Family Resources

Logo: The Arkansas CAYSI Project

We build relationships, share experiences, learn from each other, gain confidence, and feel less alone in the journey of having a child with dual sensory impairments, nationally known as deafblindness. The valued support of other families creates a sense of confidence and motivation that can provide an avenue for our children and families to reach their full potential!

Parents need parents!

Local Parent Groups

Parents continually tell CAYSI staff that meeting and sharing with other parents that have children with similar disabilities is one of the most valuable sources of information and resources they receive. Local parent groups allow parents to connect in a way that lessens their feeling of isolation and brings a renewed sense of hope!

Please contact Michelle Alvarez below to find the best avenue for your family to connect!

Michelle Alvarez, Deafblind Family Consultant
Phone: 501-682-4222

Local Parent Organizations

Northwest Arkansas Community Parent Resource Center (CPRC)

Northwest Arkansas CPRC serves families of children with disabilities ages birth through 26 in Benton, Carroll, Madison, and Washington counties. The CPRC, advocates for children in special education and emphasizes training and information for all families.

The Center for Exceptional Families

A statewide organization that assists families and individuals with all types of disabilities by providing information, support, resources, and training to maximize a child’s education experience.

National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI)

NAPVI is committed to providing information, education, emotional support, and networking opportunities to Arkansas parents of the visually impaired and other disabilities. They will also partner with other professionals, facilities, and organizations in the state to ensure that the needs of our children are being met.

AR Hands & Voices

AR Hands & Voices is a comprehensive statewide group of parents and professionals that work together to benefit children and families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Arkansas Empowering Families with Deafblindness (AEFDB) Link:

AEFDB is a parent lead organization connecting with parents, government agencies, private organizations, and professionals who support the Arkansas deaf-blind community.

National Parent Organizations

National Center on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB)

Families Matter NCDB is a leader in understanding children with deafblindness and models efforts in supporting and educating all state projects similar to CAYSI.

National Family Association for Deaf-Blind (NFADB)

The NFADB is the largest network of families who have children who are deafblind.

Wonder Baby

Perkins School for the Blind funds this project for parents who have younger children. Parents share informative issues on their child’s disability, celebrations, interventions, medical insight, and recreational and educational resources. You also have opportunities to win great resources for your child! Check out the YouTube videos to see how parents are using iPad Apps for visually impaired children and favorite videos on Hands & Touch.

FamilyConnect

This is a website created by the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) and the National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI) gives parents of visually impaired children a place to support each other, share stories and concerns, and find resources on raising their children from birth to adulthood.

Kids In the House The Ultimate Parenting Resource

The resources include videos from experts to help answer questions on medical issues, evaluations, special education laws, IEP’s, and much more!

Complex Child

Complex Child is an online magazine written by parents of children with complex medical issues and disabilities on a wide variety of topics.

Parenting Special Needs on-line magazine

Parenting Special Needs free on-line magazine provides great information, suggestions, and inspiration for parents of children with special needs.

Disclaimer: The contents of this website were developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education #H326T230038. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Teaching Research Institute, nor the US Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. Project Officer, Louise J Tripoli.