Parents/Families/Caregivers
VIPS believes that parents are their children?s first and best teachers, and is committed to providing families with the education and support they need to be successful in helping their children reach their full potential. VIPS is a strong first ally on the long road to adulthood. VIPS services are tailored to the whole family, including siblings and grandparents/significant others. These services include:
- Parent Advisory Board -- VIPS-Louisville only
The VIPS Parent Advisory Board is made up of VIPS parents who are dedicated to the program and want to help with outreach to families and fund-raising.
- Parent Dinner Meetings
VIPS regularly holds dinners where families can come together for information and support.
- Educational Workshops
VIPS offers a variety of educational opportunities for VIPS families to learn from professionals in the field, such as educators, pediatric ophthalmologists, and others through workshops and informative guest speakers. Families also have the opportunities to hear guest speakers who are blind, offering parents hope for their children?s futures.
- Community Outings
Throughout the year, VIPS plans many outings in the community to the zoo, special performances, the circus, play spaces, etc.
- Holiday Parties
VIPS regularly sponsors Halloween, Christmas, Easter parties for the whole family.
- Parents Night Out -- VIPS-Central KY only
VIPS staff and volunteers provide fun playtime for children while parents have a couple of hours to go out for dinner or a movie.
- Parent Directory
The Parent Directory offers parents involved in VIPS with a way to locate and contact families whose children have similar diagnoses and who share interests in common.
- Family Retreat Weekend
Like a mini-vacation for the whole family, the Family Retreat Weekend is a time for the whole family to get away from it all, while learning new things and making new friends.
- VIPS@Home Parent University -- VIPS-Louisville only
Through VIPS@Home Parent University, parents can take courses in special parenting issues in the comfort of their own homes, taught by a veteran VIPS parent, who can also serve as a long-term buddy.
- Parent Newsletter
The VIPS Parents Newsletter, VISability, is published 6 times per year and contains information on resources, teaching strategies, and other areas of interest to families, as well as inspirational stories about VIPS children.
- Can Do! Video Series
This series of 13 videos provides concrete information in manageable doses to help parents deal with the impacts of visual impairment on particular areas of development.
- Lending library for families
Each VIPS Office has a library of children's? braille books, professional journals, books, pamphlets, and articles that parents may borrow. In addition, there are story boxes, talking books, equipment and videos available on loan.
