Seen From The Heart

Interactive Talking Christmas Toy

2010-10-09T11:30:00.002-04:00

From plushtalkornaments.com: PlushTalk Ornaments are talking plush stuffed Christmas themed toys designed to be played with individually or attached to the soft and cushy 24" Trimming Tree.

PlushTalk Ornaments were designed so that children may have their own interactive and safe Christmas tree and ornaments.

Your Children will love the interesting tactile features of each PlushTalk Ornaments character. Each ornament has a unique voice and expression that exemplifies it's own personality.

Find out how the PlushTalk Ornaments helped save Christmas by reading the poem titled Santa Finds His Way.

Accesible iPhone Review

2010-09-22T13:36:00.003-04:00

This is a really thoughtful article written by a blind adult about the iphone. Although it doesn't have much of an application for a child, it does make you excited for all of the technological advances that are available, and that keep coming everyday.

Our daughter loves her ipod, and this has inspired me to try her out on my ipad. I can think of several apps that will benefit her. I will post reviews on them, and how it goes in the future.

I thought the part at the end about the color recognizing app and watching a sunset was especially cool!

Braille Users Decline- CBS News Video

2010-08-08T17:46:00.000-04:00

Free Audio Book Site

2010-07-31T17:51:00.002-04:00

booksshouldbefree.com

Munchkin Bed Rail on Clearance at Target

2010-07-22T18:44:00.003-04:00

My daughter is moving into a big girl bed this weekend, and today I went to Target to get her a bed rail, and they had this one on clearance for $9. I was excited about the pockets, because my daughter tends to drop things and get frustrated looking for them when she is tired. This will be great for those mornings when she wakes up too early for Mommy and Daddy, and we can tell her to get some toys, books and even a drink of water off of her bedrail!

I am linking it from amazon to show all of the pictures and details, but it's almost four times as expensive than Target's clearance. I hope someone else can get this deal!

Melissa and Doug Toys on Sale at Amazon

2010-07-22T17:32:00.005-04:00

Check out this post from Moneysavingmom.com about some great deals on Melissa and Doug toys.

Recently someone gave us a Melissa and Doug Caterpillar Grasping Toy
and my daughter loves it! I had seen them advertised for blind children, but didn't understand how it worked. It basically has a stretchy cord running through it, and so you can twist and turn the segments to make the caterpillar different shapes. It's almost like an action figure for preschoolers! They also make a dinosaur, giraffe and some fishies.

I also bought the Deluxe Latches Board. This is still much too hard for her, but she loves the one at our library, and I thought it would be great for fine motor skills. It was

What's Possible? Art Education for the Blind

2010-06-23T16:57:00.001-04:00

Art Beyond Sight is a really neat organization that works to bring art to blind people of all ages. They have a great youtube channel with lots of videos on ways to do this, including how to make diagrams and help make museums more accessible.

Disney deploys more technology to assist the disabled

2010-06-23T16:46:00.003-04:00

Check out this article about how Disney parks have added technology to make their attractions more accessible.

Wii Device Teaches Visually Impaired To Walk With Canes

2010-06-20T05:11:00.003-04:00

Check out the video here!

Laundry Jumble Game

2010-05-29T10:08:00.003-04:00

From the toys4minds.com website:

Product Description

Laundry Jumble Game - Find the missing clothes—no peeking allowed!

Help the animals get dressed! Reach inside the dryer and explore using only your sense of touch.

Focuses on touch as game play encourages children to match picture cards with articles of clothing they feel inside the dryer.

Encourages tactile exploration, fine motor skills, and counting.

Builds vocabulary as children name animals and clothing.

Includes: 11 Pieces of Doll–size Clothing (washable), 30 Game Cards featuring full–color illustrations, and a Fabric Dryer measuring 8"L x 6.5"W x 10"H.

For 1–4 players.

For ages 3 and over.

By Educational Insights

Hide and Seek Elephnat

2010-05-29T10:04:00.003-04:00

From the toys4minds.com website:

Product Description

Hide and Seek Elephant - Play hide and seek with your new plush friend! Hide the Elephant indoors or out. Use your seeker wand (included) to track down your little friend.

The Wand tracks the Hide and Seek Elephant with a signal that only they can here. When the Elephant hears it, he will call out to you!

So listen for their sounds and hunt around to be the first to find where the Elephant is hiding!

Wand works with all plush Hide and Seek Safari Junior animals.

Battries included.

For ages 3 and over.

By R&R Games

* Other animals available, and it is available at many stores.

Neurosmith Jumbo Music Block

2010-04-17T08:13:00.002-04:00

I recently found this toy in a thrift store, and my daughter loves it! Each side of the soft fabric cube has a different mini activity, that is ideal for a blind child. Each side also makes music as you interact with it. I really like the music too- it is not nearly as annoying as most toys. It sounds close to cd quality, and the songs are pretty good. My biggest complaint about this toy is that it can be hard to clean. But, it is important for a blind child to interact with different textures, and this definitely has a few.

It is light enough a toddler could pick it up. it has thick piping around it, that make it easy to grab. My daughter has also used it to stand- although I don't necessarily recommend it for that, as it is not very heavy or supportive.

Creating Educational Toys And Activities For Children Who Are Blind Or Visually Impaired

2010-03-22T03:16:00.001-04:00

Here is a really great article full of ideas for toys and activities you can create cheaply, or from items around your home. It has a lot of really great ideas!

Suggestions for Recreation and Leisure Activities for Blind and Visually Impaired Children

2010-03-22T03:02:00.002-04:00

Here is an article with some game ideas, and ideas for adaptations.

Guide to Toddler Art Activities for Blind Children

2010-03-22T02:56:00.002-04:00

Here is an article with a few art project ideas to try out with your toddler.

Musical Hand Bells

2010-02-11T04:52:00.005-05:00

Several months ago I bought a really neat set of colorful, musical handbells at Pottery Barn Kids. We paid about $50, and have fallen in love with them. Not only are they easy to play, and loved by the whole family, but they look really pretty on our library shelf when they are put away.

