As we celebrate Louis Brailleās birthday and World Braille Day on January 4 ā and Braille Literacy Month throughout January ā itās an ideal time to consider how important it is for all students who are blind or visually impaired to learn braille. Of course, there are plenty of ways to take in language without sight, from … Continued
Such a whirlwind of bittersweet emotionsākindergarten is approaching! Itās hard to believe how quickly the years have passed, isnāt it? Your little one went from complete dependence on you to making strides toward independence. Thankfully your childās absolute preciousness hasnāt changed, but their level of autonomy has. So, letās take a look at how you can be preparing your child for increased independence in preparation for kindergarten. Working … Continued
I have always loved books. I loved reading when I was younger and found the love of reading again when I graduated from college and could actually read for āfunā and choose what I wanted to read. I wanted my children to love books and reading the same way I did. When they were younger, we had an … Continued
Since learning of your childās visual impairment, I am sure there have been millions of questions running through your head. How is he going to play? How is she going to learn how to walk? How is he going to learn in school? Will she be able to live independently? Who is going to teach … Continued
The National Freedom of Information Day (March 16th) is a day Americans, with renewed energy, re-mind ourselves of the importance of government transparency. We the people have a right to information. The very idea of āfreedom of informationā re-energizes and re-minds me that people who are blind AND people who have low vision have a right to information. They have a right to access stories, … Continued
It seems empathy, the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, is something we could all use a bit more of today. Wouldnāt it be a far healthier place if we could recognize, care about, and express concern over each otherās feelings and experiences, no matter our differences? All relationships (familial, neighborly, friendships, peer, coworker, … Continued
Editor’s note: This blog by Sara Edwards, TVI, DT/Vision Specialist, Evaluator ā IL Early Intervention Program, is a preview for the upcoming Family Connect and Illinois School for the Visually Impaired webinar, Tips and Techniques to Develop Pre-braille Skills in Toddlers, on Monday November 16, 2:00-3:30pm Eastern – eligible for ACVREP credit. Register here. Find other … Continued
Our kiddos have worked tirelessly in pre-reading or reading skills all school year! Iād like to offer a few suggestions for how to keep up the momentum, and perhaps more importantlyāto inspire a love of reading. Read aloud First, read aloudāno matter your childrenās ages! My go-to for book suggestions is Read Aloud Revival’s Book … Continued
Iām a strong advocate for Braille literacy. It can bridge the gaps that many people with low vision face. When my parents brought me home from the hospital, they thought I was a very typical, healthy baby and they joyfully expected that very soon Iād learn to recognize their faces and the world around me. … Continued