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

Anna's Celebration of Life Foundation

Special Needs

Anna’s Celebration of Life Foundation

Anna's Celebration of Life Foundation grants wishes to families of children with special needs who require but can't afford therapies, recreational and therapeutic equipment, service dogs and much more.

Katie Cuppy swimming

Support, Visual Impairment

The Perfect Role Model for My Blind Daughter

Cat finds herself face-to-face with a real-life hero and she doesn't even know it. She walks alongside Katie Cuppy, one of the first blind swimmers to make the 1.5 mile...

FingerReader in use

Assistive Technology

FingerReader from MIT (and other text-to-speech readers)

Devices like the FingerReader from MIT or OrCam allow people with visual impairments to point to text and hear it read back to them. Is this an advancement in accessibility...

Welcome to Orlando Florida

Assistive Technology, Special Needs

ATIA 2014 Orlando: News from the assistive tech conference

Catherine Rose reports from the ATIA assistive technology conference in Orlando Florida. She write about the LightAide and learning about assistive tech for communication as well as when is the...

Tommy Edison on YouTube

Support

Tommy Edison on YouTube

Tommy Edison is a YouTube sensation! He posts videos about what it's like being blind. He's very real and so funny!

Young Ivan holding a book

Braille and Literacy, Visual Impairment

Braille for Babies

Hadley's free online family course "Braille & Your Baby or Toddler" teaches parents how to introduce braille and pre-literacy skills to their young children who are blind.

Cici using LightAide

Assistive Technology, Special Needs

Funding Opportunities for the LightAide

Assistive technology devices can be so beneficial to your child... but they can also be very expensive! Catherine gives advice on how to raise money to cover these devices, like...

hand touching a map

Assistive Technology

Disney Creates Touch Screens with Tactile Feedback

Disney is working on creating touch screens that can actually give users the virtual feel of items displayed on the screen by producing friction and vibrations that mimic the textures...

Health & Nutrition, Special Needs

Hospital Tips & Tricks: How to Prepare for a Long Stay at the Hospital with Your Special Needs Child

Here are practical suggestions from moms about how to prepare for a stay at the hospital. Find out what to pack, what to have in hand, who to connect with...

Blind Square

Assistive Technology, Orientation and Mobility, Visual Impairment

Getting Around Using Assistive Technology when You’re Blind

Getting around keeps getting easier for blind travelers thanks to new assisistive technology. Find out about a new O&M iPhone app and an UltraBike!

Justin splashing in the water

Adoption and Foster Care, Visual Impairment

Bethel China: Supporting Blind Children in China

Bethel China supports parents of visually impaired children in China and helps orphaned blind children find homes. Find out what they are doing and how you can help!

Abi

Advocacy, Support

Friends Helping Friends: Why Special Needs Parents Have to Rely on Each Other

Where can parents of children with special needs find the services, resources and programs designed to help them? Noelia says most of her information comes from other parents.

Missouri School for the Blind logo

Schools for the Blind

Missouri School for the Blind

Missouri School for the Blind (MSB) serves all students in Missouri who are blind, with or without additional disabilities.

iPad Apps and Accessibility, Visual Impairment

Our Favorite Apps for Children Who are Visually Impaired

A collection of 15 (mostly free!) apps perfect for kids who are blind or visually impaired. Listed in categories ranging from visual stimulation to communication and fine motor needs.

2 children working on a science experiment

Math and Science, Visual Impairment

Independence Science for Visually Impaired Students

Independence Science strives to create science classrooms that exhibit the full integration of students with disabilities. They provide matrerials, resources and advice that may not be available through a local...