We exist to help parents of blind children to find the resources they need to raise
confident, competent, independent adults. We are a non-profit Michigan-based
organization that has existed for more than 35 years and recently has been revitalized to
meet the needs of a changing world.
We understand that your child’s diagnosis of blindness or visual impairment can be
frightening, sad, and challenging. We also understand that life can be tough if your child
seems to progress differently than other children or you feel that you are kept very busy
simply explaining the visual world to him or her. But we encourage you to take hope.
Blindness and serious visual impairment need not be the end of the world or mean a
dependent, sedentary life for your child. Many adults who are blind or have serious
visual impairments go to work, shop independently, cook for their families, own and
maintain homes, and engage with their communities. They do these things because they
have had education, training and support when they were young. This is how you can
make a profound difference in your child’s future.
Blind Children’s Fund (BCF) has resources that can encourage and empower you and
your child. Our website has been designed as a clearinghouse. We have some “how-to”
articles that we have developed and lots of resources (such as various websites and
additional resources) that you can easily find with one-click. We have also purposefully
developed the website to help lead you (as a parent or a general education teacher with
a visually impaired child in your classroom) to understand the needs, challenges, and,
yes, the rewards of teaching a visually impaired child. To navigate our website, use the
pull down menus to find lots of information.
We also have consultants with listening ears and blindness-related backgrounds. Our
consultants are here to help you, share with you, and to learn from you.
We hope you will look over our website and take advantage of the information we have
gathered.
We also hope parents will communicate with each other by sharing their stories and
their ideas with us. The BCF staff is excited to hear from you via email, letter, Facebook,
or by telephone (see our “Contact Us” page).
If you have information, ideas, stories, or knowledge of other Internet resources that
you believe would help other parents, please send them our way.