http://www.infantsee.org/

This program allows children under age one have their first eye exam for FREE.
Easy program for families who want to have their infants vision tested -- Simply put in their zip code and see providers in your area that participate in the program and schedule an appointment.

A guide to outdoor safety. 

If you love nature, you’re in good company. About half of Americans age 6 and older went outside for at least one activity in 2017, with jogging and running as the most popular ventures. Maybe that’s your thing—lacing up your sneakers and going for a run. Or perhaps you prefer hiking, biking, swimming or an organized sport. 

Before you go out, check out this great guide to help you stay safe this summer!

https://www.chop.edu/health-resources/wraparound-services

CHOP Behavioral Health Explains Wraparound (Behavior Health Services)
Accessing wraparound (behavioral health) services for your child with Autism or other emotional or behavioral challenges.

https://www.blindsports.org/

Want to Get Your Child Involved with After-School Sports?
Check out Blind Sport Organization

Blind Sports Organization (BSO) provides, promotes, and advocates for sports, recreation, and fitness opportunities for blind and visually impaired. BSO is a 501(c)(3), non-profit, community-service organization.  It has been in existence since 1974 and was formerly known as Pennsylvania Association for Blind Athletes (PABA). 

http://www.campabilitiespa.org/

Camp Abilities PA @ WCU is an educational sports camp for youth ages 7-17 who are blind or have low vision. The purpose of the camp is to empower children to be physically active, improve their overall health and wellness, encourage them to make food choices that support an active lifestyle, and develop their confidence and self-esteem through sport and physical activity. Athletes receive one-on-one instruction during all physical activities and events. Camp Abilities PA is an overnight camp experience that introduces children to a variety of sports, including 5-a-side soccer, cross-country and track running, field events, tandem biking, and swimming, and provides opportunities to participate in goalball, football, golf, lacrosse, frisbee, and beep baseball.

Create a pre-braille texture board
Ms. Victoria's Middle School student is using a Texture Board to practice tactual discrimination and hone her pre-braille skills. Watch a video of the student using the texture board during a shared activity. You can make these at home to extend learning after school hours. 

Mr. Frank and Ms. Melissa Collaborate to Create a CVI Adapted Shape Sorter!

With the help of Mr. Frank L., one of our incredible maintenance staff here at Overbrook School for the Blind,  Melissa Brown, OTR/L was able to bring an adaptation she was dreaming up to life. Together they were able to create this adapted shape sorter for our students with CVI. Ms. Melissa had the vision of something more stationary than was readily available and that did not have to be manipulated along with the shapes, but also decreased the visual working distance, while drawing the visual attention to the openings. That's A LOT of things!

Melissa sketched out her ideas and Frank brought it to life! Here you will find a PDF with materials and instructions to create it for your students! Of course, you may need your own everyday hero, like Frank, to build it!

http://www.minilandeducationalusa.com/able-play/

AblePlay Developed by the National Lekotek Center, AblePlayTM is a toy rating system and Web site that provides comprehensive information on toys for children with special needs, so parents, special educators, therapists, and others can make the best choices. Toys are categorized according to disability and age group.

A Focus on Apps

Here's what you'll find on KidsHealth.org:

Doctor-reviewed advice on hundreds of physical, emotional, and behavioral topics — from before birth through the teen years.

Separate sections for parents, kids, and teens, each created with your questions in mind.

Easy-to-follow articles, slideshows, videos, and health tools designed to help families learn, grow, and be their best.

Free lesson plans and programs for teachers and early childhood educators.

Don't forget about low-tech options. We love the talking large print calculator. It is perfect for students who benefit from seeing the numbers as well as hearing the numbers. The students use it during math class but also at in work experiences when calculating totals and making change. For students doing higher-level math, there is also talking this graphing calculator. 

Many of our teachers use Seeing AI with students and it is a fantastic app to increase independent living skills.

USE: The student holds their phone above print that needs to be read and the phone uses the camera to take a picture of the print and then reads it to the student. There is also a barcode option where the student can scan a barcode and it gives them information about the product.

In this picture, Justin scanned the frozen vegetable barcode and then selected the more info option. Once he did that, the app read him the recipe that was on the bag! He was able to then cook the vegetables. The app can also read handwriting and describe the environment through the landscape option, it can read signs in museums and when traveling. This app helps the students learn more about their environment as well as access print independently.