Family Resource Group- November '24
Blind/Visually Impaired Edition
🍂🍁 Fall is Here 🍁🍂
From cooler weather to exciting events, there are so many reasons to welcome the Fall season. This edition of the newsletter features new resources, tips and upcoming events.
As always, if you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact me at any time. We also ask you to provide feedback by completing the survey at the end of the newsletter.
We also invite the teachers, therapists and school staff who work with your child to register to receive a copy of the newsletter as well. There is a question on the registration page for professionals so that we can contact them. Please pass this on to everyone that supports your child.
Tess Nasehi
Family Resource Group BVI Editor
Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI)
The TSBVI event calendar shares several resources, from articles to virtual discussions, for families:
- Coffee Hour: Involving Dads- How to Encourage & Support Involvement by Dads: 11/4/2024
- Family Recharge Zone: Navigating Your Child's Evaluations with Confidence and Advocacy: 11/7/2024
- Coffee Hour: Providing Opportunities for all Children- Meeting Families Where They Are: 11/11/2024
- Coffee Hour: Supporting Families of Children with Complex Health Care Needs in Grief Across the Lifespan: 11/11/2024
Making Meaningful Mobility Routines--A Team Approach: Students with Complex Needs including DeafBlind
This 3-part virtual training series from The Oregon DeafBlind Project focuses on:
- integrating communication, tactile support, and assistive technology into mobility lessons
- collaborating with teams and families on Orientation & Mobility activities
- Orientation & Mobility: Successfully Planning and Documenting progress
These webinars will take place on November 6, 13 and 20 from 2:00PM to 4:00PM and is free to attend.
Registration Note: For the "Register" button to appear, you must have an account on this website and be logged in. If you have an account, simply sign in to register. Users new to our website may create a free account by clicking on the "register" link in the upper right corner of the webpage. Once logged in, return to the event listing to register.
NFB of PA Convention 2024
The Pennsylvania chapter of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is hosting their annual convention in Erie, PA. This is a great opportunity to meet and learn alongside other parents, students, professionals and community members.
When: November 7-10, 2024
Where: Ambassador Banquet & Conference Center, 7794 Peach Street, Erie, PA 16509
Visit their website to learn more about the 2024 NFBPA Convention.
Camp Abilities NJ @ Rowan University Fall 2024 Camp
Camp Abilities NJ @ Rowan University is an educational sports camp for children ages 6-17 who have visual impairments. The goal of CANJRU is to empower youth with visual impairments through sport, physical activity, and wellness education. At camp, children participate in a variety of sports and activities including canoeing, rock climbing, and making a healthy meal. Athletes are paired 1:1 with trained coaches throughout all activities.
Date: November 8, 2024 (day only) 9:00am - 3:30pm
Contact: Coach Maria at LeporeStevens@Rowan.edu
American Printing House for the Blind (APH)
The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) offers many resources to learn more about the importance and ways of teaching career education to your child.
- CareerConnect offers job seekers of all ages and employers a variety of resources to help with the job search and hiring process.
- FamilyConnect shares articles and resources on career education topics, such as skills for toddlers to teenagers, stories of blind people succeeding in work and life, and more.
- APH Access Academy also shares related videos on their YouTube channel on topics, such as career education for children with dual diagnoses, career readiness for preschool, elementary, middle and high school students, and many more.
- The Hive also offers an online course on career education for blind children.
Perkins School for the Blind
The Perkins School for the Blind houses a vast library of articles and videos on career education. Anyone can visit the Perkins website and search for career education resources. Below are a few examples of what Perkins has to offer in this area.
- Career readiness stories and resources
- "Career Education: A Student's Perspective" video from Nancy Moskowicz
- "Career Education" article from Courtney Tabor-Abbott
- "Career Education for Children Who are Blind or Visually Impaired" video/article from Dr. Karen Wolffe
- "Getting to work: assessment and skill-building for careers" article from Perkins
- "What is customized employment?" article from Perkins
- "Technology goals required for the workplace" article from Perkins
- "Working Blind Series: Interviews" guide from Perkins
Pennsylvania Organization of Parents of Blind Children
provides resources and connections for parents with blind and low vision children.
Pennsylvania Assocation of Blind Students
shares details on scholarships, workshops, conventions, and internship possibilities.
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC)
helps families and blind children maximize their skills, independence, and opportunities, while holding high expectations.
Bureau of Blindness & Visual Services (BBVS)
assists Pennsylvanians who are blind or visually impaired gain the skills necessary to live and work independently in their communities.
TSBVI Family Recharge Zone
serves as a virtual space for families to collaborate on the first Thursday of each month.
ParentConnect: A Family Support Group
offers a virtual support group for families on the first Wednesday of every month.
National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS)
NLS provides a free braille and talking book library service. Follow the steps shown on the National Library Service website to enroll and receive:
- books and magazines, including bestsellers, biographies, fiction, how-to books, music scores and instructional materials
- in braille or audio formats
- instantly downloadable or mailed to your door for free
FAMILIES TO THE MAX: Statewide Network of Families
leads change by building awareness, empowering families, presuming competence, and fostering high expectations of students with disabilities.
PEAL Center
works with families, youth and young adults with disabilities and special health care needs to help them understand their rights and advocate for themselves.
HUNE
offers free bilingual (English and Spanish) programs, supports, and services on all aspects of special education. HUNE also offers an after-school and summer program.
Parent to Parent of PA
aims to connect and empower families by building a supportive community. Families can connect with others who have had similar journeys so that no parent feels alone.
PaTTAN Library
PaTTAN hosts a collection of publications, videos, podcasts, and websites to help families and educators better understand special education information. Listed below are a few popular resources, but you can also search PaTTAN's website and PaTTAN's YouTube channel to find more. Many of our publications are also available in other languages.