Dear NAPVI Friends and Fellow Parents,
When my son was 10 months old, he was diagnosed with a rare infant eye cancer, retinoblastoma. I was devastated, and desperate to meet other parents who were having this experience. I wanted to learn more about my child’s eye condition and how his visual impairment was going to affect his learning and I also wanted to learn what I could do to encourage his development.
I learned about NAPVI as a resource and the NAPVI National Conference from another mother at the hospital waiting room when both of our children were undergoing surgery. I really wanted to go but didn’t think it was possible, being weighed down with insurance problems, medical bills and raising a young family…until I came across an article published in NAPVI’s AWARENESS magazine which gave ideas for funding sources to attend a NAPVI conference.
I was able to get funding from a local Lions Club and co-sponsorship from Perkins School for the Blind and attended my first NAPVI conference in Dearborn, Michigan in 1989. I met so many families who are still friends today and learned so much. I hope to meet you and your family in Chicago!
Read about Funding Sources for Parents.
Warm Regards,
Susan LaVenture
Executive Director NAPVI