Last week, we took Eddie to an accessible gaming day sponsored by the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library for students who are blind or visually impaired. The event was organized by a local Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI) and included tactile board games, Legos, Play-Doh, lunch, and more. Eddie had a blast, as … Continued
This past week I enthusiastically attended American Foundation for the Blind’s leadership conference just outside of Washington, DC. Since returning home to Delaware, I have been reflecting on which message or session was the most personally impactful of the event; I choose the words of Linda Hagood, Speech Language Pathologist of Washington State School for … Continued
This past week I enthusiastically attended American Foundation for the Blind’s leadership conference just outside of Washington, DC. Since returning home to Delaware, I have been reflecting on which message or session was the most personally impactful of the event; I choose the words of Linda Hagood, Speech Language Pathologist of Washington State School for … Continued
Lately, I’ve been watching Eddie with intense interest. Paying attention to the many ways he communicates, verbal and non-verbal. Admiring how he has begun problem-solving to get what he wants. Noticing how his whole body reacts when he’s upset, frustrated, or lacking words. I think to myself, “I see you.” We recently took our annual … Continued
Birthday and Christmas always have people wondering what to buy for our son who is blind. Not only does his diagnosis of blindness throw them off, but also his unique characteristics associated with autism. My request this holiday season is that everybody simply give him the gift of equality. Recently, while attending an event for … Continued
As I’ve shared before, we were given a grim perspective of Eddie’s future when he received the diagnosis of optic nerve hypoplasia. We were abruptly told he was blind, "severely handicapped," and then being asked, "Do you know what that means?" As a young mother in a small doctor’s office, the answer was obviously "No." … Continued
We are happy to bring you information about another telephone support group available to you. By Dr. Susan Barron, PhD and Facilitator for the Lighthouse Guild Tele-support group for Parents of Children with Autism with Blindness. Misunderstood, mislabeled, misdiagnosed. How many times since the birth of your child has this been the judgment of others … Continued
Many children who are visually impaired are also diagnosed with autism, including my son Eddie. For Eddie, it was simply because his blindness alone could not explain his developmental delays…and we needed more answers. When he was given the “label” of autism at five, it seemed the best explanation for concerns that could not be … Continued
The other morning I woke up with my 7-year-old in bed with me (which happens sometimes) and we were listening to Eddie down the hall. He typically wakes up and immediately turns on his bedside radio, which is how we know he’s up. As we lay there quietly, my daughter started peppering me with questions … Continued
Key Principles to Share With Your Child’s Teachers The following is an excerpt from the book Autism Spectrum Disorders and Visual Impairment: Meeting Students’ Learning Needs, written by Marilyn H. Gense, and D. Jay Gense. We hope you will find it useful as we head back to school and get settled into new classrooms. Students … Continued