Online Family Resources

by Carmen Willings
www.teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
Updated June 17, 2025​
​When families first learn their child is blind or has a visual impairment, they often experience a range of emotions—from fear to uncertainty. They may be overwhelmed by the diagnosis and unsure of how to best support their child’s development. Many begin searching for support networks and trusted resources to learn more about their child’s specific condition, understand educational rights, and connect with other families navigating similar journeys.
The following organizations and websites offer valuable support, education, and community connections for families of children who are blind or visually impaired.

​Key Family-Focused Resources

Blind Babies Foundation
Now a program of Wayfinder Family Services (formerly Junior Blind), Blind Babies Foundation provides early intervention, family support, and vision-specific developmental services for infants and toddlers in California. Resources include fact sheets on:
  • Cortical/Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI)
  • Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)
  • Albinism and more
    🌐 wayfinderfamily.org
Blind Children's Center
Located in Los Angeles, the Blind Children’s Center is a family-focused organization offering early childhood education, therapeutic services, and family support. Their site includes:
Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR)
CPIR is a central hub for information on disabilities and special education law. It connects families to a network of Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs) across the U.S.
🌐 parentcenterhub.or
Dots for Families
This site is designed for families and educators of young children with visual impairments. It offers:
  • Literacy tips and activities
  • Strategies to promote early braille and tactile literacy
  • Family-friendly resources and printables
    🌐 paths.aph.org/dots
FamilyConnect
A collaboration between the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) and the National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI, now part of NFB), FamilyConnect is a comprehensive, multimedia platform. It offers:
  • Personal stories from families
  • Articles by professionals in the field
  • Tips for every stage of your child’s development
  • Local resource locator
    🌐 familyconnect.org
​Hadley
Hadley now provides accessible, online workshops and audio resources for adults and families adjusting to vision loss. While not specifically for children, some content may benefit older students and their families.
🌐 hadley.edu
WonderBaby.org
WonderBaby is dedicated to helping parents of young children with visual impairments and multiple disabilities. It includes:
  • Parent-written articles
  • Toy and tech reviews
  • A Q&A section
  • A newsletter and giveaways
    🌐 wonderbaby.org

​Braille & Literacy Support

Braille Bug 
Geared toward children, siblings, and educators, this site makes learning about braille fun and engaging. Features include:
  • Braille activities and games
  • Historical info on Louis Braille and Helen Keller
  • Print-to-braille conversion tools
    🌐 braillebug.org
Louis Braille Center
Offers resources for students learning about braille, including:
  • Braille book catalog
  • Educational programs
  • Saturday enrichment programs (location-specific)
    🌐 louisbraillecenter.org
Lutheran Braille Workers
Provides free Bibles and Christian materials in braille and large print formats in over 30 languages. Produced by volunteers across the U.S., these materials are offered at no cost to individuals with visual impairments.
🌐 lbwloveworks.or
Perkins eLearning and Paths to Literacy
  • Perkins eLearning: Webinars, courses, and resources for parents and educators
  • Paths to Literacy: Joint project of Perkins and Texas School for the Blind, with hundreds of literacy activity ideas, assessments, and blog posts

​Support Networks for Families

National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC)
A division of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the NOPBC is a national membership organization of families and friends of blind and low vision children. The organization provides information, encouragement, and support to help families raise their children to become confident, independent, and successful. NOPBC offers:
  • Annual national and regional conferences
  • Parent-to-parent mentoring and networking
  • Advocacy training
  • Educational publications and resources for families navigating IEPs, literacy, and independence
🌐 nopbc.or
Foundation for Blind Children (FBC)
Based in Arizona, FBC offers services across the lifespan—from birth through adulthood. Services include:
  • Early intervention
  • K-12 education
  • College and career prep
    🌐 seeitourway.org

​Medical & Syndrome Support

The MAGIC Foundation
This national nonprofit supports families of children with growth-related conditions, many of which can co-occur with visual impairments (e.g., Septo-Optic Dysplasia). Offers:
  • Syndrome-specific educational materials
  • Parent-to-parent connections
  • Annual family conferences
    🌐 magicfoundation.org

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