Family Recharge Zone—Making Connections Across the Digital Divide
Authors: Belinda Fayard, VI Transition Consultant, Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TSVI), Outreach Program, Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI), and parent of a young adult with low vision
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Supporting a loved one who is blind, deafblind, or has low vision is a role that can be difficult to understand if you aren’t experiencing it yourself. When family members are able to make connections with other adults who are supporting loved ones in the same situation, they find themselves better equipped to navigate the ever-changing world they are in.
If you have a loved one who is blind, deafblind, or has low vision, you are invited to join TSBVI’s Family Recharge Zone virtually each month for an opportunity to connect with other families. TSBVI’s Family Engagement and Transition specialists host the monthly gatherings which typically include a short presentation on a timely topic, followed by an opportunity for open conversation and connection. While most of the TSBVI Outreach offerings are designed for both families and professionals, Family Recharge Zone is a family-only event. Professionals working in the VI field are asked to contact one of TSBVI’s Family Recharge Zone team members for alternate access to presentations and materials.
Please join TSBVI’s Family Recharge Zone on the first Thursday of each month. Sessions are offered twice a day, from 11:30am–1pm and again from 6:30pm–8pm. Spanish interpreting is provided for the evening session, and ASL interpreting is always available at the 11:30 gathering.
Links to register for individual sessions of the Family Recharge Zone are available on the website for TSBVI’s Family Recharge Zone. The schedule and topics for the 2024–2025 meetings of the Family Recharge Zone are:
- October 3, 2024: Orientation & Mobility—It’s a Family Thing!
- November 7, 2024: Navigating Your Child’s Evaluations with Confidence and Advocacy
- December 5, 2024: Making Holiday Family Memories
- February 6, 2025: Gearing Up for Summer: 2025 Camps & Extended School Year
- March 6, 2025: Making the Most of the Texas Medicaid Waiver Programs
- April 3, 2025: Navigating Family Travel Adventures Together
- May 1, 2025: Empowering Every Contribution: Nurturing your Child’s Participation in Family Life