Eddie is sitting next to his teacher, Julie, reading APH's "Splish the Fish" in braille using hand-under-hand while both are smiling.

My Version of “The Bill of Rights”

Last year, a document was created by the Council of Schools and Services for the Blind (COSB) and the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AERBVI). The document is titled, “A Bill of Rights for All Children with Visual Impairment and their Families.” The idea for this document came about … Continued

Eddie smiling with table full of lessons and manipulatives at home
Eddie smiling while swinging on a swing set
Eddie wearing headphones, smiling

Spring Break Extended

When my son, Eddie, is home for days without structure or routine, he becomes a hot mess. We get nervous gearing up for spring break every year. Last week, before the world stood still, we even had his teacher and speech language therapist pay us a home visit to help set-up a schedule for unstructured days. They gave us tactile symbols for his favorite restaurant and shopping establishments…and now those can’t even be used.

You Look Tired

If you’re the parent of a child with special needs, you’ve likely heard the statement “You look tired” many times. Maybe it’s at the end of the work day, or perhaps right when you walk through the door. Although you may have received the best night of sleep in weeks, you still can come across … Continued

Confidence, Optimism, and High Expectations Breed Faith

I was recently thinking about the variety of professionals that worked with Eddie over the years. Being an educator myself and reflecting on my own work, I was trying to remember what made some people stand out more than others. My conclusion was that those who had confidence in their decisions, optimism for Eddie, and … Continued

Pros and Cons of Labeling Our Kids Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired

When Eddie was first diagnosed with Optic Nerve Hypoplasia and given the label "blind," it was something we could grasp. We didn’t know what his future would be like or what additional needs he’d have, but we knew that the word "blind" was now part of his identity. It seemed easily explained and a "go-to" … Continued