Heather Miller-Kuhaneck gives specific suggestions for incorporating sensory input into daily activities and offers general guidelines for the home.
Source: Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation
Multiple Disabilities Resources
In addition to blindness or visual impairment, a child may have additional disabilities, such as cognitive, developmental, hearing, or mobility impairments. Every student with multiple disabilities presents a unique educational challenge. Teachers need specialized training and skills to understand how these students experience and understand the world. In this section, families and educators will find introductions to the educational needs of these students, as well as best practice and policy overviews.
Understanding the degree of functional vision is important in planning the educational program for students with deafblindness. (PDF file from a newsletter.)
Source: Missouri Deafblind Technical Assistance ProjectVideo resumes are a way to show potential employers a student's abilities and achievements. This 2-page fact sheet lists tips for creating an effective video resume, a particularly effective way to document the abilities and achievements of students with severe disabilities.
Source: California Deaf-Blind ServicesTSBVI Outreach VI Consultant Scott Baltisberger demonstrates how to make a cardboard calendar box.
Source: Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI)The reauthorized Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was signed into law on Dec. 3, 2004 and ensures “services to children with disabilities throughout the nation. IDEA governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education and related services to more than 6.5 million eligible infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities.”
Source: U.S. Department of EducationThis webpage offers NCDB products, links to articles and other publications, and Internet resources.
Source: National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB)In this two-page fact sheet, parents learn what they can do before, during, and after the IEP team meeting, with real life examples. Available in Spanish, Hmong, Somali.
Source: Center for Parent Information and ResourcesThis checklist is "a tool to help parents who want to make sure that their child receives the special education and related services listed in their IEP."
Source: National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC)This article includes sections on learning table skills, helping to prepare simple snacks and meals, and tips for good kitchen habits.
Source: FamilyConnect for Parents of Children with Visual ImpairmentsMillie Smith discusses the impact of current federal legislation on the development of IEPs for students with severe disabilities,” and examines research-based instructional strategies.
Source: Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI)Pdf list of camps in Iowa
Source: Iowa Camp ListDr. Lea Hyvärinen, a Finnish ophthalmologist, shares information and resources on of pediatric vision tests and tests for assessment of visual capabilities in occupational health services and in assessment of low vision. Available in multiple languages.
Includes video demonstrations, infant vision, lectures on assessment of functional vision, information for parents, assement of vision and hearing of individuals who are deafblind, and testing the vision of a child with Down Syndrome.
Published in India, this downloadable 152-page manual is universally useful for parents and caregivers of children who are visually impaired with additional disabilities. It includes a general introduction, guidelines, checklists of skills, and activities to enhance them; by Blind People's Association in collaboration with the Hilton/Perkins Program.
Source: Blind People's AssociationIn this 6-page article, Deborah Chen outlines specific strategies for developing communication: observation, engaging the child's available senses, cues, key word signs, interrupted routine strategy, and selecting the child's first signs. (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
Source: California Deaf-Blind ServicesNCDB hosts a portal page on their website with an overview on the work of Dr. Lilli Nielsen, with links to key resources
Source: National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB)This website is a primary source of information on Active Learning and the sole source of Active Learning equipment authorized by Dr. Lilli Nielsen in North America.
Presenters from the Perkins Deafblind program describe the types of vision loss they encounter (total blindness, low vision, CVI) and the use of the appropriate materials for young learners who are deafblind.
Source: Perkins eLearning Webinar
Camp Waban
5 Dunaway Dr., Sanford 04073
for New England residents
(207) 490-9759
Website: www.waban.org
Email: kevin@waban.org
Accessible camping facilities for rent; participants must be accompanied by caregiver.
Source: Camp Waban
Pine Tree Camp
Camp in Oakland, Maine
Email: ptcamp@pinetreesociety.org
Pine Tree Camp offers a wide range of opportunities for people with disabilities and their families including overnight camp and day camp in the summer season as well as special programs in the fall, winter and spring.\
Abilities Unlimited: Kamp for Kids/Camp Togowauk
Westfield, Massachusetts
Integrated; for residents of Western Massachusetts.