Raising a Blind Child
Ranked #2,065 in Parenting & Kids, #64,759 overall
Tips for Parents of Blind Children
Raising a blind child is an experience filled with adventure! Some days are hectic, others are peaceful. Somedays you are surprised at how far you and your child have come, and other days you are surprised by how far you still have left to go. Somedays you celebrate your child's achievements, and other days you cope with bad news concerning your child's medical condition. One thing parenting blind children is not: It is never dull!
This lens is written by the mother of a blind child. My daughter is thirteen years old and is blind from retinopathy of prematurity. She has a small amount of light perception only.
Being this little girl's mom has been one of the most challenging and wonderful experiences of my life. I could not do it alone, although many times I have felt isolated. This lens is written in hopes that you will feel a little less alone and a little more connected to people and resources that can help you as you guide and teach your child toward life as an independent blind adult.
My daughter is blind. Raising a blind child is a lot like raising any child, and in many important ways it is very different.
Ever since I brought my daughter home, I have been hearing that most people learn 80 percent of what we know through our vision. That means my child is missing out on 80 percent of what her sighted peers are learning unless I figure out ways to bring that information to her other senses. This is quite a bit of time-consuming work.
It can feel like you are trying to reinvent the wheel if you try to figure this all out by yourself. Why do that when you can tap into the wisdom and experience of parents who came before you?
You don't have to reinvent the wheel or experience isolation while raising your blind child.
Photo property of the author
This lens is written by the mother of a blind child. My daughter is thirteen years old and is blind from retinopathy of prematurity. She has a small amount of light perception only.
Being this little girl's mom has been one of the most challenging and wonderful experiences of my life. I could not do it alone, although many times I have felt isolated. This lens is written in hopes that you will feel a little less alone and a little more connected to people and resources that can help you as you guide and teach your child toward life as an independent blind adult.
My daughter is blind. Raising a blind child is a lot like raising any child, and in many important ways it is very different.
Ever since I brought my daughter home, I have been hearing that most people learn 80 percent of what we know through our vision. That means my child is missing out on 80 percent of what her sighted peers are learning unless I figure out ways to bring that information to her other senses. This is quite a bit of time-consuming work.
It can feel like you are trying to reinvent the wheel if you try to figure this all out by yourself. Why do that when you can tap into the wisdom and experience of parents who came before you?
You don't have to reinvent the wheel or experience isolation while raising your blind child.
Photo property of the author
Contents at a Glance
- Encourage Your Blind Child to Try New Th...
- Dark Light
- More Lenses for Parents of Blind Childre...
- The Blind Babies Foundation
- How to Bond With Your Blind Baby
- Motivating Your Blind Baby to Walk
- Are You the Parent of a Blind Child?
- Help Your Child Learn Positive Attitudes...
- Adapting the Home for Your Visually Impa...
Encourage Your Blind Child to Try New Things
My daughter has no vision yet took this photo
Most people probably do not think about a child who is almost totally blind being interested in photography. I did not either. It never crossed my mind that my child who could not see would enjoy taking photographs; yet, she loves to do this. A lot of her pictures do not work out. Sometimes it might be just a shot of the plain white ceiling or a close-up of the front of her shirt.Sometimes her photographs turn out very nicely. Like this portrait she took of me using a little point and shoot, Canon Powershot, camera. I think it turned out pretty great!
Be sure to give your blind child opportunities to do things that it would not seem possible for her to do. The purpose is not to frustrate her, of course; but, to broaden her horizons and increase her self-confidence and independence. You never know where an experience might lead.
Blind people do things everyday that no one considered possible. Encourage your blind child to follow her dreams!
As a wise person once said, "You don't have to see the stars to reach for them!"
Photo property of the author
Dark Light
This looks pretty interesting! It just came out a couple of weeks ago. I am ordering it and will let you know how it is.
Dark Light: The Art of Blind Photographers
Directed and produced by award-winning photographer/filmmaker Neil Leifer, this 31-minute documentary demonstrates, through an extreme example, how creative people with disabilities are transcending their limitations to create art.
More Lenses for Parents of Blind Children
- Parents of Blind Children
- Raising special needs children can be isolating, especially when the disability is a low-incidence one like blindness. Parenting a blind child does not have to be isolating. Making friends with other parents of blind children can be rewarding and provide many learning opportunities for you and your child. Finding those other parents can be a challenge. Learn how to find other parents who are raising blind children.