My only regret is that they only came with a few songs on the back of the box. I am not at all a musical person, so I went hunting for some color coded music like that on the box. (The color of the note corresponds with the color of the bell!) I found some Color Coded Chord Cards on amazon with chords, but no songs yet. (Well, I found this site, which has a lot of music books, but they are a bit expensive. I'll keep hunting!)

What I did find were the EXACT same bells on there for a much lower price. They are only $22, plus $7.95 for shipping.

They recommend them for ages three and over, but my daughter is already having fun with them, and also loves when I play them for her.

Braille Eni Puzzle

2010-01-27T01:02:00.004-05:00

I bought this off of amazon.com
the other day, and decided to check it out before I posted about it. I was slightly concerned it was junk, but we really like it. It's sold out on amazon though! I don't know if they are getting more or what. They can be found here. Hopefully, some of those places have websites.

Basically, this is a popular puzzle toy from Korea. There are several different versions, and one of them has braille on it. You move the pieces around the column to get them in rows, or to create a certain pattern. It's basically like a rubix cube, only a different shape. (And... since rubix cubes are easier to come by, you could just braille one of those. Mark all of the reds with a "1", orange with a "2", or you could associate a letter to each color. You could even spell a name or something else personal.)

Anyway, we do like this toy. Our daughter is much too young for it, but we had fun doing it. At first I had trouble getting the pieces to move easily, and was frustrated. But, once we had moved all of the pieces, they started moving easier. They click into place, so a blind person would be able to hear when they have them lined up, and when to make a new "move."

I think it is a neat little trinket, and would be perfect for long car trips, or whenever you want to keep your little ones occupied for awhile.

Braille Magnetic Letters

2010-01-20T16:51:00.002-05:00

These colorful braille alphabet magnets are a great way to practice spelling and sentence construction. You get 63 magnets, so you will have duplicates of each letter, and punctuation marks. I found them on amazon.com, but they are sold by Independent Living Aids, so you can also get them on their site.

National Braille Press: Braille Valentines

2010-01-13T01:59:00.002-05:00

The National Braille Press has some really cute packs of Valentine's Day Cards, that feature a braille message, and a "decoder" on the back. Check them out here!

New American Action Fund Free Books for 2010

2010-01-01T13:29:00.003-05:00

American Action Fund offers free braille books for children and adults. The selection for 2010 includes the twelve book "Fluffy" series by Kate McMullan and the six book "Classic Starts" series.

You can sign up on their website at www.ActionFund.org or call them at (410)659-9315. We've been receiving these books for the past year, and it has been such a treat to get a package in the mail each month. It is such a wonderful service they are providing, and a great way to build up a library!

Touch the Sun: A NASA Braille Book

2009-12-15T02:27:00.004-05:00

From amazon "Touch the Sun" is a universally designed book with colorful raised images and combined text in print and Braille that explores the dynamic nature of our Sun. Topics include: size comparison between Earth and the Sun, the interior layers of the Sun, sunspots and their motion, views of the Sun in visible and ultraviolet light, solar eruptions as seen from space based observatories, massive solar storms, and the effect of space weather on Earth. According to the author, "This book is hot!".

*Note: To buy this in time for the holidays go to buying options, and select the one from VIEW. They say it can still arrive in time for Christmas. Select Standard shipping, and they will upgrade it to priority for free. Also, once these are sold out, they will not be producing more. See amazon for reviews and further description!

Zenni Optical- Complete Prescription Eyeglasses from $8

2009-12-08T16:15:00.002-05:00

Zenni Optical has great and affordable glasses in tons of different and cute styles. These make great back up pairs, or are a great way to get more affordable glasses.

All Eyeglass Orders Including $8.00 Eyeglasses Have:
High quality stylish frame
Thin and Light 1.57 index lens
Anti Scratch Coating
Full UV Protection
Lens edge polishing and beveling
Quality Hard Eyeglass case
Microfiber Lens Cleaning Cloth
Full Guarantee

Vote for National Braille Press, Inc on facebook

2009-12-08T15:53:00.003-05:00

Calling All Facebook Users!

NBP needs your help and your vote. JP Morgan Chase Community Giving set
up a facebook application to give away $5 million to various
non-profits. The top vote-getters will receive anywhere from $25,000 -
$1,000,000.

All you have to do is click on the link below, follow the prompts, and
vote for National Braille Press, Inc. Voting ends December 11 so please
vote today and tell your friends! The link to this contest can also be
found on the NBP fan page on Facebook.

Chase Community Giving page (on Facebook)

NBP's Facebook Fan page

Hadley's Parks

2009-12-02T14:59:00.006-05:00

Hadley's Park, Inc. is a local grassroots non-profit organization created in 1996 by Shelley Kramm, of Potomac, Maryland to design, develop, fund and build "A place for all kids to play together".

Hadley's Parks are designed to be fully accessible. They have the rubberized ground coverings to make them much safer for early walkers too! The parks tend to have themes like "Noah's Ark", "The Friend-Ship" and "togetherness Island." We haven't been to all of them, but I have seen pictures and they look like really neat parks that would appeal to younger and older kids, and children with special needs, and those without them.

Their website is down, but I did find another site that lists the locations. They are currently mostly in the Maryland/Virgina/DC area, with two others in Saint Louis, MO.

2009 National Federation of the Blind Early Childhood Conference

2009-11-22T14:41:00.004-05:00

This past May we attended a really great early childhood conference at the NFB in Baltimore. I just found several of the really great speeches and discussions are available in mp3. You can check them out here.

National Federation of the Blind Partners with Santa to Promote Braille Literacy

2009-11-19T10:19:00.002-05:00

Baltimore, Maryland (November 16, 2009): Once again, Santa has enlisted the help of the elves at the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Jernigan Institute to get Braille letters out to hundreds of blind boys and girls this Christmas season.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: “Santa approached the National Federation of the Blind a couple of years ago and asked us to be his helpers. I’m quite fond of the fellow and was delighted that we could assist him in his work. Braille literacy is the key to success and opportunity for the blind, but unfortunately too few blind children are learning it today. This program will not only be jolly good fun but will also serve an important educational purpose, as blind children will be able to practice reading Braille as they enjoy their letter from Saint Nicholas.”

Between November 16 and December 20, parents can go online at www.nfb.org and fill out a Santa Braille Letter request form. The form can also be printed and faxed to (410) 659-6893. Beginning December 1, the Braille letters from Santa will start going out to boys and girls around the country. The Braille letter will also be accompanied by a print copy (for mom and dad to read), and parents can choose the contracted or uncontracted form of Braille for the letter. Requests for letters must include the writer’s name, the child’s name, birthday, gender, mailing address, and a telephone number or e-mail address in case Santa’s helpers at the National Federation of the Blind have questions.

The Braille letters from Santa program is part of the National Federation of the Blind’s national Braille literacy campaign, the largest ever undertaken in United States history. Congress authorized the minting in 2009 of 400,000 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollars to mark the two-hundredth anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille (1809–1852) and to support the efforts of the National Federation of the Blind to promote literacy among blind Americans. This unique and beautiful commemorative coin is the first U.S. currency to feature tactile, readable Braille.

A portion of the proceeds from sales of the 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar will be used to support the NFB’s “Braille Readers are Leaders” campaign, a national initiative created to double the number of blind children learning Braille by 2015, improve certification standards for teachers of Braille, and conduct innovative programs to support Braille literacy.

The deadline for letter requests is December 20, to ensure that a return letter in Braille is received before Christmas. For more information about this and other programs of the National Federation of the Blind, please visit our Web site at www.nfb.org. Those interested in ordering a 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar or the new Braille Education Set, which features the coin in a collectible folder designed to highlight the life and legacy of Louis Braille, should visit www.braille.org or www.usmint.gov or call 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). The Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar and the Braille Education Set will only be available until December 11, 2009.

Holiday Braille: Letters from Santa

2009-11-11T03:18:00.004-05:00

This year, Hadley is excited to again offer its “Letters from Santa” program. Hadley students are encouraged to send in holiday messages to Santa in print or braille and Hadley’s “Santa” will send them a personal response. This program is a fun way Hadley celebrates the holidays and promotes the use of braille for children.

If you are a Hadley student with a visually impaired braille-reading or braille-learning child in your life, we invite you to send in your letter request no later than December 11. A response will be returned in braille, along with a print copy. There is no charge for this service.

Email to santa@hadley.edu is the preferred medium for your letter to Santa request, but the email must provide a valid street address to send the braille response, or it will not be processed.

Requests can also be mailed to:
The Hadley School for the Blind
700 Elm Street
Winnetka, IL 60093
Attention: Santa
Please allow two weeks for delivery of your braille response if you submit by mail.

If there is something special you would like Santa to mention, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you. Please understand that we will not be able to respond to letters received after December 11, 2009.

Questions? Please call 800-323-4238.

An Opportunity To Make A Difference is Knocking…Will You Answer?

2009-11-06T14:44:00.003-05:00

From www.teachblindstudents.org:

For thousands of blind students, the doors to literacy, independence, and self-confidence have been shut too long. Today, only about 10% of blind and visually impaired students are taught Braille. Only 45% of the blind possess high school diplomas; further, and perhaps not surprisingly, 70% of Blind adults find themselves unemployed and living highly limited lives. These trends have emerged for a variety of reasons, most of which are based on low expectations for blind students, and misconceptions about the way these students function in school, at home, and in the community. Essentially, since many people don’t know what blind students can accomplish, these students are rarely pushed out of their comfort zones to tackle new and demanding learning opportunities. Fortunately, you can make a difference!

Free Descriptive Movies in mp3

2009-11-05T12:57:00.005-05:00

I have been trying to find a resource for purchasing descriptive videos, and someone sent me a link to this great site. Blindmicemart.com has a huge descriptive video vault, that you can download for free in mp3 format. This might not be as useful if you have sighted children and blind/VI children watching together, but they are great to put on a mp3 player for travel, or to listen to while doing things around the house.

If you scroll down to the bottom of their page, you will find a link for their Movie Vault. Click on this and it will take you to their list of descriptive movies. You can go through the list to find what you want, and then download them for free. There is an upgrade download service you can buy to download them faster, and more at a time, but so far I am just downloading some everyday and taking advantage of them being free.

We've listened to Disney's "Snow White" and it was great. The speaker has a calm voice that flows with the movie, and I was amazed at the amount of detail that was described.

They have plenty of children's movies including many Disney favorites, and the Shrek movies. There are also many movies for grown ups and older children.

Touch the Art Series

2009-10-29T17:33:00.003-04:00

I discovered these neat books in the Uncommon Goods catalog the other day. (They're a better deal on Amazon right now: you can get all four for $30 with their 4-for-3 promotion.)

I think these are a great way to bring art to life. Each painting offers a short rhyme, a tactile facet of each work of art, and some info about the artist. There are four books, one each covering 20th Century Pop Art, Renaissance to Baroque, 19th Century Impressionists, and Modern Art of the 20th Century.

I love the idea of sharing art with blind children, and I think these books begin that conversation. Obviously they aren't very in depth, being aimed at small children. I think that paired with good descriptions of each piece you can begin to open your child up to the concepts of art, different styles, and what makes it interesting to different people. Perhaps you can inspire them to do some creating of their own!

National Braille Press: Holiday Book Sale

2009-10-27T19:21:00.000-04:00

Jump on the holidays - save time and money - with National Braille
Press's annual holiday kids' book sale!

Order 3 books from the list below, get the fourth one FREE!
Order 2 books from the list below, get the third one for half-price!

Sale expires December 31, 2009

Order soon - these books are in limited supply, and last year we sold
out very quickly!

Telephone orders are highly encouraged.
Call and charge it: toll-free (800) 548-7323 or (617) 266-6160 ext 520.
Or order by mail - send payment to:
NBP, 88 St. Stephen Street, Boston, MA 02115-4302

To read descriptions of the books, visit
http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/cbbc/titles.html

Books included in the sale:

Curious George Takes a Train, by Margret and H.A. Rey, $5.00

If I Ran for President, by Catherine Stier, $6.99

Just So Thankful, by Mercer Mayer, $5.00

Froggy Goes to Bed, by Jonathan London, $5.99

Seven Silly Eaters, by Mary Ann Hoberman, $7.00

Dad, Jackie, and Me, by Myron Uhlberg, $16.95

The Night Worker, by Kate Banks, $6.95

A Picture Book of Florence Nightingale, by David A. Adler, $6.95

Dear Deer: A Book of Homophones, by Gene Baretta, $16.95

Helen Keller: The World in Her Heart, by Les Cline-Ransome, $16.99

The Berenstain Bears and the Truth, by Stan & Jan Berenstain, $5.00

Weslandia, by Paul Fleischman, $6.99

Where Does the Garbage Go? by Paul Showers, $5.99

CALDECOTT WINNERS

Fly High, Fly Low, by Don Freeman, $7.99

Little Red Riding Hood, by Jerry Pinkney, $16.99

"I CAN READ" BOOKS!

Aggie and Ben, by Lori Ries, $5.95

Little Bear's Visit, by Else Holmelund Minarik, $5.00

Hi! Fly Guy, by Ted Arnold, $5.00

Free Matter for the Blind

2009-10-22T07:44:00.003-04:00

Here is description of who can send and receive "free matter for the blind" and what may be sent using this service. Here is some info on the History of the Program.

Muscarelle Museum of Art Tactile Exhibit

2009-10-19T12:12:00.002-04:00

The Muscarelle Museum of Art is proud to announce an enhanced exhibition tour now available using the sense of touch to explore paintings. The use of art is a powerful tool for developing the brain, for healing, for communication, and for making richer experiences in life, but much of art is a visual experience. The Tactile Tour Program is designed to provide art experiences to a very special audience, for people who are blind and persons with low vision.

In recognition of Disability Awareness Month, the Museum will be kicking off this tactile program with a series of Saturday tours in October. Beginning October 3rd, and running throughout the month of October the Muscarelle Museum of Art will be giving tactile tours every Saturday, from 12 – 4. After October, tours can be made by appointment by calling 757.221.2703 or emailing museum@wm.edu.

UpSpring Baby Walking Wings

2009-09-16T03:58:00.007-04:00

I almost hesitate to post about these, but I really feel that my daughter still would not be willing to put weight on her feet with out them.

I had seen them in the store, but didn't think they were worth it until they were on clearance for about $10 at Target.

Our daughter really hated putting weight on her feet, and we could only get her to do it disguised as a game, or in her bouncer. These are great because we were able to bounce her around, and she felt snug and secure in the vest. She can also guide her hand over the straps to find my hand if she feels like she needs it. I'm not sure they are necessity for every family with a blind child, but I am happy with the results. Our daughter started walking around 17 months, and although she is still timid, she is enjoying her new freedom.

Ikea!

2009-09-16T03:31:00.006-04:00

I love Ikea (bargains!) and they have a great kids department too. I have found a lot of things well suited to blind and visually impaired children.

I love this tactile book, Leka. It has lots of textures, sounds, and things to explore.

My daughter also enjoys her new push along toy, and the loud clackety noises it makes.

They also had this really great abacus. She's still a bit young for that, so for now she has fun pushing the beads back and forth.

And, her absolute favorite is this strange ostrich toy. It is very soft, and I guess she likes the different textures and the funny long limbs. She loves tying them in knots. It's been very popular with her friends too!

iKids Textured Soft Shapes Books

2009-08-23T22:34:00.015-04:00

Thesecute and colorful books each feature textured foam shapes that can be popped out of their page and explored. Each book has a different theme- from Counting to Big and Little, there are lots of different things to explore!

These books are available in several bookshops, but I found that the best deal was to buy them used on Amazon.

Leap Frog Learn & Groove Radio

2009-07-04T20:12:00.004-04:00

I bought this on a whim last night at Target. (On sale in stores, but not on-line.) It was on clearance for about $13. It has been a HUGE hit. Our baby girl won't put it down! It's really great for drilling those first vocab words, which we have been working on a lot. Mommy gets tired of doing drills all day, so this gets me off the hook a bit!

The little voice (which sounds a lot like Dora) says the word and then sings a little song about it, which also includes some great beginner voacb. Obviously, my daughter doesn't see the pictures of the words, but I feel like this toy still has a lot of value, and she definitely does.

It also features a button where you can switch it to Spanish. And the "pages" make a neat noise when you turn them, that she really gets a kick out of.

Right now she just plays with it during floor time, but eventually I think I'll work on giving her the objects to feel as she listens to the songs about them. (Well, probably not spaghetti, which she thinks is a really funny word!)

Little Hands Love

2009-06-11T04:08:00.003-04:00

One of my best friends recently gave thisbook to my daughter, and we love it! She knew we are always on the prowl for good touch and feel books, and she hit a home run with this one. A lot of touch and feel books tend to have mostly animal "fur" type fabric. Although they are different colors, or have stripes, they all feel the same to my daughter. This book is great b/c it has some big pieces of some more unusual items. Our favorites are cardboard, crinkly leaves and a tutu, with actual tulle fabric.

