In this section you'll find learning and educational resources for the visually or physically impaired student and their educators or teachers. All links are organized alphabetically.

Have a suggestion to add to this page? Complete the Resource Suggestion Form so that we can review it and see if it meets our guidelines.

Tab/Accordion Items

  • Braille Challenge - Braille Challenge is the only academic competition of its kind held in January through March each year in North America for students who are blind or visually impaired. Braille Institute developed Braille Challenge to motivate students to practice and hone their braille literacy skills, which are essential to academic and employment success.
  • Department of Education US – Office of Special Education Programs - dedicated to improving results for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities ages birth through 21 by providing leadership and financial support to assist states and local districts.
  • Described Caption and Media Program - educates students with sensory disabilities, along with their parents and teachers. Their major network-produced, educational content is carefully customized to serve the needs of K-12 students, as well as adult students studying to meet the needs of blind and deaf students.
  • LD Online – Resources for People with Learning Disabilities - the educators' guide to learning disabilities and ADHD.
  • Lesson Planet: A Search Engine for Teachers – Special Education Section - lesson plans in many subjects geared towards the needs of the Special Education Teachers.
  • NFB Newsline for the Blind - access to current news and information. Bringing the wealth of information primarily found in newspapers to blind people through the telephone, making access easy. listen to more than 150 newspapers being read by a computerized voice. In North Carolina, the Charlotte Observer and the Raleigh News and Observer are provided. To sign up for Newsline, email the library (ncabls@dncr.nc.gov) or call toll free at 1-888-388-2460. Also available for mobile devices by the NFB Newsline App.
  • Paths to Literacy: Writing Braille Resource - This resource has information about writing braille. This includes, instructional braille writing resources, as well as tools such as the Slate and Stylus, Peg Slate, Braillewriters, and Braille note-taking devices.
  • Strategies for Teaching Students with Vision Impairments in Microsoft Word format

  • Braille Challenge - Braille Challenge is the only academic competition of its kind held in January through March each year in North America for students who are blind or visually impaired. Braille Institute developed Braille Challenge to motivate students to practice and hone their braille literacy skills, which are essential to academic and employment success.
  • Braille Reading Pals - Early Literacy Program — a non-competitive Braille literacy program for blind infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and older students with reading delays. The goal of this program is to expose the family and the child to Braille and to encourage parents (or other responsible adults) to read aloud to or with their children a minimum of fifteen minutes a day during the program period. This sets a goal to demonstrate the importance of literacy and to encourage parents early on to "reach for the stars."
  • Bryce Martin Foundation - an organization that offers early Intervention for children with visual impairment to help build a foundation for further learning. They offer support and assistance for children with visual impairments through therapy equipment, braille and technology tools, summer camps, enrichment programs, art, braille, music, yoga classes, college scholarships and much more.
  • Described Caption and Media Program - educates students with sensory disabilities, along with their parents and teachers. Their major network-produced, educational content is carefully customized to serve the needs of K-12 students, as well as adult students studying to meet the needs of blind and deaf students.
  • Exceptional Children Division NC Department of Public Instruction - resources that parents of children who receive special education services may find helpful in advocating for their child.
  • Family Support Network of North Carolina Summer Camps Directory - camps in this directory are organized alphabetically by county for camps in North Carolina, and alphabetically by state for camps outside the state.  Each entry includes contact information for the camp, type of disability it serves and such.
  • Governor Morehead School for the Blind (GMS) - Governor Morehead School for the Blind serves the needs of visually impaired students in a residential setting.
  • Hadley School for the Blind Family Education Program - Hadley's Family Education (FE) Program offers a variety of courses for family members of individuals who are blind or severely visually impaired. Topics range from child development, to independent living, to braille reading and writing and adjustment to blindness issues.
  • Home Schooling - for Parents Who Are Suddenly Homeschooling - Accessible Education Resources from the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB).
  • Resource Guide for Students with Disabilities - a guide created to bring awareness to rights and responsibilities of students with disabilities, help them learn how to take advantage of myriad services.

  • Braille Challenge - Braille Challenge is the only academic competition of its kind held in January through March each year in North America for students who are blind or visually impaired. Braille Institute developed Braille Challenge to motivate students to practice and hone their braille literacy skills, which are essential to academic and employment success.
  • Disability Resources for College Students - a guide created to bring awareness to rights and responsibilities of students with disabilities and help them learn how to take advantage of myriad services.
  • Guidebook to Visual Disabilities - This guide explores how visual impairments impact the educational experience, what colleges are doing for the visually impaired, and includes numerous resources.
  • NFBlind Youth Slam — a five-day academy that provides hands-on experience with science, technology, engineering, and math, and allows participants to meet other blind and low vision youth and adults from all over the United States.

  • American Printing House for the Blind (APH) Accessible Test and Texts - APH’s Accessible Tests and Text program is committed to making tests, textbooks and related materials accessible to individuals who are blind and visually impaired.
  • Imagination Library - a book-gifting (free) program.  Any North Carolina child – under five – is eligible to receive one free book each month – in the mail – until their fifth birthday. Books are available in braille or audio formats.
  • Learning Ally (formerly Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic) - the world’s largest provider of audio textbooks. Provides devices for use with recorded textbooks on CD available for loan to members. Also sells computer software to digitally download textbooks. Requires membership and annual fees.
  • The Louis Database - this is a great resource for finding textbooks in accessible formats such as braille, large print, audio, and electronic files. In addition to being helpful to visually impaired students and parents of visually impaired students, educators and school administrators can benefit from this as well.
  • Seedlings Braille Books for Children - over 1,300 low-cost children's books in braille.

  • Affordable Colleges for Students With Disabilities - discover scholarships, both narrowly- and broadly-focused, that can help students with disabilities pay for their educations, as well as additional resources for obtaining funding.
  • CCLVI Scheigert Scholarships - The Council of Citizens with Low Vision International (CCLVI), an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind, annually awards three scholarships one each to fulltime college students - an incoming freshman, an undergraduate and a graduate student - all of whom must be low vision, maintain a strong GPA and be involved in school/local community activities.
  • NFBlind Scholarship Program — each year at its national convention in July, the NFB gives a broad array of scholarships to recognize achievement by blind scholars to pursue various college degrees. Find out how to apply.
  • Scholarships Opportunities for Students with Disabilities - Interactive tool that lets you sort through over 30 scholarships available for students with disabilities.

Related Content