WSDS Listservs
Special Program: Instructional Resource Center
Website Favorites
State Agencies and Programs
National Resources
We maintain several free email listservs for family members and professionals to share information, ask questions, and discuss concerns. To subscribe to our listservs, email Carol Carrothers at: carolc@cwu.edu or call her at: (509) 963-1131 and tell her which one you’d like to join.
Listservs on visual impairment topics include:
Contact the IRC, located at Washington State School for the Blind in Vancouver, to register students with visual impairment who need adapted equipment and materials.
For more information, visit the IRC website or contact
Colleen Lines at 360-696-6321 ext. 183.
These are just a few of our favorites. We’ll add to this list as we come across new websites that we like.
American Foundation for the Blind
AFB is a national organization providing resources to individuals with visual impairments and their families. Link to information for parents, as well as information on education.
American Printing House for the Blind
APH is a national resource center for educational materials for children who are blind or visually impaired. Check out the products in the Family Catalog, including games and activities the whole family can enjoy. APH has also become a resource on information about Cortical Visual Impairment.
Blind Babies Foundation
BBF has provided early intervention services to families with visually impaired infants, toddlers, and preschoolers for almost 60 years. BBF remains a resource to both families and professionals. Scroll down the linked page to find Fact Sheets about common causes of visual impairment.
Blind Children’s Center
The Blind Children's Center publishes excellent booklets on a wide variety of topics. Check out their Publications and Resources.
Hadley School for the Blind
Hadley offers free distance education courses for blind adults, as well as parents and grandparents of blind children. Check out their Family Education Program.
Hilton-Perkins Program (Perkins School for the Blind)
Perkins was the first school in the U.S. for students who are blind. The school remains a resource for families of visually impaired children throughout the world. Check out their extensive Internet Resources for Parents.
Low Vision Gateway
Information on children and educational issues, eye diseases and conditions causing vision loss, low vision aids.
National Braille Press
NBP is a resource for Braille books for children of all ages. Check out their Children's Book Club.
Texas School for the Blind & Visually Impaired
Terrific resources for educators, other service providers, and families. The link takes you to TSBVI's Instructional Resources. For specific topics, use the search box on the TSBVI homepage. TSBVI also produces a quarterly newsletter entitled See/Hear which addresses a wide variety of topics.
wonderbaby.org
Parents of a visually impaired child share their experiences and a wealth of information. This website has great ideas for hands-on learning activities for babies with blindness/visual impairment.
Washington State School for the Blind (WSSB)
2120 E. 13th St.
Vancouver, WA 98661
800-562-0866
360-696-6525
WSSB's website has links to fabulous, short video clips on topics such as:
Buttoning, Zipping, Matching Clothes, Room Familiarization, Learning to Pour, Sighted Guide Techniques, Guide for Parents, and more.
Go to their website and look in the right hand column for:
*Video Clips on Blindness Tips*
Department of Services for the Blind (DSB)
(800) 552-7103
(425) 836-0924 (Alan Garrels)
Washington Talking Book & Braille Library
Contact Linda Johns, Children’s Librarian:
800-542-0866
206-615-0400
Parent Networking: WAPVI
Washington Association for Parents of VI Children
Contact Sharon & EJ Wilson at:
425-397-0436
WAPVImom@msn.com
American Council for the Blind
National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI)