IEP – Individualized Education Program (3 years to 22 years old)

This content is also available in: Español (Spanish)

After your child qualifies for special education due to their eye condition, consider this as a blueprint. It outlines the suitable services your school system will offer for your child.

Individualized Education Plan What is it and its components?

There are many components to an IEP. Understanding the process allows you to be confident and empowered to share your knowledge and concerns with the rest of the team. Working with your child’s team to develop the goals will help you support efforts at home. Building a strong relationship between you and your child’s education team will support your child in achieving the agreed-upon goals.

Young mother sitting at a conference table with teachers.

IEP and 504 Plan: What’s the Difference, and Which Is Most Appropriate for My Child Who is Blind Or Low Vision?

This content is also available in: Español (Spanish) As children with blindness or low vision progress through school, parents and administrators meet regularly to review the child’s progress and set new goals. Sometimes, especially for older students, questions arise as to whether special education services are still necessary—if the student is doing well as long […]

A student at a table reading braille with a braille curriculum book next to him.

Accommodations and Modifications at a Glance: Educational Accommodations for Students Who Are Blind or Low Vision

This content is also available in: Español (Spanish)What Are Accommodations and Modifications? Children who are blind or have low vision can virtually do everything sighted children do. They may need to learn in different ways. They might use tools or materials suited for their needs. For example, your child may need braille instead of print […]

Different letters of the alphabet in a circle around the word IEP

Top 10 List for Parents in the IEP Process

This content is also available in: Español (Spanish)What does a parent or caregiver need to know about the IEP process? So far, we’ve discussed the purpose of an IEP. An ‘IEP’ outlines how a school meets a child’s educational and disability-related needs. We’ve also covered IEP meeting components. This includes annual discussions and documentation. But […]

Small empty conference room with TV projector, conference table and chairs.

Individualized Education Program (IEP) Advice for Parents of Children with Blindness or Low Vision

This content is also available in: Español (Spanish)Once your child has been found eligible to receive special education services because of their eye condition, determining your child’s individual needs begins. The document outlining these needs and services is the Individualized Education Program (IEP). You can think of it as the blueprint or roadmap for the […]

A classroom with students at desks and the teacher in the front of the room.

What Is the Most Appropriate Placement for Children Who Are Blind or Low Vision?

This content is also available in: Español (Spanish)There is a wealth of information and opinion available on the subject of the “best” school placement for children who are blind or low vision. I offer a word of caution and advice as you are wading through the vast information sources that give what may be contradictory […]

Team Members

Each member of your child’s team will provide information important to the development of your whole child as they work towards independence, further education, and employment. Working with your child’s team will provide you with a support system to ask questions, better understand your child’s current abilities, and the next steps in your child’s education.

Role of the TVI with Preschoolers Who Are Blind or Low Vision

This content is also available in: Español (Spanish)Teachers of students with visual impairments often referred to as TVIs, are trained and certified to teach students with blindness or low vision, including those with additional disabilities. The TVI will teach special skills they need to learn to participate in the regular school program. This teacher will […]

A teacher working with a student at his desk on his computer.

The Central Role of the Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments

This content is also available in: Español (Spanish)The teacher of students with visual impairments (TVI) is a central figure in your child’s team. The TVI is key on your child’s educational team for blindness or low vision. They understand how vision impacts learning and offer strategies and tools for learning and daily activities. Your child […]

Your Service Team for Your Child with Blindness or Low Vision

This content is also available in: Español (Spanish)When children have blindness or low vision or other disability, providing them with special education services—such as instruction from a TVI—often is not sufficient. They may need additional support or services before they can truly benefit from the education they are receiving. Such additional services might include orientation […]

Prepare and Organize

Take the time to prepare for each IEP or 504 meeting. Our checklist can help you prepare questions you can ask to understand the education process, share any new concerns you have from home or school, and provide new success or skills achieved. After your meetings, it is important to find a way to organize your paper and digital documents so that you can easily reference them when needed.

Blank checklist with space for ticks on a pad on an office desk.

Checklist: What to Do Before an Individualized Education Program (IEP) Meeting for Parents

This content is also available in: Español (Spanish)A number of steps can help you prepare for an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting:

Hand with silver pen writing on a notebook.

Checklist: What to Do at an Individualized Education Program (IEP) Meeting for Parents of Children with Blindness or Low Vision

This content is also available in: Español (Spanish)On the day of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting, keep the following points in mind:

Check mark on wooden blocks on light blue background.

Checklist: What to Do After an Individualized Education Program (IEP) Meeting

This content is also available in: Español (Spanish)

Bright office binders on a wooden table on yellow background

Checklist: Keeping Educational Records for Your Child with Blindness or Low Vision

This content is also available in: Español (Spanish)Keeping complete records of your blind child’s educational documentation is important so you can review your child’s progress over time and share documentation with other educational and medical team members. Among the documents you may want to keep are: The records can be useful in a number of […]