What Does the NOPBC Do?

The National Organization of Parents of Blind Children is working to achieve these goals:

• To create a climate of opportunity for blind children in home and society.
• To provide information and support to parents of blind children.
• To facilitate the sharing of experience and concerns among parents of blind children.
• To develop and expand resources available to parents and their children.
• To help parents of blind children gain understanding and perspective through partnership and contact with blind adults.
• To function as an integral part of the National Federation of the Blind in its ongoing effort to eliminate discrimination and prejudice against the blind and to achieve for the blind security, equality, and opportunity.

In order to accomplish these goals NOPBC has initiated many exciting programs and activities. Among them are:

1. Future Reflections, a magazine for parents and educators of blind children. This publication of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children offers insights into blindness as well as practical guidance in the day-to-day aspects of raising a blind child. The magazine addresses topics specific to blind youth of all ages—infants to teen-agers. Future Reflections helps parents gain the information and understanding they need to raise confident and competent children who happen to be blind.

2. Seminars and workshops for parents:

3. A Braille pen-pal service (Slate Pals) for blind youth.

4. Special committees and networks: Blind Multiple Disabled Committee (See http://www.lilliworks.com), Parents in Partnership for Deaf-Blind Children, Homeschooling and Blindness Network, Adoption and Blindness Network (contact Nadine Jacobson (612) 927-7694), and others.

5. NOPBC provides parents with current information about the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). We are, for example a community partner in the Families and Advocates Partnership for Education (FAPE) project. The objective of this project is to disseminate accurate information about the 1997 amendments to IDEA. Note: Another source of information about parents legal rights is Wrightslaw—Special Education Law.

6. An annual Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest for Braille students.

NOBPC also distributes free literature, establishes cane banks so parents may trade in old canes for new ones, consults with legislators about the needs of blind children, provides assistance to parents and blind children whose rights have been denied, and much more. Most of all, the NOPBC provides guidance to parents as they come to grips with what blindness means and as they strive to instill independence in a child who happens to be blind.