- Learning Braille is Easier Than You Think
- Learning Braille is easier than you think! When parents learn Braille, their children benefit in numerous ways. Sometimes parents think Braille would be too hard for them to learn, but really it is not hard. This lens discusses why parents should consider learning Braille as well as resources for parents who want to.
- Toys for Blind Children
- Finding toys for your blind child can be challenging when every toy manufacturer seems to focus on toys that rely on sight. Blind children have lots of toys to choose from. Here are some suggestions and recommendations from parents, teachers and blind children themselves.
- Games for the Blind
- Having trouble finding accessible games for the blind? Look no further! This lens will help you find games that can be played by blind people.
Your Blind Baby
The Blind Babies Foundation
- Blind Babies Foundation
- Blind Babies Foundation Helping children with visual impairment and their families since 1949
How to Bond With Your Blind Baby
Motivating Your Blind Baby to Walk
Are You the Parent of a Blind Child?
I like to know who is visiting my lens, so that I can better address the concerns of my readers. Are you the parent of a blind child, a teacher or have some other interest in this topic? Help me make this lens better by identifying the needs of my readers!
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Help Your Child Learn Positive Attitudes About Blindness
While the sighted world around her tells her she cannot do things, you can do a great deal to give your child confidence and a can-do attitude.
- Blindness--What it Means in the Mind of a Blind Child
- A blind woman provides insight and guidance to parents regarding a blind child's attitude toward their own blindness.
Adapting Your Home
Adapting the Home for Your Visually Impaired Child
Tips to Help Your Low Vision or Blind Child at Home
This manual from the American Federation for the Blind will provide tips and guidelines for making adaptations to your home that will help your child with low vision be able to utilize their remaining vision as fully as possible. Some helpful tips include closing blinds in kitchen and bathrooms, making use of task lighting, installing lights under cupboards to illuminate work areas, and painting switch plates in bright hues to increase visibility. For more tips, check a copy of this handy guide!
- Making Life More Liveable | American Foundation for the Blind
- Making Life More Livable is the essential guide for adults experiencing vision loss and is an invaluable resource for their family and friends. Full of practical tips and illustrated by numerous photographs, this easy-to-use resource shows how people who are visually impaired can continue living independent, productive lives at home on their own. Useful general guidelines and room-by-room specifics provide simple and effective solutions for making homes accessible and everyday activities doable for individuals with visual impairments
Orientation and Mobility
Countdown to White Cane Safety Day
White Cane Safety Day: October 15, 2012
Get a White Cane
- National Federation of the Blind - Free White Cane Program
- Request a free white cane from this organization. Online form to fill out.
Does Your Child Use a Cane?
Does your child use a white cane for mobility? Tell us about it in the comments section!
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Books for Parents and Teachers Working with Vision Impaired Children
Braille Literacy
Braille Books for Children
Help your child with braille literacy skills when you check out these lenses.
More Resources for Braille Books
- Sources of Braille Children's Books and Magazines
- American Foundation for the Blind offers a list of sources for borrowing or purchasing braille and print/braille children's books and magazines in the United States.
Books in Braille for Young Children
Learning Braille
A fun braille literacy activity
Here is a fun activity you can do at home to help your child practice their braille alphabet skills.
curated content from YouTube
Pre-Braille Literacy
Preparing Your Blind Toddler or Preschooler to be a Braille Reader
Concept development is crucial for future braille literacy. While your child is small, give her many experiences and help her develop her understanding of objects, places and people in her world. This is vital to her future ability to understand what stories are about.
Another aspect that is important to future braille literacy is fine motor development. The finger tips must be enough to discriminate the small bumps in the braille cell. The fingers must also be strong enough to operate the Perkins braille writer throughout the school day without becoming fatigued.
Here are some lenses with suggestions for play activities that will build fine motor skills.
Another aspect that is important to future braille literacy is fine motor development. The finger tips must be enough to discriminate the small bumps in the braille cell. The fingers must also be strong enough to operate the Perkins braille writer throughout the school day without becoming fatigued.
Here are some lenses with suggestions for play activities that will build fine motor skills.
For More Information About Raising a Blind Child
- Wonder Baby
- WonderBaby.org, a project funded by the Perkins School for the Blind, is dedicated to helping parents of young children with vision impairments as well as children with multiple disabilities. Here you'll find a database of articles written by parents who want to share with others what they've learned about playing with and teaching a blind child. We focus on real-life advice and real-life experiences.
- Growing Strong
- An overview of resources for parents of blind children.
- Blind/Visually Impaired Education
- Written by a tvi, this blog has a lot of helpful information for those raising and/or teaching blind children.
Games with Braille
Braille Toys on eBay
Blind children sometimes need adaptations to their toys to enjoy them fully. Here are some toys that have been brailled or otherwise adapted to make them accessible to your blind child.
If you see something you like, better click on it. These brailled toys go fast on eBay!
If you see something you like, better click on it. These brailled toys go fast on eBay!
For more information about toys for blind children, check out this lens!
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Thank you to the Squidoo Angels who have stopped by to bless this lens!I Hope You Found Some Useful Information
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vallain Dec 5, 2011 @ 2:32 pm | delete
- I stopped back to admire all the improvements you've made to this page. It's a good resource for a parent of a blind child. Blessed.
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Tipi
Dec 5, 2011 @ 11:29 am | delete
- I've always thought there was something special about your avatar picture and that specialness is Frischette bringing out all she sees in you.....all vision is not seeing for sure! That 80% issue seems insurmountable but you have demonstrated that there is so much more and may your sharing be an encouragement to many! It is my pleasure to bless and FB'd.
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Ruthi
Dec 1, 2011 @ 10:11 pm | delete
- A wonderful lens and even more wonderful it was a gift! I cannot imagine the difficulties of raising a blind child, but it's awesome that you are sharing these resources with others. I will be passing this forward.
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KathyMcGraw
Sep 6, 2011 @ 7:49 pm | delete
- I found this quite interesting, especially the part about photography. It's so true that if you as the parent don't let them try to develop their interests you then set up boundaries and sometimes they stop trying. *Blessed*
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RenaissanceWoman2010
Aug 30, 2011 @ 7:59 pm | delete
- I appreciated this opportunity to learn more about the needs of blind children and what it means to raise a child who will thrive no matter what special needs exist. Thank you for teaching me and raising my awareness. Very important learning.
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Index
Want to go back and review something? This might help.
- Encourage Your Blind Child to Try New Things
- Dark Light
- More Lenses for Parents of Blind Children
- The Blind Babies Foundation
- How to Bond With Your Blind Baby
- Motivating Your Blind Baby to Walk
- Are You the Parent of a Blind Child?
- Help Your Child Learn Positive Attitudes About Blindness
- Adapting the Home for Your Visually Impaired Child
- Counting Down
- Preschool Blind Child with Cane
- Get a White Cane
- Does Your Child Use a Cane?
- Books for Parents and Teachers Working with Vision Impaired Children
- Braille Books for Children
- More Resources for Braille Books
- Books in Braille for Young Children
- Learning Braille
- Pre-Braille Literacy
- For More Information About Raising a Blind Child
- Toys For Blind Children
- Games with Braille
- Braille Toys on eBay
- Thank You to Vallain
- Was this lens helpful?
- This Lens Has Been Angel Blessed
- I Hope You Found Some Useful Information
- My Lenses
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by Frischy
My friend, Virginia Allain, created this lens for me. Thank you, Virginia!
I am blessed to be the mother of a beautiful teenage daughter who is bl...
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Amazon Spotlight
Children With Visual Impairments: A Guide for Parents
Amazon Price: $12.48 (as of 06/04/2012)
Loaded with instructive guidance and concrete support, this fine resource offers a great deal of information and reassurance to parents who have children with visual impairments. (review by Booklist)
Check This Book Out
Helping Children Who Are Blind (Early Assistance Series for Children With Disabilities)
Amazon Price: $8.00 (as of 06/04/2012)
Topics include: assessing how much a child can see, preventing blindness, helping a child move around safely, how to include learning activities in daily work, preparing for childcare and school, supporting parents of blind children, and teaching common activities like eating, dressing, and keeping clean.
A Book for Parents of a Blind Child
The Bridge to Braille: Reading and School Success for the Young Blind Child
Amazon Price: $79.99 (as of 06/04/2012)
