Upcoming 2022-2023 Events at Camp Tuhsmeheta
The days are shorter, and a chill is in the air. It is time to think about what your family is going to do during the winter and early spring to avoid the shut-in blues....
10/05/2022
Five Ways to Build Parent-Teacher Partnerships
From Amy Shepherd, MDE-LIO Parent Liaison, MEd, Perkins-Roman Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) Range Endorsee
08/31/2022
Washtenaw Daily Living Skills Program Helps Students Thrive
Over the past couple years, teachers around Michigan have attended virtual and in-person trainings from the Michigan Department of Education – Low Incidence Outreach (MDE-...
08/17/2022
Create a Cortical Visual Impairment Story Box
From Amy Shepherd, MDE-LIO Parent Liaison
05/10/2022
Family Nature Club: Chills and Thrills
Greenville, MI
Families will have an opportunity to snowshoe, build snowmen, and sled during this fun-filled event.
01/21/2023
2023 Michigan Regional Braille Challenge
Braille Challenge offers many options for participation this year!
01/28/2023
Our Family Support section connects you to resources that directly serve students and their families.
MDE-LIO Resources
Contact MDE-LIO
Have a question for our staff? Email us at outreach@mdelio.org or send a message on our Contact MDE-LIO page.
Braille Version of the Procedural Safeguards Notice [zip file]
Download a file to print the Procedural Safeguards Notice in braille. Visit the Michigan Department of Education's website for other printable versions of the Procedural Safeguards Notice.
Blind/Visually Impaired Outreach Support
MDE-LIO provides support to families and school districts on a variety of topics.
Scholarships
Your child may be eligible for a scholarship to help pay for programs and events.
Early Childhood
Learn about products and resources that can help you navigate your child’s early years.
Neurological Visual Impairment (NVI)
Learn about blindness and visual impairments that are caused by NVI. This page also includes Create a Cortical Visual Impairment Story Box [PDF], which offers tips for creating an interactive story box for students with cortical visual impairment.
Borrow Books and Materials
Resource Library
MDE-LIO’s resource library includes books and materials for parents that are available for loan.
Hooray for Braille Kits
These kits, available through a partnership with Seedlings Braille Books for Children, are for young children who are Blind/Visually Impaired (BVI).
ABCs for VIPs
Borrow braille books for children in pre-K to third grade.
Expanded Core Curriculum Skills
Independent Living Skills
Learn what you can do at home to help your child become independent.
Compensatory Skills
Find resources for helping your child develop skills necessary for accessing the curriculum, including braille.
Assistive Technology
This section provides helpful apps for students who are BVI and tips on how to make your home computer more accessible.
Parent and School Collaboration
IEP: Parent's Role [PDF]
This document offers three ways to prepare for and lead your child's IEP team.
Student Report [PDF]
This document outlines how to create a student report your child can use to introduce himself or herself to new teachers.
Additional Resources
MDE-LIO does not endorse the purchase or use of any non-State Board of Education-adopted commercial products. Products and services noted below are included for information only and their inclusion should not be interpreted as a recommendation of MDE-LIO.
Michigan
Michigan Alliance for Families
Michigan Alliance for Families offers workshops, webinars, and disability-specific information for families.
Special Education Mediation Services (SEMS)
SEMS provides facilitation and mediation services to help families and school districts resolve disagreements.
Early On Michigan
Early On offers early intervention services for families with children ages birth to three.
National
WonderBaby
WonderBaby features a database of articles written by parents of young children who are BVI or have multiple disabilities.
Paths to Literacy for Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired
Paths to Literacy offers a blog and resources that can be browsed by topic.
Family Connect
Family Connect offers resources and message boards for families of children who are BVI as well as a calendar of events that can be browsed by location.
CVI Now
CVI Now is a resource from Perkins School for the Blind that offers current, vetted, and accurate information about cortical visual impairment (CVI).