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

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.

stack of papers

Parenting, Special Needs

How to Stay Organized when Raising a Special Needs Child

If you're the parent of a child with medical complexities you're probably feeling pretty stressed. Catherine gives you advice on how to keep your medical records organized so you can...

Video Description for Blind Viewers

Assistive Technology, Visual Impairment

Audio Description for Blind Viewers

Video description for blind children: What is it? Where can I find it? What are the benefits?

Lesley with her husband

Advocacy

Learning to Forge my Own Identity while Living with Cerebral Palsy

Lesley Potgieter writes about how it can be difficult to live up to mainstream standards as a person with disabilities. She encourages parents to help their children create their own...

Carroll Center

Assistive Technology

Carroll Tech Online Assistive Technology Courses

The Carroll Center offers training and educational support for children and adults who are blind in Massachusetts, but did you know that they also offer some very informative online training...

A student using a braille note taker

Education, Visual Impairment

APH Quota Funds: How to Access Free Educational Materials for Blind & Deafblind Students

Students who are blind or deafblind are eligible for free school supplies and equipment that will help them access school curriculum. Find out how to use these funds!

Kekoa helps Oliana open a present

Parenting, Special Needs

Growing up with a special needs sister

Shannon Gardner writes about her son, Kekoa, and his relationship with his younger sister Oliana, who is blind. She writes about how it can be difficult to have a disabled...

Thomas Marshall

Special Needs

Thomas Marshall Does It All

Thomas is visually impaired and Jessica writes about the trials and successes of raising a little boy who is blind, while always focusing on the positive.

ice cream cone christmas trees

Holiday Crafts and Ideas, Visual Impairment

10 Sensory Christmas Activities for Children who are Blind

During the holidays we are baking, decorating and spending time with family and friends. Get your kids involved by having them help in the kitchen, create Christmas decorations or make...