Transitions: Five Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Skills to ā€œPackā€ for College LifeĀ 

FC Editorā€™s note: If your child is heading off to college or other post-secondary education in the fall, they can utilize the advice of orientation and mobility specialist, Amanda Bernath. Read on to learn what O&M skills they can ā€œpackā€ for their big transition!Ā  Itā€™s here again ā€“summer! Many students are excitedly anticipating and planning … Continued

Illuminating the IEP, Part Three: Top 10 List for Parents in the IEP Process

What does a parent or caregiver need to know about the IEP process?   So far weā€™ve looked at the purpose of an Individualized Education Plan (IEP): An ā€œIEPā€ is designed to set forth the way a school will meet the educational and disability-related needs of the child. Weā€™ve also looked at the components of an IEP meeting, including what will be discussed and … Continued

An Overview of Assessments for Children Birth Through Three Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired

A warm hello to you, parent or family member of a young child who is blind or visually impaired. My assumption is you are here because your child has recently been diagnosed with an eye condition, or you suspect your child has a visual impairment. You likely wonder if your child is eligible for vision-related … Continued

Life Prep or Career Planning for Teens

Parents often ask me what they can do to prepare their children with visual impairments for life and employment. I always encourage them to enroll their children in career education and job preparation courses. As we approach the end of October, which is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, I am pleased to share with visitors … Continued

Free Teen Tele-Support Group for High School Seniors

Editor’s note: Lighthouse Guild and NAPVI have a number of teleconference programs and we will be posting information for them on this blog. I am excited to announce that the Lighthouse Guild will be offering a free, teleconference support group for blind and visually impaired, college bound high school seniors starting this Fall for the … Continued

NAPVI National Conference for Families

We have just returned from the National NAPVI conference for families held this past weekend in Chicago. We were so grateful to meet parents and teachers from around not only the country, but the world. (Kudos to the mother, aunt, and baby who traveled all the way from Australia!) The message families gave us is … Continued

Highlights From the Upcoming NAPVI Family Conference Program

Join Us! July 10-12, 2015 Chicago, Illinois Dear Families, We are just two weeks away from the NAPVI National Family Conference to be held in Chicago. It’s not too late to register and join us! Come and meet www.FamilyConnect.org bloggers, authors, and web team for a special networking seminar for FamilyConnect members held on Friday … Continued

Register Now for the International Family Conference!

We are organizing a phenomenal conference program for you and your family. The conference welcomes parents of children of all ages with visual impairments, blindness, and additional disabilities including siblings and extended family and friends. Early registration is now open! The conference location is at The Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually … Continued

Recognizing and Overcoming Test Bias Against Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired

We are very pleased to welcome Shelley Homsy, a teacher of students who are visually impaired at the New York Institute for Special Education, as a guest blogger on the subject of test biases, and how to tackle them. by Shelley Homsy, TVI The New York Institute for Special Education Students often ask, “Why do … Continued

Ask the AccessWorld Experts, November 14-18

As editor-in-chief of AccessWorld®, a free online magazine focusing on technology for people who are blind or visually impaired, I am pleased to spend some time with you on this blog to discuss the technology needs of your children who are blind or visually impaired. From Monday, November 14 until Friday, November 18, we’ll be … Continued