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

Mother kissing her baby's foot

Parenting, Special Needs

When my family accused me of using my special needs child as an excuse

We make decisions for our medically fragile kids every day, but sometimes family members just don't understand our reasons.

Rebecca playing with play-doh

Braille and Literacy, Toys, Visual Impairment

How I will change the world for my deafblind daughter, one toy at a time

One father's journey to imagine, create and even distribute accessible educational toys for children who are visually impaired

Make your own white cane lapel pin with beads

Advocacy, Visual Impairment

Make Your Own White Cane Lapel Pin for White Cane Day

Celebrate White Cane Day with your very own white cane lapel pin! Show your white cane pride with this hand-made bead pin.

three ropes in a knot

Support

The hidden truth about special needs resources: It doesn’t need to be this complicated

Do you ever feel like you're tied up in knots looking for support and resources for your special needs child? Maybe it doesn't have to be this way!

group of friends

Support

Do you have the courage to redefine disability?

What does disability look like to you? How do people with disabilities interact with the mainstream world? What can you do to help?

two friends at the cafe

Support

I’m tired of being “the special needs mom”

Are you the parent of a special needs child? Do your friends also have kids with disabilities and that's all you ever talk about? Maybe it's time for a change!

book covers collage

Braille and Literacy, Visual Impairment

20 Apple Themed Books For Kids Who Are Blind

We've gathered 20 books about apples that kids are sure to enjoy this Fall season with links to formats in braille, audio and large print.

zebrafish

Eye Conditions and Syndromes, Visual Impairment

How one tiny fish may help us find a cure for blindness

At the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center, they are studying the visual system of the zebrafish in hopes of finding cures for blindness.

a mother who is sad

Support

They told me feeling sad made me a bad mother

By admitting that my child's disabilities make me sad, I am saying that my child's existence brings me grief. By writing this in a public space, I am telling the...

proud special needs girl

Advocacy, Parenting

I’m Raising My Special Needs Child with Dignity – Are You?

Special needs children deserve honor and respect. As parents, we need to maintain their dignity and help them present themselves at their best in public.

child eating with a spoon

Feeding and Eating, Visual Impairment

Teaching a Blind Child How to Use a Spoon Independently

Tips, ideas and resources for teaching your blind child how to scoop and use a spoon on their own without using hand over hand techniques.

Blind girl reading in braille

Braille and Literacy, Visual Impairment

3 Tips for Teaching Young Children with a Visual Impairment How to Become Strong Readers

Here are 3 tips to get your child off to a great start with their braille reading skills. Learn how you can help them become strong readers!

crawling baby

Crawling, Visual Impairment

Crawling & Climbing for Blind Babies

Crawling and climbing are two very important developmental milestones for babies and children who are blind. Some babies may skip these steps or reach them later than their typically developing...

a girl in class looking frustrated

Advocacy, Visual Impairment

Learning Advocacy When You Have Low Vision

L. Penny Rosenblum is a TVI, a parent and student advocate, and has a vision impairment. She writes about what it was like learning to advocate for herself as a...

sensory bottles

Visual Impairment

Positive Eye: Training and resources for practitioners working with children with vision impairment

Positive Eye was established five years ago to offer a consultancy and training service to professionals and parents on meeting the educational needs of children and young people with visual...