Free specialized parenting classes for the visually impaired
Educating Communities for Parenting will be offering classes and other offerings for parents who themselves are, or have children who are impacted by blindness and visual impairment.
Beginning In January 2016, my agency, Educating Communities for Parenting, will be offering classes, workshops, discussion groups, and individual counseling for parents who themselves are, or have children who are impacted by blindness and visual impairment.
I will be working in partnership with the Philadelphia Department of Human Services' Parenting Collaborative and conducting sessions at St. Lucy's Day School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Overbrook School for the Blind, and the Philadelphia Library for the Blind. These services are free for residents of Philadelphia. