Paul Schroeder, who is Vice President of Government and Community Affairs at APH, has had a successful and satisfying career so far. And heās quick to credit his parents for making a lot of good decisions after he lost both eyes to retinoblastoma ā cancer of the retina ā by the time he was two … Continued
Weāre thankful you frequent the APH FamilyConnect blog to gather resources and instructional ideas, and to reflect on how to empower your child who is blind or visually impaired to set their expectations high and reach their goals. We understand, however, that while the APH FamilyConnect blog is a robust resource, it has a limitationāit … Continued
If your child has been diagnosed with Optic Nerve Hypoplasia (ONH), you are not alone! According to Dr. Borchert for The MAGIC Foundation, Optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH) is the leading cause of blindness in infants and children. Letās look at a brief summary of ONH and listen to a mom share her story of her … Continued
What does a parent or caregiver need to know about the IEP process? So far weāve looked at the purpose of an Individualized Education Plan (IEP): An āIEPā is designed to set forth the way a school will meet the educational and disability-related needs of the child. Weāve also looked at the components of an IEP meeting, including what will be discussed and … Continued
Have you ever thought about how people learn? As I have written on previously (for instance, in the blog Explore an Orchard with Your Child Who Is Blind or Visually Impaired), and as you have no doubt witnessed in your own learning endeavors and when teaching your child(ren), individuals learn when they are able to make connections. People arenāt blank slates on which we simply download or impart information; individuals understand concepts … Continued
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
Imagine you are shopping for groceries, safely crossing a street, playing with your child at the park, utilizing an elevator, or completing a routine job task. Youāre accomplishing what you have successfully accomplished for so many days and years. Your arm is clutched by a well-meaning individual wanting to ārescueā you, or you hear, āIāve … Continued
Perhaps you are here today with apprehension or concern, eager to learn how your child will travel when blind or visually impaired and using a wheelchair (whether full-time or part-time). You arenāt sure how orientation and mobility (travel training for individuals who are blind or visually impaired) will work when your child isnāt walking. Is … Continued
Editorās Note: In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson established October 15th as White Cane Safety Day to raise awareness of people who use a white cane. This post is the first in our series leading up to White Cane Day on October 15th. Stabilization. Strength. Motor function and control. Balance. Coordination. Awareness of oneās body and … Continued
Your child has likely sunk their teeth into a crisp apple bursting with sweet juices or taken spoonfuls of sugary, smooth applesauce with notes of warm cinnamon, but do they know how their snack came to be? Do they know how apples are grown and harvested? Do they truly know what an apple tree is? Have they run their fingers over the scaly bark, wrapped their arms around the girth … Continued