Kitchen Play, Visual Impairment
What can your blind child learn while baking in the kitchen?
The kitchen is the perfect place to teach your visually impaired child important life lessons. Think about all the things you learn just while making cookies!
Autism, Behavior, Visual Impairment
Is My Blind Child Autistic? One Parent’s Experience
Mary discusses trying to determine if her daughter's behaviors were related to her visual impairment or a symptom of autism.
Behavior, Visual Impairment
Plays Well with Others: Helping Your Blind Child Develop Social Skills
Sometimes children with vision impairments can find it difficult to be around other children. If your child has this problem, then you know how hard it can be when your...
Communication, Visual Impairment
You Can Say That Again! Echolalia in Visually Impaired Children
Learn why children who are visually impaired repeat back what they hear, and how parents can help minimize repetition in a constructive way.