Meet Your Family Organizations for the Blind, Low Vision, and Deafblind Communities
Authors: Edgenie Bellah, Family Engagement Coordinator, Texas Deafblind Project, Outreach Programs, Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI) and Hillary Keys, Early Childhood Consultant, Texas Deafblind Project, Outreach Programs, TSBVI
Keywords: family wisdom, family engagement, family organizations, blind, low vision, deafblind, Deaf/Hard of Hearing
Texas Organizations: Blind & Low Vision
Texas Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairment (TAPVI)
The mission of TAPVI is to connect, inspire and empower the families of children with visual impairment through parent connections, support and activities. They work with parents to help them meet and connect with other parents to share information and support so they can help their children reach their full potential. TAPVI activities are focused on educating parents about their options in regards to services and supports for their children and how to obtain them. Search for TAPVI on Facebook to join their private group or at the information below.
Website: tapvi.org
Contact: tapvifamilies@gmail.com
Texas Parents of Blind Children (TPOBC)
TPOBC is the state chapter of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC), a division of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), a national membership organization of parents and friends of blind children. Search for them on Facebook to join their private group or at the information below.
Website: https://tpobc.org/ (not currently available)
Contact: tpobc@nfbtx.org
Texas Resources: Deafblind
Deafblind Multihandicapped Association of Texas (DBMAT)
The mission of DBMAT is to promote and improve the quality of life for all Texans who are deaf-blind multihandicapped, deaf multihandicapped, and blind multihandicapped. DBMAT promotes family education and understanding of deaf-blind multihandicapped family member’s abilities and disabilities. They offer resource information and referrals to families, professionals, state agencies, and provider agencies serving people who are deaf-blind multihandicapped of all ages.
Website: https://www.dbmat-tx.org/
Contact: hartmanfam28@sbcglobal.net
Texas Chargers, Inc. encourages, educates, and enriches individuals and families living with CHARGE Syndrome. The primary purpose of the organization is to support the emotional and educational needs of people with CHARGE Syndrome, their families, and the professionals who work with them to provide a better quality of life.
Website and Contact: Texas Chargers
Texas Hands & Voices is a chapter of the nationwide non-profit organization dedicated to supporting families and their children who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as the professionals who serve them. They are a parent-driven, parent/professional/community collaborative group that is unbiased towards communication modes and methods. Their diverse membership includes those who are deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing impaired and their families who communicate orally, with signs, cues, and/or combined methods. “We exist to help our children reach their highest potential.”
Website & Contact: https://txhv.org/
Texas Organizations: General Disability
Texas Parent to Parent provides support, information, and education for families of children and adults with disabilities, chronic and mental health conditions and other health care needs.
Website: https://www.txp2p.org/
Contact: info@txp2p.org
The Partners Resource Network (PRN) is a non-profit agency that operates a statewide network of Parent Training and Information (PTI) Centers in Texas. They serve parents of children and youth with disabilities ages 0-26, as well as youth self-advocates ages 14-26. PTIs are funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP).”
Website: https://prntexas.org/about-prn/
Contact: info@prntexas.org
National Resources: Blind & Low Vision
FamilyConnect from American Printing House for the Blind (APH)
FamilyConnect is part of the APH ConnectCenter group of websites from the American Printing House for the Blind (APH). It offers support and resources for families of children who are blind or have low vision.
Website: https://familyconnect.org/
Email: connectcenter@aph.org
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
A proud division of the National Federation of the Blind, the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children NOPBC) is a national membership and advocacy organization of families and friends of blind children. They help families and blind children maximize the child’s skills, independence, and opportunities and hold high expectations for all children. Connect with them and the resources, support, and expertise of blind people who can serve as mentors and role models for blind children. Search for them on Facebook to join their private group.
Website: https://nopbc.org/
Contact: https://nopbc.org/contact-us
Created by a mother when searching for support after her baby’s diagnosis, “WonderBaby.org is dedicated to helping parents of young children with visual impairments as well as children with multiple disabilities.” The WonderBaby website includes a database of articles written by parents who want to share with others what they’ve learned about playing with and teaching a blind child. It also has links to meaningful resources and ways to connect with other families.
Website: https://www.wonderbaby.org/
Contact: help@wonderbaby.org
National Resources: Deafblind
National Family Association for DeafBlind (NFADB)
The largest national nonprofit organization empowering families of individuals who are DeafBlind, NFADB believes that individuals who are deafblind are valued members of their communities and should have the same opportunities and choices as others in the community. NFADB supports families to advocate for services, connect to support, and provides information and training for families and professionals.
Website: https://nfadb.org/
Contact: info@nfadb.org
TSBVI Family Lynx connects TSBVI families and empowers them to work together to support one another and the school. Their goal is to support, listen to and learn from all parents and guardians and to encourage community among current families, alumni and staff. Working together, they are stronger and better able to support students and each other. This family organization welcomes all families with students currently participating in TSBVI’s Comprehensive Programs and Short-term Programs, as well as TSBVI alumni to get involved with this Family-Teacher Organization (FTO/ PTO).
Website: https://sites.google.com/tsbvi.edu/familylynx?pli=1
Contact: familylynx@tsbvi.edu