Multiple Disabilities

This content is also available in: Español (Spanish)

We will share how to support your child who has blindness and additional disabilities with current articles and tips.

Does My Child Have Additional Disabilities?

This content is also available in: Español (Spanish)Many disabilities can occur with an eye condition, even though they may not be the cause of the eye condition. The combination can have a significant impact on your child. They can impact your child’s ability to learn about the world, communicate, and participate independently in daily life. […]

A child in supported seat looking towards alight up toy.

Cognitive Disabilities and Your Child with Blindness or Low Vision

This content is also available in: Español (Spanish)Children who have complex needs that involve cognition or thinking have difficulty understanding information and processing it. A common cause of cognitive disabilities is an intellectual disability. A child may seem to have cognitive disabilities due to other impairments affecting their function. For instance, a child with blindness […]

Photo of object attached to communication cards. Cards for Diaper, beads, bottle, toothbrush, cup, spoon and a piece of blanket flannel.

Communication for Young Children with Blindness or Low Vision and Multiple Disabilities

This content is also available in: Español (Spanish)What was your child’s first word? This question seems innocent enough, but it caused a great deal of heartache for me every time someone asked it. With respect to my daughter Mary, that first word was never spoken. Throughout our years in Early Intervention, we focused a great […]

young girl playing in a ball pit reaching to an adult

Embracing the Sensorimotor Stage

This content is also available in: Español (Spanish)When a child has complex needs involving vision, hearing, motor, and cognitive impairments, it’s tempting to rush to introduce using a switch or a communication device, but slowing down and providing your child the time needed to practice and master skills in the sensorimotor stage may be the […]

boy in a wheelchair holding a basketball looking down with the teacher holding his hands out.

The Value of Exploration

This content is also available in: Español (Spanish)Exploring an object by shaking, banging, throwing, touching, or mouthing is one of the first steps in learning the properties of an object and its use. For a child who is blind or low vision with motor impairments that limit their ability to explore items, caregivers can help […]