A quarterly newsletter from the Council for Exceptional Children's Division on Visual Impairments containing practitioner tips for Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments, Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and other professionals.
Issue link: http://dvi.uberflip.com/i/1534775
Join us August 28, 2025 at 4 PM EST for a new webinar! From Surviving to Thriving: The Impact of Family Education and Support Programs 1 ACVREP Credit Available Speaker: Alissa Eromae, MSW, Foundation for Blind Children She received her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Washington, focusing on relationship-based interventions. Alissa is endorsed as an Infant Mental Health Specialist and certified to provide reflective consultation to therapists and other early childhood providers. After many years of direct service to families, Alissa discovered the unexpected joy of mentoring professionals, leading teams, and empowering providers of all kinds. As the Director of Early Intervention and Research at the Foundation for Blind Children in Arizona, she is honored to lead an incredible team of specialized vision providers. This presentation addresses the critical role of parent support programs in promoting resilience and confidence among families raising children with low vision and blindness. Attendees will gain immediately applicable tools, including evidence-based strategies, program development recommendations, and real-life case examples, that can be directly implemented to enhance family support services in their professional services. The presenter will introduce evidence-based strategies to help practitioners implement peer mentorship, guidance discussions, and structured learning opportunities. Emphasizing inclusivity and cultural responsiveness, the session highlights key approaches such as free participation opportunities, culturally specific community speakers, and multilingual support options to ensure accessibility for diverse families. Attendees will leave with practical tools and a roadmap for creating inclusive parent education programs, ensuring that all families have the resources and support needed to not just survive, but thrive. Learning Objectives: 1. Participants will identify four processes that foster a sense of thriving in families caring for a child with low vision and blindness. 2. Participants will identify three positive outcomes associated with thriving families as related to emotional, physical, and behavioral well-being. 3. Participants will provide four examples of practical strategies used in creating or expanding Family Education and Support programs. Members Free Nonmembers $20 Registration Information Coming Soon!