Opera helps visually impaired kids find their voice

2009-05-19T23:48:00.002-04:00

The Black Book of Colors

2009-05-18T17:53:00.005-04:00

I discovered The Black Book of Colors accidentally while browsing on Amazon one day. Teaching blind children colors is a concept I had only recently learned about. Even though they can't see them, it's important that they learn about them in terms of grass is green, sky is blue types of things. This book explains some of those, and also has tactile graphics.
The book is all in black with white print and dark graphics. It's very neat looking, and proves that you do not need to see color to understand it. It also tells the story in braille, and has a braille alphabet in the back.
My only complaint about this book is that the braille may not be "puffy" enough. Perhaps for a more sensitive blind person it will be enough, but it is not as prominent as standard braille. I am also concerned that the very detailed tactile graphics also do not stick out enough. They are beautiful, and I felt like it was worth a try!

Check out this blog for some awesome photos of the illustrations. Their version is in Spanish, but the illustrations are the same.

NFB Share Braille

2009-05-07T13:49:00.003-04:00

"Welcome to NFB ShareBraille! This site was developed to facilitate the exchange of Braille books through a community-run library. NFB ShareBraille will help connect those who want Braille with those who want to give Braille away, thus increasing the life of Braille materials.

The National Federation of the Blind, as part of its Braille Readers are Leaders Literacy Campaign, has committed to an unprecedented effort to increase literacy among the blind. One of the campaign goals is to make Braille resources more available through online sharing of materials, enhanced production methods, and improved distribution. NFB ShareBraille is designed to help in meeting this goal by encouraging blind people to trade Braille books and build their personal library. Frequently, Braille materials in good condition are discarded because a new home for the materials cannot be found. NFB ShareBraille now offers a way for a community to close that gap and keep Braille reading materials circulating. Build your Braille library and help others do the same—share Braille and build literacy.

NFB ShareBraille is a free service provided by the National Federation of the Blind to promote the use and vitality of Braille. To trade your Braille books or to request books from other NFB ShareBraille users, simply create a free account and start exploring the available titles." ~nfbsharebraille.org

Scented Toys

2009-05-05T15:13:00.009-04:00

With any level of visual impairment the other senses become heightened. It's important to look for other ways to stimulate them during play. Scent is a wonderful dimension to add to playtime.

Often, blind children are adverse to strong and artificial scents, so this is something to consider as you make your selections. Also, you can add scents to many toys yourself with vanilla extracts, or essential oils. Make sure that you use them in limited quantities, and only those that are safe for ingestion.

For a toy like Sassy's Scented Bucket of Beads you could easily store a cotton ball soaked in vanilla in the container, and remove it for playtime. They do cost the same as their unscented counterparts, but it is something you could do with a similar toy you may already have. (Or... I don't know how long the scent will last on these guys, so you could use that technique to freshen them up.)

There are also many scented books on the market from sticker books to the scratch and sniff variety. You can check out some of them on amazon, here.

Scented art supplies are always popular. When I was little I loved giving "smelly markers" as birthday gifts. They're still around, and if you can stand the mess they are pretty fat and easy for small hands to grip.

There's no end to the scented stuffed animals you can find. Some of these can have pretty poor scents, so be mindful of that, and let your child help pick it out when possible. One of our favorites is the Cloud b Lavender Lab . It's super soft, and has the soothing scent of lavender.

And, just to prove there are lots of other random scented toys out there, I'll include Pink Bubble Gum and Blue Blueberry scented rubber duckies.

The Secret Code by Dana Meachen Rau

2009-05-04T04:32:00.005-04:00

The Secret Code (Rookie Readers)is a sweet little story about a blind child who shares braille with his classmates. It has a rotten review on Amazon, mostly because the reviewer felt like the book itself should have been in braille. A valid point, none the less, I feel it is still a very valuable read. It is mostly aimed at children who are not familiar with braille, so it is great for blind children to share with classmates at the beginning of the year, friends and even siblings.

I feel like this book has a place in every library, as all children would benefit from learning of the importance of braille.

The Next Generation Perkins Brailler

2009-05-03T17:22:00.004-04:00

The Perkins Brailler has always been synonymous with ease of communication for braille readers. Their machine has been revolutionary is giving blind and sighted alike an easier and quicker way to print braille.

In October 2008 they unveiled the New Next Generation Perkins Brailler. It is quieter, lighter and easier to use. It's also a bit cheaper, and has several other new features. Best of all, it comes in three new snazzy colors. (Why is it that a product can be even more appealing when you get to pick your own color?)

They even have a song by Raul Midon, and you can download it as a ringtone too!

Our First Giveaway!

2009-05-01T11:12:00.000-04:00

In celebration of our new blog, and it's lovely new design (Thanks AquaPoppy!!) we've decided to have our first giveaway!

Alls ya gotta do is leave a comment at the end of this post. They're set to private so only I will see them! We'll use the random.org generator doo dad and select a winner on May 11, 2009. If you get one of your friends to enter too, you get an extra entry. Just have you friend say that you sent them in their comment.

For our first giveaway, we're going totally random, so all of our friends can get excited. (Next month we'll get back on the braille band wagon....)

We're giving away this awesome print from Johannah Bluedorn at Trivium Pursuit. I love love love this print. I could look at it all day! Johannah is a wonderful artist, who has illustrated many children's books. Plus, she has a lovely name. ;-)

P.S. Be sure to check out Aqua Poppy's Blog and all of her awesome free blog backgrounds!

More Etsy Goodness

2009-05-01T10:49:00.006-04:00

Along with the braille blocks I mentioned, we found some other lovely etsy goodies in red, yellow and black.

Zemphira's Owl:

TheWillowTree's Dinosaur:

TinyButterCup's Caterpillar:

beebopandteebes's Double Doll:

Pre-Braille Puzzles

2009-05-01T04:16:00.003-04:00

These puzzles are an awesome way for younger children to become accustomed to different textures. They can use them traditionally as puzzles, or for sorting the different textures. These can be found from "ocdac" on ebay, and 100% of the final price benefit the Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center. Check out their ebay store!

