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

Ballyland screenshots

iPad Apps and Accessibility, Visual Impairment

Ballyland: Computer Game for Blind Kids

Ballyland is a Mac or Windows video game designed specifically for children who are blind, visually impaired or low vision.

white and green 6dot braille label maker

Assistive Technology, Braille and Literacy, Product Reviews

6dot Braille Label Maker Product Review

Looking for an easy way to braille books and objects around the home? We look at the 6dot braille label maker and review its features and functions.

a collage of children's book covers

Braille and Literacy, Visual Impairment

25+ Children’s Books Featuring Visually Impaired Characters

We've collected 25+ picture books, chapter books and young adult novels with visually impaired characters. Each title is followed by a quick description and links to find the book in...

The Caregiver's Notebook book cover

Parenting, Support

The Caregiver’s Notebook: An Organizational Tool and Support to Help You Care for Others

The Caregiver's Notebook gives those who care for someone with multiple needs a handy place to organize information.

Insightful head logo

Visual Impairment

Insightful Publications

Insightful Publications is a website designed to make state handbooks and the information they contain accessible via screen readers.

faded photo of woman holding coffee and mobile phone with computer on desk

Support, Visual Impairment

10 Users You Should Be Following On Twitter if You’re the Parent of a Child with Visual Impairments

Are you the parent of a blind child? Are you on Twitter? You should be! We'll help you get started by showing you who you should follow.

iPad settings screenshot with text

Assistive Technology, iPad Apps and Accessibility

Learn How to Use the Accessibility Features on Your iPad

Learn how special accessibility features designed specifically for people with varying abilities, including those with visual impairments, are having a a major impact on how our children can access the...

Nick, Mia and Jo

Visual Impairment

Raising a Blind Baby: A Father’s Perspective

Nick writes about learning that his baby daughter, Mia, is blind with LCA. Most blog posts are written by mothers, but here Nick writes from the father's point of view.

Nicole and her three daughters

Parenting, Special Needs

Why it’s OK to Ask Me About My Special Needs Child

When you see my daughter, please ask questions! I believe it is my role to educate others about being deafblind and how this shapes (but doesn't define) my child.

how to help a special needs mom feel less lonely

Support

To My Loved Ones Who Want to Help Me Feel a Little Less Lonely

As the parents of special needs children we need support and love. But do you know what we need more than anything? Someone to help ease the loneliness and isolation.

a tree illustration

Support

Strengthening Your Parenting Partnership During Pediatric Illness

Raising a child with significant special or medical needs is challenging. Have you stopped to think about how that challenge is effecting your relationship with your spouse or partner?

Are you on Twitter? If you're the parent of a blind child, you should be!

Support, Visual Impairment

How to Use Twitter for Parents of Kids with Visual Impairments

Twitter may seem confusing, but it's actually very useful for learning more about blindness and visual impairment. Here is why parents of blind kids should be on Twitter!

Ivan and dad at the cafe

Support

Am I Failing My Child? Managing Guilt as a Special Needs Parent

All parents feel guilt, but for parents of special needs kids, those feelings of guilt can be multiplied by a thousand.

a large bathroom with 7 Steps to Teach a Blind Child how to be Independent in Public Bathrooms

Potty Training, Visual Impairment

7 Steps to Teach a Blind Child how to be Independent in Public Bathrooms

Rusty has put together some sound advice on how you can help your older blind children navigate bathrooms on their own independently!

text reading

Education, Visual Impairment

5 Back-to-School Resources for Kids with Visual Impairments and their Families

Want to make this school year the best year yet? Browse our collection of resources for tips and ideas on how to make the most of the "Back-to-School" season!