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Educational Advocacy

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Education: American Foundation for the Blind
http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=8
The American Foundation for the Blind's website is the place to start for parents and teachers who want to understand what their child needs to learn in order to succeed in school and in life. Outlines the educational needs and rights and development of children who are blind, from infancy to the college years.

Developmental Assessment: Role of the Teacher of the Visually Impaired/Deafblind, Advisor: Assisting the Development of Visually Impaired Students through Online Resources
http://www.e-advisor.us/developmental/index.htm
Explains the importance of assessment in supporting a child's development and the necessity of teamwork between medical and educational professionals.

A Parent Primer on Special Education Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Definitions: Mountain Plains Regional Resource Center
http://sig.cls.utk.edu/online_documents/AcronymDefinitionPrimer.pdf
A useful guide through the alphabet soup of educational terms and abbreviations.

Are All your Students with Visual Impairments Receiving Appropriate Services?: Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
http://www.tsbvi.edu/agenda/flyer.htm
Produced by the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, a checklist for teachers and administrators of the services that schools must provide.

The IEP Process: National Federation of the Blind
http://www.nfb.org/nfb/NOPBC_LA_IEP_Process.asp?SnID=722367523
Advice for parents on helping to create and understanding the importance of their child's Individual Education Program, assembled by the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children, associated with the National Federation of the Blind.

Pop-Up IEP, National Center on Low-Incidence Disabilities: University of Northern Colorado
http://nclid.unco.edu/nclid/ssn/
Advice for parents advocating for their children with disabilities. Respectful scripts for addressing resistance from school officials and asserting the child's educational rights under the law.

Professional Roles, ADVISOR: Assisting the Development of Visually Impaired Students Through Online Resources
http://www.e-advisor.us/teacher_roles3.php?
Succinct definitions of educational and medical professionals who work with children with visual impairments.

Web-Based Organizations and Resources

National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI)
http://www.spedex.com/napvi/
Provides information and support to parents and advocates for the educational needs of children with blindness or visual impairments.

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY)
http://www.nichcy.org/
A national "source of information on: disabilities in infants, toddlers, children, and youth, IDEA, which is the law authorizing special education, No Child Left Behind (as it relates to children with disabilities), and research-based information on effective educational practices."

National Center for Blind Youth in Science (NCBYS): National Federation of the Blind
http://www.blindscience.org/ncbys/Default.asp
Supports and promotes the teaching of science and math to students who are blind, including technical support, participatory programs, development of teaching materials, and mentoring.

PACER Center (Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights)
http://www.pacer.org/
A national resource center whose mission is "to expand opportunities and enhance the quality of life of children and young adults with disabilities and their families, based on the concept of parents helping parents." The organization is especially knowledgeable about assistive technology and computers in the classroom

National Association of Blind Students (NABS): National Federation of the Blind
http://www.nfb.org/nfb/NABS.asp?SnID=722367523
"For over 30 years this national organization of blind students has provided support, information, and encouragement to blind college and university students."

Blind Babies Foundation
http://blindbabies.typepad.com/
The "Resources for Parents and Professionals" section has information about the Babies Count National Registry, an advocacy and educational planning tool for children with visual impairment.