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
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.
Advocacy
An open letter to protestors from a special needs mom
I support your right to have your voice heard, but I have one request: Please keep your protest on the sidewalk.
Light Play, Toys, Visual Impairment
Top 10 Light Toys for Kids Who Are Visually Impaired
It may seem like $10 won't get you much these days, but here you'll find the best inexpensive light toys for kids who are visually impaired!
Parenting, Visual Impairment
My baby is blind… What do I do?
When your baby is diagnosed with a visual impairment you may at first feel lost. What do you do? Where do you begin?
Education, Visual Impairment
Diagnostic Evaluations help guide educational plans for blind students
Perkins School offers diagnostic evaluations for blind and visually impaired children ages 3-22.
Support
Please Don’t Feel Sorry for Me or My Special Needs Child
I don't want my friends or family to feel sorry for me or for my child. I'm not saying this in a tough "I can handle this so you don't...
Eye Conditions and Syndromes, Visual Impairment
Top 8 Misconceptions about Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI)
Do you know the facts of Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI)? Here are 8 myths you may have heard that just aren't true!
Education, Special Needs
Funding Accessible Learning Tools in 4 Easy Steps
The problem isn't that you need to find the perfect learning tool for your child... the problem is finding a way to afford the perfect learning tool for your child!
Visual Impairment
Visiting a Tactile Museum with Your Blind Child
Tactile museums are designed for visitors to touch each exhibit and experience the art and history through their fingers.
Support
The one thing I haven’t learned as a special needs parent
A lot of people write about what they've learned as a special needs parent, but there's one thing I still haven't learned yet.
Assistive Technology, Visual Impairment
Is Google Planing to Cure Blindness?
With recent patent filings and new applications for Google Glass, it does look like Google is interested in getting into the vision business.
Visual Impairment
Can Someone Who is Blind Be a Parent?
The Parenting with Vision Loss series from VisionAware provides helpful tips and advice from a genuine expert.
Braille and Literacy, Visual Impairment
Do Blind Kids Still Need to Learn Braille?
From screen readers like JAWS on your computer or VoiceOver on your iPhone to audio books and MP3s, there are multiple ways to listen to words rather than read them,...
Education, Special Needs
When our school gave up on my special needs son
Are you a parent of a special needs child whose school isn't working hard enough to help him reach his goals? A message to you: Never give up.
Education, Visual Impairment
Is Early Intervention Always the Best Approach for a Blind Baby?
Anastasia writes about her daughter Lydia, who has anophthalmia. Lydia is still a baby and Anastasia has decided that Early Intervention services are not helping Lydia develop so she's opting...
Assistive Technology, Visual Impairment
NFB and Amazon Work Together for Improved Kindle Accessibility
NFB joins forces with Amazon to improve Kindle accessibility for blind students
Assistive Technology
Get a computer for your blind child!
Computers for the Blind provides computer equipment for families of children who are blind.
Assistive Technology
FCC Proposes Increased Audio Description Access
The FCC seeks comments on the rules proposed to increase access to audio description for blind viewers.
Math and Science, Visual Impairment
Tactile Caliper Provides Braille Output for Blind Users
The Tactile Caliper puts measuring to the 1/16" in the hands of blind users with braille output!