"This 10" by 10" tactile foam puzzle is perfect for pre-braille readers. It is soft, safe, durable, and educational. The pieces "pop out" and are easy to put back together. Each piece is a different shape and has a different texture. All pieces are smooth on the back so an upside down piece is easily found. Also you can turn the puzzle on to its backside for more shape fitting challenge fun." ~ OCDAC

Sources of Braille Children's Books and Magazines

2009-04-30T21:47:00.003-04:00

"Here is a list of sources for borrowing or purchasing braille and print/braille children’s books and magazines in the United States. Please contact individual organizations for detailed information on products and/or prices." ~ afb.org

Braille Bug

2009-04-30T21:33:00.003-04:00

American Foundation for the Blind has put together a really cool site about braille, called Braille Bug. It has pages on all of the different types of braille, and how they are used, games, a reading club and info for parents and teachers. You can even order a free braille bug alphabet card here.

You can even change the colors of the site, to assist those with low vision.

The Reading Club features new books every few months, with two different books for two different reading levels. It is open to both braille and print readers. There is a forum for discussion on the Braille Bug Reading Club Message Board at the end of each month.

Blind children experience the circus up close

2009-04-30T04:44:00.004-04:00

I couldn't find any information on Ringling Bros site about this, but in another article from my Mom's local paper they said they do this in every town they visit, when possible. I believe it is indicated on the tour schedule as an educational performance, but I'm not positive.
"Ringling Brothers is committed to bringing the circus to everybody... so for some that's through touch," sad Crystal Drake, regional public relations director of the circus. "You saw the spirits just light up in these kids when they were able to touch and smell and hear things that otherwise are not so readily available to them." ~Richmond TImes Dispatch

Blind Masseuses Don't Miss Seeing a Thing

2009-04-30T04:37:00.001-04:00

New Family Traditions

2009-04-23T04:14:00.005-04:00

The Book of New Family Traditions: How to Create Great Rituals for Holidays & Everydays is my new favorite book! I ordered this a few weeks ago, not knowing if it would really have anything of interest in it. I was pleasantly surprised! The book is broken up into categories of holidays and important events, and lists several ways to meaningfully celebrate them as a family.

As a family we have been trying to put more celebration and meaning into the everyday. We feel that making traditions really bonds and strengthens our family, and keeps our children closer to us. I really recommend this book as a help to move in that direction.

We read it on a long car trip, and highlighted our favorites. We added all of the days we wanted to celebrate to our calendar. It isan easy reference too, so you can check back later for older child or holiday specific ideas.

Book Reviews

2009-04-17T20:57:00.001-04:00

I am making a sincere effort in the next few days to review many of the books we have read. When I go to other sites, book reviews are always my favorite part. I hate spending money on books and getting them home only to find out they weren't what I expected, or worse- they're total junk!

We buy from Amazona lot. A lot of the books we're trying to hunt down aren't readily available locally, and Amazon seems to have them more often than not. Even our local library is limited in what they carry, although we have had great success in having them order books for us from other libraries, including our local "Braille" library.

Amazon will ship your items for free if you spend at least $25 on their items. We invested in Prime shipping. You pay $79 per year, and you get free two-day shipping on Prime eligible purchases. We use Amazon for everything from books to groceries, so this is a good deal for us. Plus, you can have up to four individuals on one Prime account, so that helps with the cost. One of our family members splits the account with us, and pays for it as our Christmas gift each year.

Amazon is also great for selling your old books. We sell them when we don't need them anymore, or if they weren't particularly helpful to us. Our book space is limited, so we're constantly getting rid of old ones to make room for new ones. Braille books especially take up a lot of space.

Certain types of books appeal to certain people. I like things to be divided into categories so I can easily reference them later, and they are easier to deal with when I am reading with limited time.

I will make an effort to describe why the book was helpful or not, and whether I think it is worth the expense or not. So check back to read about some of our favorites!

SprinkleMeHappy's Soft Activity Blocks

2009-04-15T04:35:00.000-04:00

It's no secret I love etsy! Recently I was looking for some red, yellow and black toys to aid my daughter in tracking exercises during play. I looked at toy stores and could not find much in single colors that I thought would appeal. I got the idea to post on the alchemy portion of the etsy site.

With alchemy you describe what it is you are looking for, and what you can pay. Various crafters bid to make your design. I accepted multiple bids since we needed multiple toys. It was so exciting to see our project come to life.

One of our very favorite things we received were some soft play blocks by sprinklemehappy. She was able to customize them in our colors, and our baby's initials. She also included the initials in textured braille, and the blocks have various textures as well. They also have jingle bells inside them.

I love these so much it's hard to let them be played with!

Itsy Bitsy Yoga

2009-04-15T04:06:00.001-04:00

Itsy Bitsy Yoga: Poses to Help Your Baby Sleep Longer, Digest Better, and Grow Stronger is an awesome book for moms, dads and baby!

This book outlines some very easy poses to do with your baby, whether it is to wake up in the morning, or to settle down to sleep. Baby yoga aids in digestion, growth and reduces sleeplessness. It is also a great way to bond with your baby. It also has a section of Daddy poses.

We really like this book. It helps to challenge blind children to try different positions and movements they are reluctant to explore on their own. Someone told me to try the book instead of the DVD because the DVD can move too fast, and it's a pain to have to pause it over and over again. I totally agree with that. The first time or so you look at the book a lot, but it's easy to learn the poses, and just refer to the book for a good order to use them in. I felt like it was a slower more relaxed pace, and we could choose our own music. If your baby has some soothing music they associate with sleep time, it's the perfect accompaniment.

National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS)

2009-04-09T22:19:00.000-04:00

NLS: That All May Read

Through a national network of cooperating libraries, NLS administers a free library program of braille and audio materials circulated to eligible borrowers in the United States by postage-free mail.

They also loan music resources, listening devices and can ship things to US residents living over seas.

You can check out their kids catalog, magazines, and local sites for children here.

Toys R Us Differently Abled Toy Guide

2009-04-08T13:29:00.000-04:00

Toys R Us has put together a great toy guide for differently abled kids. They have the toys categorized in to ten different skill groups, and also by age.

