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

Round crest for USDB

Schools for the Blind

Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind

USDB serves children who are deaf, blind and deafblind, both from their home in Ogden and with outreach services around the state.

Schools for the Blind

Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind

Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind serves students with any visual or hearing impairment.

Shield-like logo for WCBVI

Schools for the Blind

Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired educates students from k-12 while offering an early education program.

SleepSafe Beds

Sleep, Special Needs

SleepSafe Beds: Beautiful Safe Beds for Special Needs Kids

SleepSafe Beds are the perfect choice for children who need a large bed with high sides. These beds are sturdy and strong and well-padded for safety. They come with many...

Ethan & Naomi

Parenting, Special Needs

Teamwork: The Special (Needs) Family

John Bateman writes about the importance of including all your kids in all activities. When you have a child with special needs it may seem appropriate to keep their activities...

Blind Skills Videos

Visual Impairment

Blind Skills Videos

The Washington State School for the Blind has created a series of videos describing how to do simple tasks with little or no vision, such as how to zip a...

Ella with her first pair of blue prostheic eyes

Eye Conditions and Syndromes, Visual Impairment

Ella’s Story: Raising a Child with Bilateral Anophthalmia

Jill writes about finding out that her daughter, Ella, is blind and how she responded. She explains how her faith in God helped her cope.

John Pitzen holding Ella

Eye Conditions and Syndromes, Visual Impairment

An Interview with John Pitzen about Bilateral Anophthalmia

MAPS interviews John Pitzen, a 53 year old man born with bilateral anophthalmia. MAPS asks John what he does for a living and what he does for fun.

AJ

Eye Conditions and Syndromes, Visual Impairment

Our Journey with Microphthalmia

Heidi writes about finding out that her son, AJ, is blind and how she reacted. She gives advice to other parents dealing with this.

Ivey

Eye Conditions and Syndromes, Visual Impairment

Your Baby has Anophthalmia

Gwen writes bluntly about what it was like to find out that her baby was blind with anophthalmia and she gives advice to parents who find themselves in the same...

Out-of-Sight Science Experiments

Math and Science, Visual Impairment

Out-of-Sight Science Experiments

Scientists Dr. Lillian A. Rankel and Marilyn Winograd have written 32 step-by-step experiments for blind youngsters to do at home with family and friends.

Skylar Covich

Eye Conditions and Syndromes, Visual Impairment

Dear parents of young children with LCA

Frank Covich writes about his son, Skylar, who was diagnosed with LCA as a baby. Frank wants other parents to understand that the sky is the limit for kids with...

AbilityPath logo

Development, Special Needs

AbilityPath

AbilityPath.org is an online hub and special needs community for parents and professionals to learn, connect and live a more balanced life - through all phases of a child's growth...

NBCS logo

Support, Visual Impairment

National Blind Children’s Society

The National Blind Children's Society is a UK-based organization. Their mission is to enable blind and partially sighted children and young people to achieve their educational and recreational goals.

IBSA Logo

Visual Impairment

IBSA (International Blind Sports Federation)

IBSA is a full member of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), where they are the legitimate representatives of sport for the blind.

balanced stones

Parenting, Support

Hopeful Acceptance: Finding the Right Balance as a Special Needs Parent

What are the words of encouragement you wan to hear? One dad shares his balanced approach, advising both hope and acceptance.

students reading braille in a classroom

Schools for the Blind

American Council of Blind Students

The American Council of Blind Students (ACBS) is the student affiliate of the American Council of the Blind, the nation's leading consumer and advocacy organization of people who are blind...

National Organization of Parents of Blind Children

Support, Visual Impairment

National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC)

Founded in 1983, the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children is a national membership organization of parents and friends of blind children reaching out to each other to give...

Special Needs

Positive Exposure: Photography & Uplifting Stories

POSITIVE EXPOSURE, founded in 1997 by former fashion photographer Rick Guidotti and Diane McLean, is a highly innovative arts organization working with individuals living with genetic difference.

Joubert Syndrome Foundation Logo

Support

Joubert Syndrome Foundation

The Joubert Syndrome & Related Disorders Foundation is an international network of parents who share knowledge, experience, and emotional support. The foundation offers a networking list, newsletter, and a biennial...

Future Reflections

Support, Visual Impairment

Future Reflections: magazine for parents and teachers of blind children

Future Reflections is a magazine for parents and teachers of blind children. It is published quarterly by the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults in partnership with the...

little girl wearing glasses

Support, Visual Impairment

Junior Blind of America

Junior Blind's mission is helping children and adults who are blind, visually impaired or multi-disabled achieve independence.

Lighthouse Guild logo

Support, Visual Impairment

Lighthouse Guild

Lighthouse International is dedicated to fighting vision loss through prevention, treatment and empowerment.

Prevent Blindness and Children's Vision

Visual Impairment

Prevent Blindness America

Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness America is the nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight.