Infant and Toddler Services
Parents are a child’s first teacher. Here are some helpful resources to get you started.
State and Local Infant and Toddler Services
The Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Early Intervention and Special Education Services, in accordance with federal and state laws, provides early intervention services and supports through the Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program. Each of Maryland’s 24 jurisdictions implements a local Infants and Toddlers Program, coordinating services provided by education, health care, social services agencies, and private providers. Services are provided to eligible infants and toddlers and certain services and supports are also available to parents and members of the immediate family. Services are provided at no cost to families. These services are available for children from infancy through age 3. After age 3, the child may be moved from an IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan) to an IEP (Individualized Education Program). For more information, go to: https://referral.mditp.org/MDITP.html
Other Useful Resources for Young Children
Braille Reading Pals Club
The Braille Reading Pals Club introduces young blind children and their families to literacy through Braille. The program fosters positive attitudes about Braille and helps sighted family members promote a love of reading through the shared reading of print/Braille books with their blind children. This program is designed for blind and low-vision children ages birth through eight years old. For more information, go to: https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/early-childhood-initiatives
Early Explorers
The Early Explorers program introduces young blind children and their families to the long white cane. Children will become more independent, confident, and curious travelers throughout life. The program provides strategies to teach children beginning cane travel skills. This program is designed for blind and low-vision children ages birth through eight years old. For more information, go to: https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/early-childhood-initiatives
Sources for Special Education For Children
Each local school system has a vision program to assist blind and visually impaired students to receive instruction along with their sighted peers. Most vision programs will provide services to students from infancy through high school graduation or through age 21. Contact your local school system to obtain specific information about how to access the district’s vision services. Parents who need advocacy assistance, in obtaining appropriate services for your child should consult Know Your Rights, Education and For Parents. Parents may also wish to contact Conchita Hernandez, who is the vision expert at the Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Special Education, conchita.hernandez@maryland.gov or 530-908-3547.
Maryland School for the Blind
3501 Taylor Avenue Baltimore, MD 21236-4499
Phone: (410) 444-5000 Fax: (410) 319-5700
Web site: www.mdschblind.org
E-mail: info@mdschblind.org
The Maryland School for the Blind (MSB) is a private, non-profit school housed on a 95-acre campus in the Parkville area of Baltimore. It is the only residential and day school in Maryland for students who are blind or visually impaired. Students must be referred by their local school district. They attend tuition-free. Criterion for referral is a visual impairment which, even with correction, adversely affects educational functioning. Ninety percent of MSB students have multiple disabilities in addition to blindness or visual impairment. The school provides services for individuals from birth through age 21. Students participate in vocational rehabilitation services while transitioning from MSB to the community and employment. Independent Living services include:
- Personal management
- Braille
- Handwriting
- Typing
- Home management
- Orientation and mobility training
On campus student career experiences include:
- Classroom cleanup (wiping desks, taking out trash, putting away materials)
- Delivering the attendance or other documents to offices
- Serving food or bussing tables at dining events on campus
- Delivering mail
- Working in the school store
- Cashier or food prep in the student run café
- Answering classroom and front desk telephone
- Shredding paper for recycling
- Making candy and snacks
- Assisting in the mailroom
CHILDREN'S BOOKS
American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230 Phone: (410) 659-9315 Web site: www.actionfund.org Email: actionfund@actionfund.org The American Action Fund has an extensive library of braille books for children and adults. In addition to the library, the American Action Fund offers a program of free Braille books for children to keep. The AAF started this program to provide blind children a free Braille book every month from a popular children’s reading series. These titles are the same as those that are available in bookstores and public libraries everywhere. Go to the American Action Fund web site to obtain an application for these programs.
The American Action Fund has launched the Share Braille web site to enable people to exchange Braille books throughout the United States. People who have books they would like to give can connect with folks who are looking for Braille books to keep. This is one of many efforts to increase the literacy of blind children, teens, and adults. It encourages finding homes for Braille books that may have otherwise been discarded, it motivates blind people to read more, build their own personal libraries, and gives them access to information they may not have known existed.
You can search for books that are available, share books, or request books for yourself. You do not need to give a book to receive a book.
Please refer to the Share Braille web site at: www.sharebraille.org. If you have questions, you can email
sharebraille@actionfund.org .
American Printing House for the Blind
1839 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206
Phone: 1-800-223-1839
Website: http://www.aph.org
In partnership with the Dollywood Foundation, APH distributes selected audio and print/braille books from the Dolly Parton Imagination Library for children up to 6 years of age. APH also sells a series of tactile illustrated books to support early literacy. In addition, APH creates and sells a wide variety of supplies and devices useful in the education of blind children.
