It was mid-February 2020 when I joined the Future In Sight team charged with developing our New Hampshire Parent Connect initiative. Through this initiative we aim to support, educate, inform, and connect parents of children who are blind or visually impaired. Sharing resources, providing expertise, empowering advocacy, and offering emotional support for the unique needs of parents with children with visual impairments constitutes an essential service that aligns with the organization’s broader mission of transforming the lives of those who are blind or visually impaired and their families.
Through NH Parent Connect we are working to establish parent connections and enhance their ability to network with each other; promote family/youth activities to connect socially and informally; provide periodic parent education workshops including parent advocacy/leadership training meetings.
It’s no surprise to you, I’m sure, that in mid-March our approach needed to shift to an online platform. We converted the inaugural parent meeting to an online zoom presentation on the most relevant topic for parents, “Resources and Support for Remote Learning for My Child with Visual Impairments.”
Families need support more than ever as they’ve suddenly become responsible for managing their children’s special education under these circumstances. As they meet the challenge of managing their children’s special education – whether their child’s educational placement is remote learning full time, part time with hybrid learning model or attending school full time – and the challenge of their own employment, support from others can make a real impact
So, if you’re a parent of a child with a visual impairment, we hope you’ll join us at NH Parent Connect. You can help influence future topics, get to know us and other parents, and – for a while at least – participate without leaving home! You’d be joining other family members who have children with low vision, blindness or who are Deaf-Blind, ranging in age from 2- 20 years old. There is much experience and care within the group. You will be warmly welcomed!
Susan LaVenture can be reached at [email protected]
