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

Tacey

Eye Conditions and Syndromes, Visual Impairment

Tacey’s Story: Surviving Retinoblastoma

Find out how Tacey, a nine-year-old blind cancer survivor, became the first ever Miss Tough Enough To Wear Pink Four States Rodeo Queen.

making cake

Cooking and Kitchen Play, Visual Impairment

Learning in the Kitchen: Helping Your Blind Child Make Their Own Cake

Start a new tradition this year... Get your child in the kitchen and have them help you bake a cake! The smells and tastes are so yummy plus they'll get...

beautiful blue lake

Visual Impairment

Memories of Growing Up Blind

Read Alysia's story about growing up blind and vacationing with her family at a beautiful lake.

Ivan with his dad in his sensory play area

Sensory Activities, Visual Impairment

Make Your Own Sensory Play Area for Your Blind Baby

What if you could design your own play area that would stimulate your blind baby's senses and make them feel safe and willing to explore at the same time?

Special Needs, Visual Impairment

A Miracle Baby: Abigail’s Story

Read the story of Abigail's birth and how her parents reacted to finding out that she was blind.

Ivan on a plane

Special Needs

Our Trip to Cleveland: Looking for a Diagnosis

I tell the story of our trip to Cleveland where we visited the Cleveland Sight Center. Ivan had an ERG and was diagnosed with LCA. We also attended the LCA...

boy reaching for a strawberry

Visual Impairment

Activities of Daily Living: Teaching Blind Children Everyday Organizational & Living Skills

Karen and Jay Stiteley go over common techniques used to manage everyday independent living by people who are blind. From labeling and organizing in the kitchen to ways to manage...

graduates

Eye Conditions and Syndromes, Visual Impairment

LCA and Education

How smart are patients with LCA? According to one study, they're definitely above the US national average. Here's a break down of the results.

Ivan at the pool

Sensory Activities, Visual Impairment

That’s Wet! Teaching your blind child about water and other wet things

Blind children encounter water in different forms all day long and we need to help them understand that while each experience is different they all involve the same concept: Water.

mom looking at baby in crib

Special Needs, Visual Impairment

The Little Princess: Paige’s Story

Read the story of Jade's pregnancy, the birth of her little princess, Paige, and how she reacted to finding out that she was blind.