Visual Impairment
Information, support, and resources for families raising children who are blind or visually impaired, with or without additional disabilities.
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!
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...
Visual Impairment
Teaching Students with Visual Impairments
This is a web resource designed for all teachers and related service personnel who are involved in educating students with visual impairments, but it is also full of great resources...
Advocacy, Visual Impairment
Helping Your Blind Child Transition to Adult Services
Beth Jordan from Helen Keller National Center's Kansas office shares her insights into preparing for transition to adult services for blind students.
Education, Visual Impairment
Introducing Your Blind Child to a New Teacher
When your child is visually impaired it's kind of scary to hand him off to a new teacher. Here's a solution: Create a welcome packet of materials about your child...
Assistive Technology, Visual Impairment
EyeMusic: Seeing with Sound
EyeMusic is a sensory substitution device that turns visual data into music so that blind users can hear what's around them. Users of EyeMusic wear glasses with a small video...
Eye Conditions and Syndromes, Visual Impairment
Optic Nerve Hypoplasia (ONH): A Mother’s Perspective
LeAndra Lee writes about her daughter, Abigail, who is diagnosed with Optic Nerve Hypopalsia and Septo Optic Dysplasia. LeAndra explains what ONH is and how it affects Abigail.
Sensory Activities, Visual Impairment
Gardening with a Blind Child
Gardening is a very hands-on endeavor and children with visual impairments need the opportunity to get their hands into as many different real-world activities as possible, so how about starting...
Eye Conditions and Syndromes, Visual Impairment
Ask the TVI about Anophthalmia and Microphthalmia, Part 2
TVI Lisa LaDue answers readers' questions about O&M and TVI services and whether or not a visually impaired student should automatically be sat at the front of the classroom.
Toys, Visual Impairment
Wikki Stix for the Sight-Impaired
Wikki Stix are an easy way to create tactile graphics, assist with O & M training, map concepts, music lessons, daily living skills and much more. Since they adhere to...
Sensory Activities, Visual Impairment
Creating Sensory Activity Centers for Blind Children
Learn how to make an activity center for children with visual impairments. Using general hardware materials (like cardboard or peg-board) and other household items (like toys or kitchen utensils) you...
Education, Visual Impairment
Thoughts from a Kindergarten Teacher About Welcoming a Blind Student to Class
Michelle interviews her son's mainstream kindergarten teacher and asks her how she prepared her classroom for a blind student. She also asks her if she has any advice for other...
Sensory Activities, Visual Impairment
Activity Bank: Sensory Activities for Kids who are Blind
Find sensory activities that have been adapted to meet the needs of students who are blind or visually impaired.
Holiday Crafts and Ideas, Visual Impairment
How to Help Your Blind Child Survive (and maybe even enjoy) Christmas
A holiday survival guide for parents of children with sensory impairments.
Visual Impairment
Would you let your blind child jump out a window and repel down a wall?
Watch two videos of brave Elizabeth repelling down the side of a church steeple. She's got a lot of us adults beat in the daring department!