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

happy mom with her daughter

Parenting, Special Needs

8 simple ways to be a happier special needs mom

Being happy doesn't just happen, it's a skill that you need to work on and hone. How do you maintain your happiness as a special needs mom?

Music Play, Visual Impairment

Why We Love Music Therapy for Our Blind Son

Jennie writes about how her son, Max, responds to music. Other therapies failed Max and often stressed him out, but Music Therapy has been very successful for him!

potty training

Potty Training, Special Needs

Potty Training Your Special Needs Child

Potty training a child with special needs can be a bit of a challenge. We'll help you decide when your child is ready to potty train and get you started.

mother disciplining child

Behavior, Visual Impairment

How Do I Discipline My Blind Toddler?

How do you discipline a child with special needs? Or, as some might ask, SHOULD you discipline a child with special needs?

Collection of math toys

Math and Science, Toys, Visual Impairment

The Best Accessible Toys for Teaching Basic Math Concepts to Kids who are Visually Impaired

Our favorite accessible math and number toys for teaching numbers, counting and one-to-one correspondence to blind and visually impaired children!

Anchor Center for Blind Children

Schools for the Blind, Visual Impairment

Anchor Center for Blind Children

Anchor Center for Blind Children provides early education and intervention services for children in Denver, Colorado

dad and son having fun at the beach

Behavior, Special Needs

Nurturing the Emotional Development of Children with Disabilities

Lesley Potgieter writes about the emotional development of children with special needs. As we focus on our children's cognitive and physical development, are we ignoring their emotional development?

baby splashing

Development, Visual Impairment

Helping Your Blind Baby Develop Through Play

As the parent of a visually impaired child, I'm sure you worry about your baby's development, both physically and cognitively. How can you be sure that you're doing all that...

Toys, Visual Impairment

Choosing the Best Toys for Your Blind Baby

How do you know which toys will work best for your blind baby? Here are some of our favorite toys that are accessible and inexpensive too!

Ivan smiling

Eye Conditions and Syndromes, Visual Impairment

Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) FAQ

All your questions about Leber's Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) are answered here in one place. Don't see your question? Then just send us an email and we'll get right on it!

Santa reading a list

Holiday Crafts and Ideas, Visual Impairment

Ivan’s Christmas Wish List: Gift ideas for kids who are blind

Ivan loves presents and he's really good at picking out the toys he wants. Here is Ivan's wish list for toys and games this year... maybe you can find some...

young girl and boy at an FBC center

Schools for the Blind, Visual Impairment

Foundation for Blind Children

FBC services for infants, up to age three, are provided in the family home with the goal of educating and empowering parents to facilitate optimal learning and development of their...

three photos of feelif camera at work

Assistive Technology, Visual Impairment

Feelif is making photos and the environment more accessible for kids who are blind!

Feelif just released two applications that will help blind and visually impaired users have a better understanding of their surroundings and of photos.

a small white house

Parenting, Special Needs

Home Sweet Group Home?

When is the right time to move your special needs child out of the house and into a group home?

pencil

Education, Special Needs

How Statewide School Testing Discriminates Against Special Needs Students

Is it always appropriate to test students, even those with severe disabilities? And can standardized tests be considered discriminatory, even when alternative testing options are offered to special needs students?

young girl listening to the Ballyland coding app, with a tactile game grid at hand

iPad Apps and Accessibility, Visual Impairment

How access to an ipad can change a blind child’s life

For children who are blind or visually impaired, iPads represent multi-purpose, portable Assistive Technology devices that can replace expensive AT devices.

To the Mother Whose Life Isn't Taking the Expected Path

Parenting, Support

To the Mother Whose Life Isn’t Taking the Path She Expected

The path of a special needs parent is hard, but you need to choose happiness. You feel countless emotions, each and every one of them, and at some point you...

leandra and abby

Parenting, Special Needs

I Lost My Daughter. Even though She is Alive, I Lost Her, and I Grieve Her all the Time

Having a special needs child is a lifelong grieving process. Each new milestone that does not happen is a painful reminder of what you've lost.

a mom holding hands with her daughter

Parenting, Special Needs

Something Happened While I was Waiting for My Daughter to Tell Me She Loves Me

If your child is nonverbal they may not be able to say, "I love you." But they can express their love in so many other ways!

Boy taking his blood pressure test

Advocacy

How to Work with Difficult Doctors & Therapists

As the parent of a disabled child you probably have to meet with quite a few doctors and therapists. What can you do if you just don't agree with their...

lily pads

Advocacy, Parenting

Family vs Ableism: What I’ve Learned As a Mother of a Child with a Disability

Is it more important to be worried about how you're presenting yourself and your family to the outside world and the wider disability community, or to focus on the needs...

fingers touching a Feelif screen

Assistive Technology, iPad Apps and Accessibility

Feelif: The Accessible Tactile Tablet for Kids who are Visually Impaired

Feelif is a tactile tablet that is able to combine native features of the Samsung tablet, like vibrations and the built-in screenreader, with a tactile surface to create a whole...

Michael sitting in a chair and smiling

Parenting, Special Needs

My son will not read this post

For a special needs parent, being realistic does not mean losing optimism. It means finding peace with what is.

Support

When Your Special Needs Support Group is Anything but Supportive (and 5 Tips to Get it Back on Track)

Moms yelling at each other certainly isn't a new thing, but online support groups can take it to a whole new level! Find tips on how to keep your special...