Special Needs
Find support for parents of children with special needs. Learn how to advocate for your child, raise funds for needed equipment and find helpful organizations.
Filter by: Advocacy, Assistive Technology, Autism, Schools for the Blind, Support, Visual Impairment
![cookies](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/cookies.jpg)
Cooking and Kitchen Play, Visual Impairment
What can your blind child learn while baking in the kitchen?
The kitchen is the perfect place to teach your visually impaired child important life lessons. Think about all the things you learn just while making cookies!
![A little girl wearing glasses.](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/toddler-wearing-glasses.jpg)
Autism, Behavior, Visual Impairment
Is My Blind Child Autistic? One Parent’s Experience
Mary discusses trying to determine if her daughter's behaviors were related to her visual impairment or a symptom of autism.
![kids playing](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/kids-playing_0.jpg)
Behavior, Visual Impairment
Plays Well with Others: Helping Your Blind Child Develop Social Skills
Sometimes children with vision impairments can find it difficult to be around other children. If your child has this problem, then you know how hard it can be when your...
![Ivan talking](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ivan-talking-new.jpg)
Communication, Visual Impairment
You Can Say That Again! Echolalia in Visually Impaired Children
Learn why children who are visually impaired repeat back what they hear, and how parents can help minimize repetition in a constructive way.
![protestors walking down a street](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/protests.jpg)
Advocacy
An open letter to protestors from a special needs mom
I support your right to have your voice heard, but I have one request: Please keep your protest on the sidewalk.
![multi-colored neon glow sticks](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/glopartypack_0.jpg)
Light Play, Toys, Visual Impairment
Top 10 Light Toys for Kids Who Are Visually Impaired
It may seem like $10 won't get you much these days, but here you'll find the best inexpensive light toys for kids who are visually impaired!
![baby's hand](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/baby-hand_0.jpg)
Parenting, Visual Impairment
My baby is blind… What do I do?
When your baby is diagnosed with a visual impairment you may at first feel lost. What do you do? Where do you begin?
![girl with low vision writing with a crayon](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/7-2.jpg)
Education, Visual Impairment
Diagnostic Evaluations help guide educational plans for blind students
Perkins School offers diagnostic evaluations for blind and visually impaired children ages 3-22.
![happy baby](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/super-happy-ivan.jpg)
Support
Please Don’t Feel Sorry for Me or My Special Needs Child
I don't want my friends or family to feel sorry for me or for my child. I'm not saying this in a tough "I can handle this so you don't...
![8 misconceptions about CVI](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/cvi_feature.png)
Eye Conditions and Syndromes, Visual Impairment
Top 8 Misconceptions about Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI)
Do you know the facts of Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI)? Here are 8 myths you may have heard that just aren't true!
![Tommy with his brailler](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/brailler-tommy.jpg)
Education, Special Needs
Funding Accessible Learning Tools in 4 Easy Steps
The problem isn't that you need to find the perfect learning tool for your child... the problem is finding a way to afford the perfect learning tool for your child!
![touching an exhibit at a tactile museum](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/museum-1.jpg)
Visual Impairment
Visiting a Tactile Museum with Your Blind Child
Tactile museums are designed for visitors to touch each exhibit and experience the art and history through their fingers.
![Woman meditating on a dock](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/meditate.jpg)
Support
The one thing I haven’t learned as a special needs parent
A lot of people write about what they've learned as a special needs parent, but there's one thing I still haven't learned yet.
![close up of Google's Smart Contact Lens](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/google-lens.jpg)
Assistive Technology, Visual Impairment
Is Google Planing to Cure Blindness?
With recent patent filings and new applications for Google Glass, it does look like Google is interested in getting into the vision business.
![mom and baby](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/mom-and-baby.jpg)
Visual Impairment
Can Someone Who is Blind Be a Parent?
The Parenting with Vision Loss series from VisionAware provides helpful tips and advice from a genuine expert.
![boy using a slate and stylus](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/braille-slate.jpg)
Braille and Literacy, Visual Impairment
Do Blind Kids Still Need to Learn Braille?
From screen readers like JAWS on your computer or VoiceOver on your iPhone to audio books and MP3s, there are multiple ways to listen to words rather than read them,...
![young boy smiling at school](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/gave-up.jpg)
Education, Special Needs
When our school gave up on my special needs son
Are you a parent of a special needs child whose school isn't working hard enough to help him reach his goals? A message to you: Never give up.
![mom and baby](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/momy-vs-ei-feature.jpg)
Education, Visual Impairment
Is Early Intervention Always the Best Approach for a Blind Baby?
Anastasia writes about her daughter Lydia, who has anophthalmia. Lydia is still a baby and Anastasia has decided that Early Intervention services are not helping Lydia develop so she's opting...
![blue Kindle Fire Kids Edition device](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/kindlefirekids.png)
Assistive Technology, Visual Impairment
NFB and Amazon Work Together for Improved Kindle Accessibility
NFB joins forces with Amazon to improve Kindle accessibility for blind students
![person working at desk with laptop computer](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/computersfortheblind.png)
Assistive Technology
Get a computer for your blind child!
Computers for the Blind provides computer equipment for families of children who are blind.
![child in front of television](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/children-403582_1280.jpg)
Assistive Technology
FCC Proposes Increased Audio Description Access
The FCC seeks comments on the rules proposed to increase access to audio description for blind viewers.
![tactile caliper measuring a AA battery](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/tactilecalfeature.png)
Math and Science, Visual Impairment
Tactile Caliper Provides Braille Output for Blind Users
The Tactile Caliper puts measuring to the 1/16" in the hands of blind users with braille output!
![Sensory Sun Logo](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/c0dcfc_403fac456ed44179a53825533aab1958.jpg)
Visual Impairment
Sensory Sun Resources for Kids Who are Visually Impaired
Sensory Sun Educational Technologies is a website that shares information about raising and teaching children with visual impairments.
![IDYOURIRD rainbow dot logo with title](https://www.wonderbaby.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/idyouridfeature.png)
Eye Conditions and Syndromes, Visual Impairment
ID YOUR IRD Offers Free Genetic Testing for Families with Inherited Retinal Diseases
Spark Therapeutics launches ID YOUR IRD genetic testing info site offering free genetic testing for people with inherited retinal diseases.