Braille Bookstore
Future Aids: The Braille Superstore
(A Division of MarvelSoft Enterprises, Inc.)
33222 Lynn Ave., Abbotsford, BC V2S 1C9 Canada
1-800-987-1231
Website: http://www.braillebookstore.com/
Sells a wide variety of books for children and adults of all ages.
Beulah Reimer Legacy (BRL)
April Enderton
7758 SE 36th Street, Des Moines, IA
Phone: (515)282-0049
http://www.beulahreimerlegacy.com/
E-mail: endertona@wildblue.net
Beulah Reimer Legacy (BRL) sells print/Braille children's picture books and flash cards at an affordable cost. BRL's mission is to increase Braille literacy and reading opportunities by placing braille in the hands of eager readers. All of our books are Brailled in grade 2 contracted braille. Shipping and handling is free.
National Braille Press
88 St. Stephen St. Boston, MA 02115
Phone: (617) 266-6160
Toll free: (800) 548-7323 Fax: (617) 437-0456
Web site: www.nbp.org
E-mail: orders@nbp.org
Producer of Braille books for children and adults on a wide range of topics. Parents can subscribe to a children's book club and receive 12 books per year for a nominal fee.
Seedlings Braille Books for Children
P.O. Box 51924 Livonia, MI 48151-5924
Phone: (734) 427-8552
Toll: (800) 777-8552
Web site: www.seedlings.org
Email: info@seedlings.org
Braille books are provided at each level of development, from toddler board books to classic literature for older children. Titles cover fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. Some books are produced in both print and Braille, and uncontracted Braille. If your child is visually-impaired, 21 or under, and living in the US or Canada, he/she is eligible to receive two free braille books each calendar year through the Seedlings Book Angels Program. Check the website for details.
SUMMER CAMPS AND PROGRAMS
Camp Abilities Maryland
Overnight sports camping program, held at the Maryland School for the Blind, for blind and visually impaired children ages 9-17. Opportunities for young campers and for mentors/volunteers.
For current information and application forms, see the Camp Abilities section of the Outreach Events page of the Maryland School for the Blind at
https://www.marylandschoolfortheblind.org/current-events/outreach-events/
Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind
8757 Georgia Avenue, Suite 805, Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-589-0894
Web: http://www.clb.org/programs-services/youth-family/
E-mail: info@clb.org
Camp Lighthouse is a one-week day camp held for children between the ages of 6 and 12 and includes games, recreation, arts and crafts, braille activities, field trips, and special guests.
Blind Industries and Services of Maryland
3345 Washington Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21227
410-737-2600
Website: www.bism.org
E-mail: info@bism.org
BISM offers two dynamic multi-week summer programs: Independence 101, for grades 5-8, and Work to Independence, for high school students. In addition, during the school year, BISM offers GLIDE workshops (Gaining Leadership, Independence, Direction and Experience) for transitioning students.
Out-of-state Programs
The National Federation of the Blind operates three model rehabilitation centers which offer training programs for children and youth:
BLIND, Incorporated (Blindness: Learning in New Dimensions, Inc.)
100 East 22nd St., Minneapolis, MN 55404(612) 872-0100
http://www.blindinc.org/
Colorado Center for the Blind
2233 West Shepperd Ave., Littleton, CO 80120
(800) 401-4632
http://www.cocenter.org/
Louisiana Center for the Blind
101 South Trenton Street, Ruston, LA 71270
(800) 234-4166
http://www.louisianacenter.org/
SCIENCE AND MATH
National Center for Blind Youth in Science
Website: www.blindscience.org
Driving innovation in education and employment related to the blind in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and related careers. Serves as a national clearinghouse of resources and expertise related to nonvisual exploration. Resources and programs for parents and students.
Independence Science
3000 Kent Ave. West Lafayette, IN 47906
(866) 862-9665
Website: http://www.independencescience.com/
Sells the Talking LabQuest, which provides a way to convert information from more than 70 types of sensors into speech, an audible graph, and other formats for analysis. Assists schools in making their science programs accessible to blind students.
BlindMath Gems
http://www.blindscience.org/blindmath-gems-home
This web page, part of the National Center for Blind Youth in Science, contains highlights from the archives of the NFB's Blind Math listserv. Students, parents, and blind professionals have exchanged tips and strategies in a range of subjects, including calculators, geometry, graphing, iOS, LaTex, blind mathematicians, Nemeth, statistics, student issues, tools, and transcription.