Post by Ms. Kathy on Apr 30, 2008 6:46:27 GMT -6
New Web Community Brings Together Parents of Visually Impaired Children
Source Link:http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/04-29-2008/0004801864&EDATE=
NEW YORK, April 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- When parents learn their
child has a visual impairment, it can be overwhelming. Parents wonder,
"Will my child fall behind at school?" or "Will my child make friends?" or
"Will my child have a successful career?" With only 93,600 visually
impaired school-aged children in the U.S., over half of whom have
additional disabilities, it's easy for families facing vision loss to feel
alone.
To help these families connect with each other and give busy parents,
grandparents and other caretakers a place to find comprehensive resources
and support 24 hours a day, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) and
the National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments
(NAPVI) today launched FamilyConnect(TM), an online, multimedia community
for parents and guardians of children with visual impairments.
Located at www.familyconnect.org, FamilyConnect gives parents access to
message boards where they can talk to other parents, compelling videos
featuring real-life families, parenting articles, a mom-authored blog, a
glossary of more than 30 eye conditions, and links to local resources. The
site also features sections dedicated to multiple disabilities, technology,
education, and every age group from infants to teens.
"We created FamilyConnect to give parents the support and information
they need to ensure their children can achieve their dreams --- whether
that is playing sports or music, learning to read Braille, getting a first
job, surfing the web, making the cheerleading squad, traveling the world,
or going to graduate school," said Carl R. Augusto, President & CEO of AFB.
A recent NAPVI/AFB survey of parents of children with visual
impairments showed that parents/guardians turn most commonly to physicians
(82%), educators (76%), and web sites (65%) for information and support
regarding their children's vision problems. This is consistent with
national statistics from the 2006 Pew Internet & American Life Project that
show 80 percent of American adult Internet users have searched for health
information online. For parents living in rural areas with fewer resources,
the web is particularly important to finding relevant, trustworthy
information and the right services.
"When I talk to parents of visually impaired children they almost
always ask about three things: they want to talk to other parents who have
children with the same eye condition as their child, they want access to
the latest health and education information, and they want to know what the
future holds," said Susan LaVenture, Executive Director of NAPVI.
"FamilyConnect offers parents all these things -- and more -- in one
place."
In addition to joining a community of parents, visitors to
www.familyconnect.org can create a personal profile and receive information
on news and events based on their child's age, eye condition, and location.
Families can also find articles written by parents and professionals on
topics such as:
-- Finding the Right Eye Care Professionals for Your Child
-- Developmental Milestones: What Do They Mean?
-- Your Child's Individualized Educational Program
-- Friendship in the Teen Years
-- College Life Begins
In designing this web site, AFB and NAPVI partnered with leading
national organizations and hundreds of local agencies that serve children
who are visually impaired to keep FamilyConnect content complete and up to
date. AFB and NAPVI also solicited input from families across the country.
Here are representative samples of what they are saying about the final
result.
Jen and Bill O'Neill, Nebraska
Daughter Camille, age 3, Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)
"Our family is truly amazed at what we've seen of the site. Wow! Thank
you all for the insight to see that this is something that is so needed for
families who are facing and overcoming the diagnosis of visual impairment.
The site is more than I imagined it would be -- it is so comprehensive and
truly allows families to connect with one another and to resources."
Patty Bushland, Arkansas
Daughter Mary Rose, age 2, Leber's Congenital Amaurosis (LCA)
"When I found out my baby was visually impaired, I immediately went to
the Internet to find out everything I could about her condition and what I
could do to help her. FamilyConnect is so important, and I wish it had been
there for me when my daughter was first diagnosed."
The goal of www.familyconnect.org is to provide connections and
support. By providing accurate information and creating a forum for
meaningful discussion, families and their visually impaired children will
feel empowered to reach their full potential.
FamilyConnect is generously supported by grants from the Lavelle Fund
for the Blind, Inc. and Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, The Annie E. Casey
Foundation, and Morgan Stanley.
About AFB
The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) (http://www.afb.org) is a national
nonprofit that expands possibilities for people with vision loss. AFB's
priorities include broadening access to technology; elevating the quality
of information and tools for the professionals who serve people with vision
loss; and promoting independent and healthy living for people with vision
loss by providing them and their families with relevant and timely
resources. Headquartered in New York, AFB is proud to house the Helen
Keller Archives (http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=1) and honor the more
than forty years that Helen Keller worked tirelessly with AFB.
About NAPVI
The National Association for Parents of Children with Visual
Impairments (NAPVI) is an international membership organization serving
families in the U.S. and in 55 countries. NAPVI helps parents to find
information and resources for their children who are blind or visually
impaired, including those with additional disabilities. NAPVI provides
leadership, support, and education to assist parents in helping children
reach their potential.
