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Special Needs of Children
All preschool children should
have their eyes examined for Amblyopia, and other preventable causes of blindness. Children with a severe visual disability may have special problems.
Since visual information accounts for much of children's learning,
visually handicapped children have to acquire information by
touching, hearing, smelling and tasting as substitutes for seeing.
It is especially important that visually impaired children have rich
and varied experiences in their early years, so that when they
reach school age they will not be behind other children in their
amount of exposure to and knowledge about the world.
Visually handicapped children need the same opportunities
as other children for recreation, sporting events, and social
interaction with other children, both sighted and visually
handicapped. Visually impaired children should be encouraged
to run, exercise and play games with other children even though
their parents, as well as perhaps the children themselves, may
be anxious about such activities. Visually impaired children who
attend a school where they live away from home need
recreational activities and opportunities to socialize with
neighborhood children.
As visually handicapped children grow older, their parents should
discuss with them the types of work or education they may want
to explore in the future. Parents should keep an open mind about
what type of academic training or industrial training their visually
impaired son or daughter may be able to undertake.
It is possible that visually impaired children may be rejected by other
children. This is painful to parents as well as to the child and may
damage the child's self-esteem. Parents should not emphasize these
problems but encourage their daughters and sons to continue to
participate in activities with other children while at the same time
realistically acknowledging the problem of visual impairment.
It is important that both parents and visually impaired children realize
that visual disability is only one of many personal characteristics.
The opinion of others is based upon how one thinks, acts, and behaves
not on the capacity to see.
American Diabetes Association
1701 N Morgan St, Alexandria VA 22312,
Telephone: (800) 342-2383 Fax: (703) 549-6995
Website: http://www.diabetes.org
Email: AskADA@diabetes.org.
The American Diabetes Association funds research, publishes scientific findings, provides information and other services to people with diabetes, their families, health professionals and the public. The Association is also actively involved in advocating for scientific research and for the rights of people with diabetes.
American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
P.O. Box 193832, San Francisco CA 94119,
Telephone: (415) 561-8505 Fax: (415) 561-8531
Website: http://www.aapos.org
Email: aapos@aao.org
Pediatric ophthalmologists will answer parents or guardians who have questions about their children's vision on the web site.
American Foundation for the Blind - AFB West
44 Montgomery Street, San Francisco CA 94104,
Telephone: (415) 392-4845 Fax: (415) 392-0383
Website: http://www.afb.org
Email: sanfran@afb.net
Free / Low Income
In addition to information and referral, AFB provides technical assistance to agencies, schools and employers. Regional newsletter available. Phone or write to request catalog of publications and brochures relating to vision loss.
Blind Babies Foundations
1841 Franklin Street, 11th Floor, Oakland CA 94612,
Telephone: (510) 446-2229 Fax: (510) 446-2262
Website: http://www.blindbabies.org
Email: bbfinfo@blindbabies.org
Free / Low Income
Families of infants and preschoolers (ages birth to sixth birthday) who are visually impaired/blind receive early intervention services in their homes. Consultation with ophthalmologists and schools. Family support and referrals. Serves the following counties: Alameda, San Francisco, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Sonoma, Napa, Marin, San Mateo, Kings, Tulare, Solano. Please call main Oakland office for services in all locations.
Blind Children's Center
4120 Marathon St., Los Angeles CA 90029-3584,
Telephone: (323) 664-2153 Fax: (323) 665-3828
Website: http://www.blindchildrenscenter.org
Free / Low Income
Services in northern California include information and referral, as well as educational booklets and training manuals.
Braille Superstore
MarvelSoft Enterprises, INC
33222 Lynn Avenue, Abbotsford Canada BC V2S1C9,
Telephone: (800) 987-1231 Fax: (800) 985-1231
Website: http://www.braillebooks.com
Email: info@braillebooks.com
Free / Low Income
Braille books for children. Talking software, including typing tutors and screen readers. Talking products. Braille, tactile games, etc.
Coalition of Parents & Educators of Deaf-Blind Children
Telephone: (415) 239-8089 x 21
Del Norte Office of Education
Telephone: (707) 464-6141
Website: http://www.delnorte.k12.ca.us
Local and statewide resources for visually impared or blind children.
