Family Resource Group- May '25
Blind/Visually Impaired Edition
Summer is Right Around the Corner!
Summer can be such an exciting time, leading to new beginnings and opportunities. This edition of the newsletter is the final one for the 2024-2025 School Year, and is packed with new resources, upcoming events, and information on summer camps--yes, it's already summer camp season!
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.
Teachers, therapists and school staff who work with your child are invited to subscribe to receive a copy of this newsletter as well. Education staff may visit the registration page to sign up. Please pass this information on to the professionals who support your child.
Tess Nasehi
Family Resource Group BVI Editor
This newsletter is not an endorsement of any organization or product that may appear.
Helpful Publications from PaTTAN
- "Preschool to School-Age Transition: Considerations for Children Who Are Blind/Visually Impaired" includes a list of questions and considerations for use as a preplanning tool for initial and ongoing discussions between families and school teams.
- "Extended School Year (ESY) Services in Pennsylvania" contains a comprehensive set of documents that provides direction, responds to questions, and guides parents and local education agencies in making determinations about ESY services.
- "Pennsylvania Secondary Transition Roadmap" illustrates how the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, and the Office of Developmental Programs systems can work together to ensure the best outcomes for students.
Webinars from APH
The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) is offering several webinars where families and educators can learn alongside each other this month:
- "Accessing the Visual Environment: Successful Outcomes" - May 8 at 3:00pm
- "Employment Connections: AbilityOne Employment" - May 8 at 5:00pm
- "Accessing the Visual Environment: Learning From One Another" - May 22 at 3:00pm
- Visit APH's "Access Academy" for more upcoming events and details.
AAC Talks 2025
The "AAC Talks 2025 AAC Without Limits: Voices, Stories, and Possibilities" webinar, hosted by PaTTAN, will focus on the boundless potential of AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) users. Through inspiring stories, innovative strategies, and evidence-based practices, participants will explore how AAC empowers communication across environments and transitions. The webinar is on May 9, 2025 8:45am-3:45pm and is free to join.
FAMILIES TO THE MAX
F2MAX Foundational Courses: Please join us Wednesday May 14, 2025 for FAMILIES TO THE MAX Foundational Courses. Contact f2max@pattan.net or call 800-441-3215, ext. 3262 to schedule or find out more about our training opportunities.
The National Organization of Parents of Blind Children Annual Seminar will be held in New Orleans, LA from July 8-13, 2025. The seminar includes workshops and sessions on a wide variety of topics and is an opportunity for members to connect with old friends and make new ones. Registration before July 1 costs $50 per family and includes other benefits.
Future Reflections: Future Reflections is a quarterly magazine for parents and teachers of blind children that encompasses NFB's positive philosophy of blindness with resources, success stories, access to a national network of parents, guidance for teachers, and more.
Bridging Knowledge to Know-How Conference: Empowering Educators and Partners
We are excited to announce a new networking and learning opportunity for youth, families, school teams, and community partners. This conference will highlight best practices, research, and practical strategies for autism, sensory and other low incidence disabilities (including visual impairment), and secondary transition.
Save the dates, July 28 -31, 2025 and look for more information to come on the Bridging Knowledge to Know-How: Empowering Pennsylvania Educators and Partners conference.
Camp InsPirAtion (formerly known as The Children's Institute) is a fun and free camp-like environment open to children, youth, and young adults ages 4-22 whose family/caregivers are attending the Bridging Knowledge to Know-How conference. Siblings are welcome to join in the fun too! View the flyer linked below for more information.
Camp Abilities PA at WCU
Camp Abilities PA @ WCU is an educational sports camp for youth ages 7-17 who are blind or have low vision. The purpose of the camp is to empower children to be physically active, improve their overall health and wellness, encourage them to make food choices that support an active lifestyle, and develop their confidence and self-esteem through sport and physical activity.
This year's camp is May 23-26, 2025. Register by April 16, 2025.
Camp Abilities NJ @ Rowan University
Camp Abilities NJ @ Rowan University is an educational sports camp for athletes 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.
This year's camp is being held from June 27-29, 2025.
Camp Abilities Delaware
Camp Abilities Delaware is an educational sports camp for children ages 5-17 who are blind or have low vision. Camp Abilities Delaware is an overnight camp experience that introduces children to a variety of sports, including cross-country running, orienteering, swimming, field events, golf, blind soccer, field hockey, lacrosse, beep baseball, rugby, football, volleyball, and tennis.
This year's camp is being held from August 3-8, 2025.
Pennsylvania Organization of Parents of Blind Children
provides resources, advocacy, and connections for parents with blind and low vision children.
Pennsylvania Association 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.
FamilyConnect from APH
offers online resources for families.
NUEVO: Charlando con Conchita
Estoy iniciando un grupo de apoyo mensual para padres hispanohablantes de estudiantes ciegos y con baja visión. Este será un lugar para hablar en español, hacer preguntas y construir una comunidad. Será el último martes de cada mes. Nuestra primera sesión será el 28 de enero a las 4:00pm EST. No es necesario registrarse. Enlace de Zoom aquí.
This is a support group for Spanish-speaking families of blind/low vision children.
NEW: Telesupport Group for Parents of Blind/Visually Impaired Children
Announcing a virtual support group for families of blind/visually impaired children in the Philadelphia region. This group, sponsored by Educating Communities for Parenting, connects every-other Thursday from 6:30-7:30pm via Zoom. Families share resources, information, and encouragement with other families in the Philadelphia region. Contact Maria Ceferatti at mcef869@gmail.com or 610-212-5566
for more information.
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.
- Family's Quick Start Guide to Special Education Bundle
- Blind-Visual Impairment page
- Blind/Visual impairment publications
- Family Information
- Student-Led IEP Process
- IEP Information
This newsletter is not an endorsement of any organization or product that may appear.