SOURCE American Foundation for the Blind
Source Link:http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/04-29-2008/0004801864&EDATE=
NEW YORK, April 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- When parents learn their
child has a visual impairment, it can be overwhelming. Parents wonder,
"Will my child fall behind at school?" or "Will my child make friends?" or
"Will my child have a successful career?" With only 93,600 visually
impaired school-aged children in the U.S., over half of whom have
additional disabilities, it's easy for families facing vision loss to feel
alone.
To help these families connect with each other and give busy parents,
grandparents and other caretakers a place to find comprehensive resources
and support 24 hours a day, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) and
the National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments
(NAPVI) today launched FamilyConnect(TM), an online, multimedia community
for parents and guardians of children with visual impairments.
Located at www.familyconnect.org, FamilyConnect gives parents access to
message boards where they can talk to other parents, compelling videos
featuring real-life families, parenting articles, a mom-authored blog, a
glossary of more than 30 eye conditions, and links to local resources. The
site also features sections dedicated to multiple disabilities, technology,
education, and every age group from infants to teens.
"We created FamilyConnect to give parents the support and information
they need to ensure their children can achieve their dreams --- whether
that is playing sports or music, learning to read Braille, getting a first
job, surfing the web, making the cheerleading squad, traveling the world,
or going to graduate school," said Carl R. Augusto, President & CEO of AFB.
A recent NAPVI/AFB survey of parents of children with visual
impairments showed that parents/guardians turn most commonly to physicians
(82%), educators (76%), and web sites (65%) for information and support
regarding their children's vision problems. This is consistent with
national statistics from the 2006 Pew Internet & American Life Project that
show 80 percent of American adult Internet users have searched for health
information online. For parents living in rural areas with fewer resources,
the web is particularly important to finding relevant, trustworthy
information and the right services.
"When I talk to parents of visually impaired children they almost
always ask about three things: they want to talk to other parents who have
children with the same eye condition as their child, they want access to
the latest health and education information, and they want to know what the
future holds," said Susan LaVenture, Executive Director of NAPVI.
"FamilyConnect offers parents all these things -- and more -- in one
place."
In addition to joining a community of parents, visitors to
www.familyconnect.org can create a personal profile and receive information
on news and events based on their child's age, eye condition, and location.
Families can also find articles written by parents and professionals on
topics such as:
-- Finding the Right Eye Care Professionals for Your Child
-- Developmental Milestones: What Do They Mean?
-- Your Child's Individualized Educational Program
-- Friendship in the Teen Years
-- College Life Begins
In designing this web site, AFB and NAPVI partnered with leading
national organizations and hundreds of local agencies that serve children
who are visually impaired to keep FamilyConnect content complete and up to
date. AFB and NAPVI also solicited input from families across the country.
Here are representative samples of what they are saying about the final
result.
Jen and Bill O'Neill, Nebraska
Daughter Camille, age 3, Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)
"Our family is truly amazed at what we've seen of the site. Wow! Thank
you all for the insight to see that this is something that is so needed for
families who are facing and overcoming the diagnosis of visual impairment.
The site is more than I imagined it would be -- it is so comprehensive and
truly allows families to connect with one another and to resources."
Patty Bushland, Arkansas
Daughter Mary Rose, age 2, Leber's Congenital Amaurosis (LCA)
"When I found out my baby was visually impaired, I immediately went to
the Internet to find out everything I could about her condition and what I
could do to help her. FamilyConnect is so important, and I wish it had been
there for me when my daughter was first diagnosed."
The goal of www.familyconnect.org is to provide connections and
support. By providing accurate information and creating a forum for
meaningful discussion, families and their visually impaired children will
feel empowered to reach their full potential.
FamilyConnect is generously supported by grants from the Lavelle Fund
for the Blind, Inc. and Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, The Annie E. Casey
Foundation, and Morgan Stanley.
About AFB
The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) (http://www.afb.org) is a national
nonprofit that expands possibilities for people with vision loss. AFB's
priorities include broadening access to technology; elevating the quality
of information and tools for the professionals who serve people with vision
loss; and promoting independent and healthy living for people with vision
loss by providing them and their families with relevant and timely
resources. Headquartered in New York, AFB is proud to house the Helen
Keller Archives (http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=1) and honor the more
than forty years that Helen Keller worked tirelessly with AFB.
About NAPVI
The National Association for Parents of Children with Visual
Impairments (NAPVI) is an international membership organization serving
families in the U.S. and in 55 countries. NAPVI helps parents to find
information and resources for their children who are blind or visually
impaired, including those with additional disabilities. NAPVI provides
leadership, support, and education to assist parents in helping children
reach their potential.
SOURCE American Foundation for the Blind