Attending the APH ConnectCenter Family Retreat

“I have never walked into a room full of strangers and instantly connected,” says Rob Harris. Rob attended the APH ConnectCenter Family Retreat recently held in Louisville, and he hasnā€™t stopped raving about the amazing connections he made or the amount of information he has absorbed since. Rob says that it wasnā€™t difficult to become … Continued

Advocating for Max, My Son Who Is Deaf-Blind

Iā€™m Tiara, and my sonā€™s name is Max. He has a rare genetic disorder called Chromosome 13, Partial Monosomy 13q, which is the partial deletion of the 13th chromosome that causes a combination of cognitive, sensory, and physical challenges. Our doctors initially told me not to expect Max to live. While dealing with that shocking … Continued

Sensing and Learning with the APH Hive

Does your child who is blind or low vision have complex needs? Partnering with your education team to gather information about how your child responds to activities at school and home is the first step towards building communication skills. As parents, we may want to know what is observed when determining our childā€™s present level … Continued

National Center on Deaf-Blindness: Family Leadership, Engagement, and Empowerment

Families are the experts in knowing their child, which should positively impact the decisions made for a child who is deafblind. Children who are deafblind have specific needs and considerations that are ā€œcompoundingly complex.ā€ Families with a child who is deafblind will go through many stages of emotions and have different needs as they support … Continued

How One Mother Spreads Awareness of Everything a Child Who is Blind/ Low Vision Can Achieve

Although she shares she was initially ā€œheartbrokenā€ when she learned her infant son, Ashton, was born blind, Hilda Dunford has learned as much from him as he has from her. As she says, ā€œHeā€™s taught me how to see with my heart.ā€ Hilda had Ashton when she was 21, her first child with her husband, … Continued

Ode to a Master: Reflections on My TVI

Editorā€™s note: Teacher Appreciation Week is May 8-12, 2023. In recognition, Alexis Read shares about her beloved teacher of students with visual impairments (TVI). When my family moved to North Dakota in the summer of 1982, I met an educator who profoundly impacted my life and career choices. Phyllis, a young and energetic teacher of … Continued