The 3rd annual Technology Olympics is quickly approaching! The event, just like past Technology Olympics, will be held at Edventure Children’s Museum in Columbia, South Carolina, in October 2012. Registration will open shortly after Labor Day!

For children who have visual impairments and additional disabilities, making a friend, interacting with others in the community, and learning social skills are challenging. As a parent you can help your child by teaching social skills, involving your child in community activities, and working with your child’s educational team to prioritize friendship development and community involvement.

Whenever you are creating content for mass consumption (be it students, co-workers, or the Web), you should consider the accessibility of what you are creating.

A tactile experience book may be created with meaningful tactile items for a child or older individual who is visually impaired or blind. These books can help from recalling vacation memories to establishing a routine.

White Cane Safety Day is a special day set aside at the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind to help others learn about blindness through fun activities. However, these activities could be used at any time during the year! Here’s how to put on your own event like this.

The expression “put your best foot forward” takes on new meaning when one has a visual impairment. In our society people are quick to judge you by how you look and present yourself. It is important that a person who is visually impaired recognize this and plan for it by “putting their best foot forward” in making a positive impression on others.

The holidays are upon us and schools and families are preparing to take a break and relax. We believe that books are a great way for families to come together for fun and to learn about each other. These books are all about people with visual impairments and the people around them. Enjoy!

For children who read braille, one handwriting skill that needs to be taught is the child’s signature. This skill is usually started in second or third grade when the other children usually begin to learn cursive writing.

When people think dyslexia, they think vision problems. Dyslexics see letters and numbers backwards if they can read at all. That’s the common thought, but only one aspect of dyslexia. Dyslexia is a reading disorder, not a vision or “seeing” disorder. This means that braille readers can also be dyslexic.

Although listening skills are not designed to replace braille reading, they are an essential communication skill that all children need to possess. For many individuals who read braille, listening skills will become essential when they enter middle and high school.