Empowered to Work with Your Visually Impaired Child’s Medical Professionals

You + your child’s ophthalmologist + the pediatrician + any necessary therapists + medical specialists who manage any chronic or acute problems = your child’s robust medical professional team. You are a key member. Yet, it isn’t uncommon for parents to feel void of expertise and, therefore, to take a passive role or back seat … Continued

Empowered to Work with Your Visually Impaired Child’s Medical Professionals

You + your child’s ophthalmologist + the pediatrician + any necessary therapists + medical specialists who manage any chronic or acute problems = your child’s robust medical professional team. You are a key member. Yet, it isn’t uncommon for parents to feel void of expertise and, therefore, to take a passive role or back seat … Continued

BrailleBlaster Question and Answer: Braille Software for Everyone

Editor’s Note: Parents, would you like to create braille at home for your child? Now you can using the American Printing House for the Blind’s (APH) BrailleBlaster™ software. All you need is access to an embosser or a refreshable braille display, and you can provide materials in braille for your visually impaired child. We’ve partnered … Continued

Holiday Gift Ideas for Children and Teens with Visual Impairments, a Round-Table Discussion

One of my favorite things about our FamilyConnect community is the opportunity to brainstorm together. While we may not have the chance to get together with a group of local friends who are parents of similar age children with visual impairments, we have the ability to do so right here. While sometimes we convene over … Continued

Giving Blind and Visually Impaired Children the Power to Explore—Using All Their Senses

Editor’s Note: FamilyConnect is dedicated to empowering parents and caregivers of children with visual impairments—we know you are your child’s first and most significant teachers. We want you to know what’s different about the way visually impaired children learn and how to support learning and development from an early age. For this reason, we are … Continued

Giving Blind and Visually Impaired Children the Power to Explore—Using All Their Senses

Editor’s Note: FamilyConnect is dedicated to empowering parents and caregivers of children with visual impairments—we know you are your child’s first and most significant teachers. We want you to know what’s different about the way visually impaired children learn and how to support learning and development from an early age. For this reason, we are … Continued

Giving Blind and Visually Impaired Children the Power to Explore—Using All Their Senses

Editor’s Note: FamilyConnect is dedicated to empowering parents and caregivers of children with visual impairments—we know you are your child’s first and most significant teachers. We want you to know what’s different about the way visually impaired children learn and how to support learning and development from an early age. For this reason, we are … Continued

New Article: How to Master Cardinal Directions

You intend to teach your child who is blind or visually impaired orientation and mobility concepts, so you’d like to use compass/cardinal directions to state which direction you’re driving or walking. The only problem is, if you’re like most, cardinal directions aren’t exactly on your list of "things mastered." The temptation arises to simply let … Continued

New Diagnosis? The Most Common Questions Asked by Parents of Children with Visual Impairments

You’re here because your child has recently been diagnosed with an eye condition. You likely weren’t at all prepared for the emotional impact of the diagnosis, you certainly can’t foresee coping with vision loss, and you don’t understand what to do next. You feel consumed with questions; lost at sea. FamilyConnect Can Help If this … Continued

How Will We Pay for My Visually Impaired Child’s Assistive Technology?

I had a recent e-mail from a family new to the country who wondered how they would afford their child’s assistive technology (AT) needed for school. Are there organizations who provide technology for free or a reduced cost? What financial assistance is available? I’m confident other families have the same concerns and thought it wise … Continued