Braille: The Doorway to Literacy

As we celebrate Louis Braille’s birthday and World Braille Day on January 4 â€“ and Braille Literacy Month throughout January – it’s 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

Code Jumper Builds Skills and Confidence for Future STEM Careers

People with skills in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) are in high demand in the workplace â€“ and the field shows no signs of slowing down in the future. Computer science, including coding, is a viable career option for people who are blind or have visual impairments, because it’s all type-based, making it compatible with screen readers and other assistive technology.  … Continued

“No, Thank You. I can do it”: Preventing Learned Helplessness

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. You’re accomplishing what you have successfully accomplished for so many days and years. Your arm is clutched by a well-meaning individual wanting to “rescue” you, or you hear, “I’ve … Continued

In Celebration of NDEAM: We Look Back, We Advocate, and We Plan for Gainful Employment

Hello, October, arguably the most magnificent month—not (only) because of the sensational scents, sights, and sips of fall, but (also) because October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, NDEAM for short. In celebration: We stop and remember. We educate others. We plan and gear up for the future. Why? Because, as is the 2021 NDEAM … Continued

Let’s Go to the Loo: Resources for Potty Training a Child Who Is Blind or Visually Impaired

Toilet training is often viewed as a looming hurdle, a giant obstacle, and an exhausting feat. One requiring patience upon patience. We parents arm ourselves with a litany of literature, hoping to prepare our children for success and ourselves with realistic expectations, but most toilet-training literature is written for children who are fully sighted. While … Continued

Preparing Your Child Who is Blind or Low Vision for Kindergarten

Such a whirlwind of bittersweet emotions—kindergarten is approaching! It’s hard to believe how quickly the years have passed, isn’t it? Your little one went from complete dependence on you to making strides toward independence. Thankfully your child’s absolute preciousness hasn’t changed, but their level of autonomy has. So, let’s take a look at how you can be preparing your child for increased independence in preparation for kindergarten.  Working … Continued

On Going Blind and Growing Up: My Journey with Low Vision

Editor’s note: At age 11, Emmet Teran was featured in the documentary film, Going Blind: Coming Out of the Dark About Vision Loss, by Joe Lovett (released in 2010 when Emmet was 13).  In this blog Emmet shares how this experience changed his life. Join Emmet and several others in the post-screening panel discussion of … Continued

Mother with arm around daughter smiling sitting on front porch

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