Parent Vision Resources
April 2012
New Parent Electronic Packet:
On the Hearing and Vision Early Intervention Website. Contains links to several other vision resources. http://www.morgan.k12.il.us/isd/hveio/documents/ParentsVISIONpacketletterElectronic112111.pdf
Supporting Families Booklet:
On the Hearing and Vision Early Intervention Website. A list of resources specifically for parents.
http://www.morgan.k12.il.us/isd/hveio/documents/vision_supp_families.pdf
(This booklet has been updated, but the resources are the same).
Top Resource Links:
On the Hearing and Vision Early Intervention
Website. http://www.morgan.k12.il.us/isd/hveio/links/Blindness.aspx
NOAH: National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation:
www.albinism.org (has a quarterly magazine).
Other Albinism Resources:
The Hadley School for the Blind:
Tuition Free Distance Education
www.hadley.edu
The Guild for the Blind:
Based in Chicago. Also has an RP Support Group with Spring/Summer Sessions on a variety of topics. For info on the Guild’s RP support group, contact Lauri Dishman at lauri@guildfortheblind.org
Also has a Diabetic Retinopathy support group that meets the third Thursday of the month. Also contact Lauri Dishman.
www.guildfortheblind.org
Blind Service Association:
Holds an annual Spelling Bee in the spring for elementary and high school students. On Facebook, type in Blind Service Association Youth Connections and discuss ideas and fine about stories about kids like you, including a New Jersey teen who pitched his first no-hitter and a high school cross country running team form Ohio who has her guide dog at her side.
http://www.blindserviceassociation.org/
Library of Congress/ National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped:
Digital talking books for youth and adults and free audio and Braille library service for the print impaired reader. Books and magazines, special equipment, book listings and catalogs.
www.loc.gov/nls
Illinois Network of Talking Book and Braille Libraries:
Philip J. Rock Center and School and Project Reach:
A residential school offers a comprehensive educational program available for children who are deaf-blind in the 3-21 year age group. The center also provides a wide range of services on a statewide basis. Services are provided in schools, medical settings, early intervention centers and homes.
http://project-reach-illinois.org
The Illinois School for the Visually Impaired:
A statewide residential school serving children birth to 21, located in Jacksonville, Illinois. Holds Low Vision Clinics and the annual Parent Infant Institute: Opening Doors and provides Early Intervention services in the natural environment.
www.ipvi.net
Guiding Eyes for the Blind:
Guide Dogs
www.guidingeyes.org
TransVision Program: Summer in the City:
This is a Chicago based residential program designed for energetic, academic students I need of skill development in areas to prepare them for college, technical training, and are bound for competitive employment. Two sessions for students ages 14 and up in academic programs and who are blind or visually impaired as their primary disability. July and August 2012.
Trans_vis@att.net
www.transvis.org
Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind:
Housed under our roof are a Low Vision Clinic; a clock manufacturing facility in which visually impaired workers produce clocks that are distributed around the world; a school for children with multi-disabilities; a Legal Clinic to assist people who are blind in combating discrimination; and a VA program to assist veterans in all 50 states. The Lighthouse also has an Early Intervention program.
http://chicagolighthouse.org/
SmartGlasses.org:
This is a website resource that contains a fantastic biography of Louis Braille and his invention of the Braille language.
http://www.smart-glasses.org/louis-brailles-vision/
Educational Rights and Responsibilities: Understanding Special Education in Illinois.
This document was published by the Illinois State Board of Education June 2009 with the assistance of a parent task force to assist parents and others to learn about the educational rights of children who have disabilities and receive special education services.
http://www.isbe.net/spec-ed/html/parent_rights.htm
The Illinois Students Records Keeper: For Parents of Students Who Receives Special Education Services:
This booklet is for parents to use to keep important information about their child and his/her special education and related services. It is a companion to Educational Rights and Responsibilities: Understanding Special Education in Illinois.
Records play an important role as you plan your child’s education. Dates, people, meetings and reports are important throughout your child’s educational career. The records keeper was developed to assist parents in preparing for Individualized Education Program (IEP) and transition meetings; getting ready for evaluations and reevaluations; and keeping track of paperwork and other materials.
This booklet cross-references the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) publication, Educational Rights and Responsibilities: Understanding Special Education in Illinois. At the bottom of each page, locate the page number(s) that references a section or pages in the guide. The guide offers information to increase your knowledge and understanding about the topic or issue.
http://www.isbe.net/spec-ed/pdfs/student_records_keeper.pdf
When I’m 3, Where Will I Be? :
A family’s workbook to prepare for the transition from Early Intervention to services for 3 year olds.
http://www.isbe.net/earlychi/pdf/transition_workbook.pdf
Other Transition Resources:
http://www.isbe.net/earlychi/html/ec_speced_intervention.htm