The National
Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI)
is a non-profit organization of, by and for parents committed
to providing support to the parents of children who have visual
impairments. NAPVI is a core partner for the Families & Advocates Partnership
for Education (FAPE)
project spearheaded by the Parent
Advocacy Coalition for Education Rights (PACER).
NAPVI provides
workshops and publications for parents; information and
referral; publishes a quarterly publication called "Awareness;"
provides seed money for organizing local NAPVI chapters; maintains
a national information and support network; monitors legislation
affecting children with visual impairment, and provides information
on local, regional and national conferences of interests to parents.
National Organization of Parents
of Blind Children (NOPBC) -a Division of the National
Federation of the Blind (NFB). NOPBC is a national membership
organization of parents, educators, and friends of blind children
reaching out to each other to give vital support, encouragement,
and information. Publishes an informative quarterly magazine "Future
Reflections;" sponsors a Braille pen-pal service for blind youth;
provides parent training and seminars; sponsors a summer camp
for blind kids, their sighted siblings, and sighted children of
blind parents;special committees; an annual Braille Readers are Leaders contest
for Braille students; there also are many local/regional chapters
of NOPBC throughout the states.
NOBPC also distributes
free literature, establishes cane banks so parents
may trade in old canes for new ones, consults with legislators
about the needs of blind children, provides assistance to parents
and blind children whose rights have been denied, and much more.
Most of all, the NOPBC provides guidance to parents as they come
to grips with what blindness means and as they strive to instill
independence in a child who happens to be blind.
BlindKid-Software
Online Group - This online group of primarily parents
and educators promotes discussion of educational software and
non-violent computer games playable by blind children. Parents
and educators of blind children often suggest/recommend to other
group members not only software, but also non-computer games,
toys, and educational materials appropriate for blind children.
Blindhomeschoolers
Online Group - This is for families who are homeschooling
*or parenting* a blind child (not just for home schoolers). Parents
share tips, suggestions, resources and offer mutual support. Teachers
of the Visually Impaired can also be members to share tips and
suggestions.
Blind Parents Online
Group - sponsored by the National Federation of the Blind
(NFB). This online list consists primarily of postings by blind
parents about areas of mutual concern, questions, sharing resources,
support in raising their blind and/or sighted children. Sighted
parents of blind and visually impaired children can also join
and may find many of the postings helpful.
