Going back to school can be a stressful and hectic time for everyone. But, when your child has a visual impairment, possibly along with other disabilities, going back to school can be extra stressful and sometimes overwhelming for both parent and child. To combat the changes and stresses of the new school year, we decided to ask the professionals for some helpful insight.   

Here are all the best tips and advice from our Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVIs) for preparing for the school year:  

Time Management:  

Set up a bedtime routine before the start of the year.  

• Getting into the habit of going to bed early, and waking up early, before the first day of school will help with the transition in the long run.

Transportation:  

Ensure safe travel to school for your child.  

• Be sure you know how your child will get to school a few weeks before the first day. If you plan to drop them off, when do you need to leave the house? If they are taking the bus, where is the closest bus stop and how will they get there? If they will be picked up/dropped off by a third-party transportation system, have you made the necessary arrangements?  

Preparations Before the First Day:

Be sure you’re up to date on important documents and make copies!  

• Whether your child is attending a specialized school, such as CCVI, or a public school, be sure all your medical documents are up to date and copies are made. You may have to give these papers to several different people such as a school nurse and administrator. 

Start having conversations with your child about school.    

• As soon as you know your child's teacher's/classroom staff name(s) start talking about it; talk about the routine your child will have on school days; talk about how they will get to and from school. Allow your child to ask questions. These talks can help prepare your child for what’s to come.  

Attend the back-to-school night!   

• Starting at a new school, or even going into a new classroom at the same school, can be scary. Attending a back-to-school night gives your child the opportunity to explore their soon-to-be classroom, meet their teacher, familiarize themselves with the hallways, and can make them feel more prepared and confident for their first day!  

Encourage Independence! 

• Being a part of the Expanded Core Curriculum, Independent Living Skills are essential for your child to become more confident in their skills and more self-reliant in a school setting. Encourage and allow your child to be independent where they can, whether it’s dressing themselves, holding their backpack, or choosing between 2 shirts for the day.

Identify your child’s belongings.  

• Identifying your child’s belongings is important for both them and their peers. This will help them find their things and help their teachers and peers know what your child's belongings are. Depending on their diagnosis, you can identify your child’s belongings with labels, charms, braille, or certain colors they can recognize.

First Day of School:

Dress Appropriately.   

• Children should come to school in comfortable clothes, easy for them to manage, and ones that you are not worried about them actively learning in every day. Also, consider what type of clothing they can be most independent and comfortable in at school. You know your child’s personality and abilities best, so be sure to dress them appropriately based on them!  

Take care of both your and your child’s emotions at drop-off.   

• Separating from your child is hard, especially if your child has never had the opportunity to do so. Your child will take their cues on how to respond to this big event from you. If you are nervous and sad, your child will most likely be nervous and sad too. To help with the separation, you can create special ways to say goodbye such as a special handshake or sending a picture of your family to school with them. Even though it is hard, try to make the drop-off as quick as possible.

All About Me Book/Document.  

• For kids transitioning into public school, or even a specialized school, making an All About Me book or document to give to teachers can help cultivate understanding and relationships. This book can have medical information in it as well as generalized facts about your child, such as what their favorite color or book is.   

  *One Teaching Assistant at CCVI made a book for her daughter which included pictures of their family dog and activities she enjoyed. It also addressed and answered commonly asked questions, such as if leg braces mean your legs are broken (ex. These are leg braces. That doesn’t mean my legs are broken. They help stabilize my body!) 

*Tax Free weekend in Missouri is August 2-4