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
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!
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...
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.
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...
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.
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...
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...
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.
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...
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.
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.
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...
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?
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...
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...
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!
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...
Special Needs
Thomas Marshall Does It All
Thomas is visually impaired and Jessica writes about the trials and successes of raising a little boy who is blind, while always focusing on the positive.
Holiday Crafts and Ideas, Visual Impairment
10 Sensory Christmas Activities for Children who are Blind
During the holidays we are baking, decorating and spending time with family and friends. Get your kids involved by having them help in the kitchen, create Christmas decorations or make...
Visual Impairment
Teaching Students with Visual Impairments
This is a web resource designed for all teachers and related service personnel who are involved in educating students with visual impairments, but it is also full of great resources...
Advocacy, Visual Impairment
Helping Your Blind Child Transition to Adult Services
Beth Jordan from Helen Keller National Center's Kansas office shares her insights into preparing for transition to adult services for blind students.
Assistive Technology, Eye Conditions and Syndromes
National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program
The idea behind the National Deafblind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP) is that people with combined hearing and vision loss should have access to modern telecommunication tools (and the training necessary...
Education, Visual Impairment
Introducing Your Blind Child to a New Teacher
When your child is visually impaired it's kind of scary to hand him off to a new teacher. Here's a solution: Create a welcome packet of materials about your child...
Schools for the Blind
Oklahoma School for the Blind
Oklahoma School for the Blind (OSB), also known as the Parkview School, offers educational services for blind and visually impaired students from preschool through high school.