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
![Man trying out the robotic exoskeleton](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/cyberdyne.jpg)
Assistive Technology
Wheelchair or Robotic Exoskeleton?
A Japanese company is working on a robotic exoskeleton that could, in theory, replace wheelchairs and allow for much more natural movement.
![moon](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/moon.jpg)
Math and Science, Visual Impairment
Reach for the Stars! Space Camp for Interested Visually Impaired Students
Space Camp for Interested Visually Impaired Students is a week long camp that takes place at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, coordinated by teachers for the...
![learning to surf](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/surf-camp.jpg)
Play, Visual Impairment
Surf Camp for Blind Kids
Indo Jax Surf School's Visually Impaired Summer Camp takes place at Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina for a week each July.The camp gets bigger every year and includes sighted siblings...
![child on an airplane](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/airplane-child.jpg)
Parenting, Special Needs
Traveling with a Child who is Medically Complex
Traveling with a child who is medically complex can be difficult. Not only do you have all the normal travel woes, but there's medications, medical equipment and emergencies to prepare...
![Two kids bowling](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/bowling_0.jpg)
Behavior, Visual Impairment
Developing Social Skills in Children Who are Blind or Visually Impaired
In this webcast, Sharon Sacks discusses the importance of including social skills instruction when teaching children who are blind or visually impaired.
![girl listening](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/girl-listening.jpg)
Orientation and Mobility, Visual Impairment
Echolocation for Blind Children
Echolocation is the use of sounds to gain information about the environment and surrounding objects. Blind kids can learn to use echolocation to augment traditional orientation and mobility!
![man helping another man who is drowning](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/sos-help.jpg)
Support, Visual Impairment
Finding Online Support Groups for Parents of Blind Kids
Finding an online support group can be a life line for parents of children who are blind or visually impaired. Here are tips on how to find the best support...
![Abby sleeping](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/abby-sleeping-big.jpg)
Sleep, Visual Impairment
Developing Your Blind Child’s Sleep Schedule
LeAndra writes about her daughter's Circadian Rhythm Disorder (CRD), also called Non-24 Disorder. CRD kept Abby from sleeping for years. LeAndra researched solutions and shares them with you!
![building a new bathroom and wheelchair ramp](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/home-costruction.jpg)
Special Needs
Funding an Accessible Home Modification Project
If you are having to make your home accessible for a child in a wheelchair, it will probably involve major construction. Home modification projects are pricey, but often necessary. We'll...
![students studying outside in college](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/college-yard.png)
Education, Visual Impairment
The College Experience: Preparing Your Blind Child for College
Sue Rawley's son, Aaron, is graduating high school and looking at colleges. Sue talks about this transition and how you can prepare your blind child for independence now.
![braille smart phone](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/braille-phone.jpg)
Assistive Technology, Braille and Literacy
Accessible Braille Smart Phones
Smart phones and tablets have many accessibility features but are still basically smooth surfaces. Two new technologies try to change this by making tablets with tactile output or phones with...
![a blind runner dives for the base in beep baseball](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/beep-baseball.jpg)
Play, Visual Impairment
Make baseball accessible with Beep Baseball!
Watch a video about beep baseball and the Boston team, the Renegades. The video explains how beep baseball works and follows a couple blind players through their day.
![Adapted Innovation](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/cropped-screenshot-2014-12-09-at-7-54-13-pm1.png)
Assistive Technology, Visual Impairment
Adapted Innovation: Technology Resources for Kids Who are Blind
Julie Johnson is a Teacher of the Visually Impaired and an Assistive Technology Specialist. She writes about technology resources for all children with visual impairments and all other disabilities on...
![Special Needs Travel Mom banner](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/sntmheader-2014-wide.jpg)
Support
Special Needs Travel Mom
The Special Needs Travel Mom writes about her travels with her entire family, including her daughter with special needs. Her daughter is blind, non-verbal, uses a wheelchair for mobility, and...
![Indiana School for the Blind home page photo](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/indiana_school_for_the_blind.jpg)
Schools for the Blind
Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
The Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired serves children and young adults statewide who are blind or visually impaired, with or without additional disabilities.
![Aaron with a certificate](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/aaron-certificate.jpg)
Visual Impairment
The Journey to Independence for My Blind Son
Sue Rawley gives advice on helping your blind child grow up to be as independent as possible. Her son Aaron is about to graduate high school and move on to...
![handshake](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/handshake.jpg)
Education, Special Needs
Family Engagement and Children with Disabilities: A Resource Guide for Educators and Parents
This resource guide is intended to bridge the gap between school and home and help families become greater partners in their children's educations.
![ivan touching a tree](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/ivan-touching-tree.jpg)
Orientation and Mobility, Visual Impairment
Adventure Walks: Helping Your Child Who is Blind Move Around Outdoors
Getting your blind child outside and moving around in the community can help them develop motor skills as well as Orientation and Mobility skills.
![stack of papers](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/papers.jpg)
Parenting, Special Needs
How to Stay Organized when Raising a Special Needs Child
If you're the parent of a child with medical complexities you're probably feeling pretty stressed. Catherine gives you advice on how to keep your medical records organized so you can...
![Video Description for Blind Viewers](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/one-2.png)
Assistive Technology, Visual Impairment
Audio Description for Blind Viewers
Video description for blind children: What is it? Where can I find it? What are the benefits?
![Lesley with her husband](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/lesley.jpg)
Advocacy
Learning to Forge my Own Identity while Living with Cerebral Palsy
Lesley Potgieter writes about how it can be difficult to live up to mainstream standards as a person with disabilities. She encourages parents to help their children create their own...
![Carroll Center](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/logo_carroll_center.png)
Assistive Technology
Carroll Tech Online Assistive Technology Courses
The Carroll Center offers training and educational support for children and adults who are blind in Massachusetts, but did you know that they also offer some very informative online training...
![A student using a braille note taker](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/braille-note.jpg)
Education, Visual Impairment
APH Quota Funds: How to Access Free Educational Materials for Blind & Deafblind Students
Students who are blind or deafblind are eligible for free school supplies and equipment that will help them access school curriculum. Find out how to use these funds!
![Kekoa helps Oliana open a present](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/oliana_0.jpg)
Parenting, Special Needs
Growing up with a special needs sister
Shannon Gardner writes about her son, Kekoa, and his relationship with his younger sister Oliana, who is blind. She writes about how it can be difficult to have a disabled...