Learn Out Loud

2009-04-02T12:36:00.000-04:00

"LearnOutLoud.com is your one-stop destination for audio and video learning. Browse over 20,000 educational audio books, MP3 downloads, podcasts, and videos."

I also recommend you check out kids.learnoutloud.com. They have lots of great books for kids, and other things like language programs.

There is also a Free Stuff section, which has some downloads and podcasts in several topics.

We especially liked the "French for Kids by Kids" podcast.

Braille Institute

2009-03-31T05:00:00.000-04:00

The Braille Institute is offering a free children's braille books with their Braille Special Collection Program. Blind children, starting at age three, can receive up to twelve books a year with the program. This includes their multi sensory storybook kits Dots for Tots and Tac Tales.

"These multisensory storybook kits, designed specifically for visually impaired preschoolers, help parents introduce their children to basic braille construction. Each popular picture book features uncontracted braille overlays (grade 1), along with a descriptive audiotape and plastic toys that represent characters or objects in the story." ~www.brailleinstitute.org

From the Site:
How to Sign Up for the Braille Special Collection
Any visually impaired child between the ages of 3 and 18 who is living in the United States or Canada is eligible to receive free braille literature through the Braille Special Collection Program.

To sign up for the Braille Special Collection:

Call us directly at: (323) 906-3104
Or, toll free at: 1-800-BRAILLE (272-4553)
Phone hours: Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (PST)
Or, e-mail us at: ums@brailleinstitute.org

Please include the full name of the child and/or student, the child's age, home address, telephone number and e-mail address if one is available. Please note that orders must be sent to us via U.S. mail using the attached order form in the catalog.

Louis Braille: Celebrating 200 Years of Braille

2009-03-30T03:36:00.000-04:00

January 4, 2009, marks the bicentennial of the birth of Louis Braille, a genius inventor who bestowed the gift of literacy to blind people around the world.

The National Braille Press has put together lots of great information on their website celebrating Louis Braille. They also have a cool free poster featuring the life and achievements of Louis Braille on the bicentennial of his birth.

VICurriculum.org

2009-03-30T03:06:00.000-04:00

This is a great curriculum site provided by The Maryland School for the Blind. It looks to be in it's early development stages, so there are a few empty links. It has a lot of great activities that are tailored towards young visually impaired students. It is geared towards teachers and classrooms, but it easily adaptable to homeschooling, or to be used as fun activities at home.

From the site:
If you are a pre-school teacher who is faced with the privelege of teaching a visually impaired student, VI Curriculum is here to help.

In cooperation with the Maryland School of the Blind, VI Curriculum draws from more than 100 years of experience in working with visually impaired children from pre-school through later high school.

Your challenges are not unique. There are proven methods of teaching and tested curriculum for use in working with VI students. The good news is that much of it can be created from existing educational resources and will not use up your already stretched budget.

The 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar

2009-03-27T23:53:00.000-04:00

"Don't miss your opportunity to make change with a dollar! Purchase your Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar now!"

The launch of the NFB Braille Literacy Commemorative Coin by the U.S. Mint in 2009 will present a great opportunity to promote how vital Braille is to our blind citizens, young and old alike. Please join us as we bring exposure to the literacy crisis for the blind in this country and create new opportunities for all of our citizens.

On Thursday the National Federation of the Blind unveiled the US Mint's new Louis Braille Silver Dollar. They can be purchased from the Mint, and are discounted for the next month or so. They are in limited production, so don't wait!

Coin Description

Director of the United States Mint, Ed Moy, describes the coin as follows:

The coin obverse, or heads side of the coin, features a handsome image of Louis Braille from the neck up, facing forward. This image captures him as the energetic, confident and successful young man he was, and the image fills the center of the coin. He is wearing a jacket and collar in the style of the early 1800s and his hair is fashionably wavy.

The coin also bears the inscription “Liberty” along the curve of the coin above his head and the words “Louis Braille” underneath his portrait. “In God We Trust” is inscribed to the right of Braille’s image at cheek level. The date “1809” appears on the left and “2009” appears on the right, both at collar height.

On the coin reverse, the most prominent image is a boy who looks to be about 8 or 9 sitting at a table reading a book in Braille. He is wearing a T-shirt and has the top of a cane resting on his left arm. The word “Braille” in Braille code—abbreviated B-R-L as it is in Braille code—is produced on the upper half of the coin. The spacing of the letters ensures that the text is no different from printed or written Braille to the touch.

On the left in the background, the word “Independence” is written along the top of a bookshelf full of books. The inscription “United States of America” is at the top of the curve of the coin, “One Dollar” is at the bottom and “E Pluribus Unum” is to the right of the seated child reading Braille.

Wonder Baby

2009-03-27T05:32:00.000-04:00

When I first found out we would be adopting a blind baby girl I went to the internet and googled "blind babies". The first site to come up has been one of the best! www.wonderbaby.org is a site run by a Mom with a blind baby. She reviews books, explains programs, has craft and home made toy ideas and lots of practical advice. Her site has been one of the few on blind children that I have visited over and over again.

Pip Squeakers

2009-03-27T05:15:00.000-04:00

I was so excited when I heard about these squeaky shoes! Like many blind babies, ours has been delayed in walking. She is very mobile in other (creative!) ways, but hates putting weight on her feet. I am ordering these shoes in hopes that she gets excited enough by the sound to put some weight on her feet. I am sure they are going to drive me and the dog crazy, but that's a small price to pay to get caught up on our walking!

Uncle Goose Braille Blocks

2009-03-27T05:09:00.000-04:00

Uncle Goose's blocks are available in braille letter blocks, and braille Nemeth Code math blocks. They are also can be found on Amazon.

Braille Jewelry by Kim Christiansen

2009-03-27T03:17:00.000-04:00

Christiansen's designs are a bit more grown up than others previously featured on our blog. She has made use of finer metals, and embellished with braille. She has some items that are available to personalized as well.

