Future Reflections
Volume 44, Number 3 Summer 2025
A magazine for parents and teachers of blind children published by
the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults in partnership
with the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children.
Deborah Kent Stein, Editor
ISSN-0883-3419
Copyright © 2025 American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
For more information
about blindness and children contact:
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place, Baltimore, MD 21230 • 410-659-9314
https://nfb.org/nopbc • [email protected] • [email protected]
Contents
FEATURE
Staying True to Our Mission While Respecting Our Differences
by Gary Wunder
TRAVEL
The Purpose and Introduction of Sleepshades during O&M Instruction
by Merry-Noel Chamberlain
Can AI Provide Walking Directions for Blind Travelers?
by Jonathan Mosen
ART
From Amoebas to Monuments: Art at Our Fingertips
by Julie Deden
Puzzling Challenges
by Maureen Handwerker
ACCESS
Environmental Ableism and the Importance of Environmental Education for Blind Students
by Justin Salisbury
Technology Accessibility in Higher-Level Education
by Alaula Sprecher
The Square of the Hypotenuse
by Deborah Kent Stein
BREAKING NEW GROUND
Learning from the Pros: How My Federation Family Showed Me that I Can Dye My Own Hair
by Leslie Hamric
Welcome to Blind Cricket: A Rising Phenomenon
by Abey Finklea
ADVOCACY
How TVIs Can Be "Blindness Ambassadors" for Families and Teachers
by Carol Castellano
The Lawsuit that Could Kill Section 504
by Chris Danielsen
National Federation of the Blind Comments on Reduction in Force at Department of Education
The Role of the Department of Education in Specialized Teacher Training and Beyond
by Amy Parker
PRODUCT REVIEW
Accessibyte: An Exciting Tool for Building Typing Skills
by Melissa Riccobono
BOOK REVIEW
Just Maria
by Jay Hardwig, Reviewed by Barbara Cheadle
WHAT'S NEW?
Braille Calendars: A Small Tool with a Big Impact
Why Join the NOPBC?
Are you the parent of a blind/low-vision child? Don’t know where to turn? Have you ever wondered what your child will be capable of when he or she grows up? Are you concerned that your child’s future will be limited by blindness or low vision? Do you have questions about how to parent a blind child? We are here for you.
What is the NOPBC?
Founded in 1983, the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC), a proud division of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), is a membership organization of families, friends, and educators of blind children. We have thousands of members in all fifty states plus Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico.
Who is the NOPBC for?
We have a very inclusive definition of blindness which includes children who have some usable vision. Instead of focusing on what the child can or cannot see, we focus on the child and what she or he wants to be.
NOPBC is for families, educators, and friends of blind children, including those who have some usable vision. We welcome all families of blind children, and many of our children have both blindness and other disabilities.
We help families and blind children themselves maximize the child’s abilities and opportunities; we hold high expectations for all of our children, regardless of any additional disabilities they may have.
Why is the NOPBC a part of the National Federation of the Blind?
As a division of the NFB, the largest and most influential organization of blind people in the world, the NOPBC is well informed about the societal, legislative, and technological issues that affect blind people. We enjoy the resources, support, and expertise of fifty thousand blind people who can serve as mentors and role models for us and our children. When we as parents join the NOPBC, our children belong to the Federation family.
What is our mission?
The NOPBC:
- creates a climate of opportunity for blind children in home and society.
- provides information and support to parents of blind children.
- facilitates the sharing of experience and concerns among parents of blind children.
- develops and expands resources available to parents and their children.
- helps parents of blind children gain understanding and perspective through partnership and contact with blind adults.
- functions as an integral part of the National Federation of the Blind in its ongoing effort to achieve equality and opportunity for all blind persons.
Most states have an NOPBC affiliate chapter. You can find your state chapter at http://www.nopbc.org. If your state does not have a chapter and you would like to start one, please contact us. We may be able to offer training and other assistance to start a state NOPBC chapter.
Why Join the NOPBC?
We have been where you are, and we want to support you and your blind child. We know that blindness does not define your child's future. We can connect you with other families and blind adults who can serve as positive mentors and role models. They can teach you the attitudes and techniques that will enable your child to become independent and to succeed in life.
The NOPBC offers hope, encouragement, information, and resources for parents, families, and educators of blind children. NOPBC provides:
- emotional support and a network of other families dealing with challenges similar to those you face;
- information, training, and resources to empower you to take an active role in guiding your child’s development and education; and
- information on your child’s rights and on the laws and legislative issues that will enable you and your child to become strong and effective advocates.
We offer a wide variety of programs, activities, and training to families, children, and youth. One of our most exciting activities is our annual conference. Every year since it was established, the NOPBC has conducted an annual conference for parents and teachers of blind children as part of the national convention of the NFB. This conference has grown to include five exciting days of workshops, training sessions, activities for all family members, including sighted siblings, and countless opportunities to meet blind adults and other families and children from around the country.
Programs, activities, publications, and resources of the NFB and NOPBC
- National and State Parent Seminars and Conferences
- Future Reflections magazine
- NOPBC website
- Books and videos
- Social Media
- NOPBC Facebook group
- NOPBC Facebook page
- NOPBC on X
- BlindKid & other listservs
- Parent Leadership Program (PLP)
- NFB Early Childhood Initiatives
- Early Explorers
- Braille Reading Pals
- Early childhood conferences
- Braille Letters from Santa & Winter letters (seasonal)
- Youth
- NFB National Scholarship program
- National Center for Blind Youth in Science website
- NFB EQ for Teachers: A Nonvisual & Accessible Engineering Curriculum
- NFB EQ for Parents: A STEM Learning Toolkit for Parents of Blind Children
- NFB STEM2U
- Youth Track at national convention
- Transition workshops
- Slate Pals pen pal program
- American Action Fund
- Free Braille Books program
- Braille Readers Are Leaders contest
- ShareBraille book exchange
- Writing contests
- NFB-NEWSLINE® newspaper service
- National Federation of the Blind (NFB)
- NFB BELL® Academy (Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning)
- NFB Radio Network
- Free White Cane program
- Free Slate and Stylus program
- NFB National Scholarship program
- Straight Talk about Blindness video series
- Where the Blind Work website
Contact Us:
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
[email protected]
www.nopbc.org