Melisa Matthews, Author at ConnectCenter

How to Prepare for Your Child’s IFSP to IEP Transition

Preschool classroom with learning materials on a table and shelves.

So, your child is transitioning from their Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)? Congratulations! This can be a significant milestone for children and families. While the planned change may come with some uncertainty, the major life events that accompany and necessitate the change are exciting! Your little one is growing up and moving to the next […]

Preparing for College this Summer

The summer before your child enters college is a transitional time. While they are still living at home, they must prepare for their life away. An important part of the preparation is ensuring that the services they need will be ready when they arrive on campus. Getting a Head Start One of the first steps is […]

Big Skills for Little Muscles

A preschooler wearing glasses and patch, sitting at a table cutting paper.

Fine motor skills are essential for preschool-age children to achieve a variety of developmental milestones. Fine motor skills are needed for holding pencils, using scissors, tying shoes, zipping up jackets and many more activities. When your child has the finger strength to accomplish these tasks it supports their self-esteem and confidence. Fine motor skills can […]

APH Code Jumper and Summer Fun

Posted on June 12, 2023 - 11:25 am by Melisa Matthews

Child creates a circuit with computer-mouse-sized Code Jumper pods. Text: APH Hive Getting Started: Code Jumper Unplugged Presented by Leslie Weilbacher, Robin Lowell, & Shelley Mack

Computer Science and Information Technology jobs have continued to rise over the last few years. The field of coding offers virtually endless job opportunities. It’s important for your child to explore this field. Many students start learning coding as early as kindergarten. However, your child with blindness or low vision might not have had the […]

Sensing and Learning with the APH Hive

Posted on May 31, 2023 - 8:33 am by Melisa Matthews

A student looking up toward his teacher who is reading with him.

Does your child who is blind or low vision have complex needs? Partnering with your education team to gather information about how your child responds to activities at school and home is the first step towards building communication skills. As parents, we may want to know what is observed when determining our child’s present level […]