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund
2212 Sixth Street, Berkeley CA 94710,
Telephone: 510) 644-2555 Fax: (510) 841-8645
Website: http://www.dredf.org
Email: dredf@dredf.org
Free / Low Income
Advances civil rights of individuals with disabilities through legislation, litigation, informal and formal advocacy. DREDF also provides services as part of the Northern California Coalition for Parent Training and Information, or parents of children with disabilities in the educational system.
Dragonfly Toy Company
5725 South 5th Street, Pembina ND 58271,
Telephone: (800) 308-2208 Fax: 204-453-2320
Website: http://www.dftoys.com
Over 1250 products on-line, an experienced staff, and excellent suite of specially designed services. Many different products, from toys to technology, for children who have special needs.
Exceptional Teaching, Inc.
5673 W. Las Positas Blvd., #207, Pleasanton CA 94588,
Telephone: (800) 549-6999 Fax: 925-598-0086
Website: http://www.ExceptionalTeaching.com
Email: info@exceptionalteaching.com
Mail-order company providing educational toys and materials for those with special needs, including visually impaired infants, children and adults.
Hadley School for the Blind
700 Elm Street, Winnetka IL 60093,
Telephone: (800) 323-4238 Fax: (847) 446-0855
Website: http://www.hadley.edu
Email: info@hadley.edu
Hadley offers over 100 courses in four programs: Adult Continuing Education, High School Program, Family Education Program and Professional Education Program. It should be noted that select courses are available online in addition to braille, cassette and large print.
Humbolt County Office of Education
AL
Telephone: (707) 445-7000
Website: http://www.humboldt.k12.ca.us/
Local and statewide resources for visually impared or blind children.
National Association for the Parents of the Visually Impaired
P.O. Box 317, Watertown MA 02471,
Telephone: (800) 562-6265 Fax: (617) 972-7444
Website: http://www.spedex.com/napvi
Email: napvi@perkins.org
Support, information, and referrals. Call for state affiliate.
Raz-Kids
1840 E. River Road Suite #320, Tucson AZ 85718-5834,
Telephone: (866) 889-3731 Fax: (866) 889-3729
Website: http://www.raz-kids.com
Email: support@raz-kids.com
Raz-Kids is an online collection of interactive leveled books and quizzes designed to guide and motivate emergent and reluctant readers as well as improve the skills of fluent readers. The program consists of 85 online books, along with quizzes and worksheets. New books are added throughout the year.
Science Products
Box 888, Southeastern PA 19399,
Telephone: (800) 888-7400 Fax: (610) 296-0488
Website: http://www.captek.net
Sells a number of low vision aids including CAPTEK voice readout blood glucose and blood pressure monitors. Magnifyers, large print, childrens sensory books and toys.
Seedlings Braille Books for Children
P.O. Box 51924, Livonia MI 48151-5924,
Telephone: (800) 777-8552 Fax: (734) 427-8552
Website: http://www.seedlings.org
Email: SEEDLINK@AOL.COM
Free / Low Income
Braille and print-and-braille books for children through the eighth grade. Free catalog.
Spinoza Company, The
PO Box 97, Cornucopia WI 54827,
Telephone: (800) 282-2327 Fax: (651) 604-6681
Website: http://www.spinozabear.com
Email: spinoza@spinozabear.com
Sells toy bear with inserted CD player with pre-recorded messages.
Teaching Math to Visually Impaired Students
110 W. 45th Street, Austin TX 78756,
Telephone: (512) 454-8631 Fax: (512) 206-9540
Website: http://www.tsbvi.edu/math
Email: jimallan@tsbvi.edu
by Susan A. Osterhaus, M.Ed. Catalog with products for all ages including Math Drill Cards and many other items for children.
Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
2470 El Camino Real, Suite 107, Palo Alto CA 94306,
Telephone: (650) 858-0202 Fax: (650) 858-0857
Website: http://www.vistacenter.org
Email: center@vistacenter.org
Intake, Information and Referral, Counseling, Support groups, training in daily living skills, orientation and mobility, computer training, low vision examinations and sale of low vision devices.