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

child on an airplane

Parenting, Special Needs

Traveling with a Child who is Medically Complex

Traveling with a child who is medically complex can be difficult. Not only do you have all the normal travel woes, but there's medications, medical equipment and emergencies to prepare...

Two kids bowling

Behavior, Visual Impairment

Developing Social Skills in Children Who are Blind or Visually Impaired

In this webcast, Sharon Sacks discusses the importance of including social skills instruction when teaching children who are blind or visually impaired.

girl listening

Orientation and Mobility, Visual Impairment

Echolocation for Blind Children

Echolocation is the use of sounds to gain information about the environment and surrounding objects. Blind kids can learn to use echolocation to augment traditional orientation and mobility!

man helping another man who is drowning

Support, Visual Impairment

Finding Online Support Groups for Parents of Blind Kids

Finding an online support group can be a life line for parents of children who are blind or visually impaired. Here are tips on how to find the best support...

Abby sleeping

Sleep, Visual Impairment

Developing Your Blind Child’s Sleep Schedule

LeAndra writes about her daughter's Circadian Rhythm Disorder (CRD), also called Non-24 Disorder. CRD kept Abby from sleeping for years. LeAndra researched solutions and shares them with you!

building a new bathroom and wheelchair ramp

Special Needs

Funding an Accessible Home Modification Project

If you are having to make your home accessible for a child in a wheelchair, it will probably involve major construction. Home modification projects are pricey, but often necessary. We'll...

students studying outside in college

Education, Visual Impairment

The College Experience: Preparing Your Blind Child for College

Sue Rawley's son, Aaron, is graduating high school and looking at colleges. Sue talks about this transition and how you can prepare your blind child for independence now.

braille smart phone

Assistive Technology, Braille and Literacy

Accessible Braille Smart Phones

Smart phones and tablets have many accessibility features but are still basically smooth surfaces. Two new technologies try to change this by making tablets with tactile output or phones with...

a blind runner dives for the base in beep baseball

Play, Visual Impairment

Make baseball accessible with Beep Baseball!

Watch a video about beep baseball and the Boston team, the Renegades. The video explains how beep baseball works and follows a couple blind players through their day.

Adapted Innovation

Assistive Technology, Visual Impairment

Adapted Innovation: Technology Resources for Kids Who are Blind

Julie Johnson is a Teacher of the Visually Impaired and an Assistive Technology Specialist. She writes about technology resources for all children with visual impairments and all other disabilities on...

Special Needs Travel Mom banner

Support

Special Needs Travel Mom

The Special Needs Travel Mom writes about her travels with her entire family, including her daughter with special needs. Her daughter is blind, non-verbal, uses a wheelchair for mobility, and...

Indiana School for the Blind home page photo

Schools for the Blind

Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

The Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired serves children and young adults statewide who are blind or visually impaired, with or without additional disabilities.

Aaron with a certificate

Visual Impairment

The Journey to Independence for My Blind Son

Sue Rawley gives advice on helping your blind child grow up to be as independent as possible. Her son Aaron is about to graduate high school and move on to...

handshake

Education, Special Needs

Family Engagement and Children with Disabilities: A Resource Guide for Educators and Parents

This resource guide is intended to bridge the gap between school and home and help families become greater partners in their children's educations.

ivan touching a tree

Orientation and Mobility, Visual Impairment

Adventure Walks: Helping Your Child Who is Blind Move Around Outdoors

Getting your blind child outside and moving around in the community can help them develop motor skills as well as Orientation and Mobility skills.