Religious Resources

2009-03-27T02:30:00.001-04:00

Many churches have gone to great lengths to publish their most commonly used materials in braille. Chances are, if you ask at your preferred place of worship you will be able to get what you need for free, or a very reasonable price.

One site that has many different Bibles, including several children's editions is www.braillebibles.org.The children's editions are free, but very costly to produce! We look forward to adding one of these to our library, to be enjoyed by the entire family.

We have also ordered from our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They do charge for materials, but they are the same cost as their print equivalents. You can also request them at Church and have them provided to you. You don't have to be a member to order from them, and they offer many things that would appeal to many faiths. Their special materials are available in their on-line catalog. Many of their articles are also available here to print in braille, and their magazines can be sent or printed in braille. I highly recommend the children's magazine The Friend. Each issue has several short stories and articles, and games and craft ideas. If you would like a copy sent to you in braille, you can contact the Distribution Center.

They also have a great music player on their site that includes all of the wonderful children's songs, which can also be download in MP3 format at no cost. There are many songs on there that are not religious in nature, and can be played with or without the words. Some things I highly recommend besides the Children's Songbook and The Friend, are Old Testament Stories, New Testament Stories, Book of Mormon Stories and Doctrine and Covenants Stories. This is a really neat series with short and simple to understand stories for younger readers. There are also companion DVDs.

BRAILLE'iant

2009-03-27T02:18:00.000-04:00

I'm loving all of the cute things on this site! I especially love the "candy braille" necklaces. I for see a future with those in lots of different colors in our jewelry boxes! How fun. I also love that they made braille tee shirts for adults. I've seen them for babies and children on other sites, and I wanted to get one for my husband. I thought it would be sweet to get a "Daddy" tee for the baby to feel while they snuggle.

Talking Eggs!

2009-03-19T19:45:00.000-04:00

These are a fun way to have an egg hunt for blind and sighted children! I had heard about some organizations having hunts using beeping and flashing eggs, but these are readily available to all.

Hide 'Em & Find 'Em Eggs™ puts a twist on the standard egg hunt game. Featuring advanced electronics and a surprise inside, it is great fun for kids and families! Hide the eggs to start the egg hunt fun. The eggs then begin talking, laughing, and making noises as you try to find them. Open them up to see the cute bunny or baby chick say, "You found me!" The eggs come in 6 colors: violet, pink, green, yellow, orange and blue and have 5 different speech lines and 3 different sound effects including: "I'm hiding," and "I'm over here!"

Featuring Auto shutoff after 30 minutes and a Try-Me feature for retailers. Batteries included.

Available this March at Wal-Mart, Target and Rite Aid.

Arthur Episodes with Marina

2009-03-19T00:45:00.000-04:00

I wrote the Arthur show on PBS to find out which episodes Marina was in. They replied, but told me they weren't available on dvd. They are on youtube though, so I thought I would like all of them here. Happy viewing!

Seedling's Book Angel

2009-03-18T03:07:00.000-04:00

This program was originally called "Anna's Book Angel Project" and was named in memory of our Director's 19-year-old daughter who was killed by a drunk driver in 2001. Each year, blind children who were registered received one free book in Anna's name, but now we want to do even more. Thanks to Seedlings' generous donors, blind children in the U.S. can receive two free braille books per year!

Braille Reading Pals

2009-03-18T02:50:00.000-04:00

Braille Reading Pals is an early literacy program that gently encourages and rewards parents for reading daily with their blind or low vision children ages 0-7 (or older if the children have developmental delays) who are not yet reading. Sponsored by the Jernigan Institute, this free two-month Spring Program begins May 1 and concludes June 30.

The purpose of the program is two-fold:

to increase parents' knowledge about Braille and the importance of early literacy experiences for their blind children, and

to help parents promote early literacy skills, a love of reading, and a positive attitude about Braille through daily reading with their blind children over a two-month period.

Find out more and sign up here.

You've Got Braille

2009-03-16T01:58:00.000-04:00

Here are some braille guides and printables on the PBS Arthur website. They also have some info on what it is like to be blind, and a "braille translator" as presented by Marina.

Inch Bug's Bumpy Name

2009-03-16T01:39:00.000-04:00

I love these lables! They're great for all children- blind or sighted. They can go on bottles, sippee cups, regular cups or sports bottles. They are a great way to id your belongings, and expose your child to braille, and their name. They can also be used to tell apart cups and belongings in larger families. The description even suggests shampoo bottles for camp. I ordered a bunch of these, because I can already think of a lot of ways they will come in handy. Regular braille labels will wash off over time, and these are waterproof and dishwasher safe.

They have the name engraved on one side, and in Braille on the other. They can be customized, but if they are the braille will read "Inch Bug" and not the name. So, these are really better for more common names, although they have a lot to choose from. They also have options like Princess, Cutie Pie, etc.

Pretties with Braille

2009-03-12T14:52:00.000-04:00

Bitty Braille has some really neat things for all babies and toddlers. Our favorites are the braille onsie and matching barette, but we ordered the braille alphabet tiles too! She's moving her shop to etsy but you can still order from this site.

I've also discovered some awesome things on etsy. If you do a search for braille, all sorts of neat things come up! I love crafts, but rarely have time for them anymore. I did get some ideas on there that I hope to copy in the near future, like some braille thank you cards. I bought the supplies, now I just need the time! Several of the etsy sellers donate a percentage of their proceeds to various blind charities too.

We bought this beautiful braille alphabet quilt. I plan to use it as a playmat for my daughter so she can experience braille while playing.

I'm always so greatful when artists take the time to incorporate braille into their work. We love supporting small businesses and getting one of a kind items in the process.

First Post!

2009-03-12T14:42:00.000-04:00

I am starting this blog to chronicle our journey raising a blind baby. I've been looking for resources to help me in this journey and there is not that much out there. I'm excited to post all of our collected resources to share with others, and for them to share with us!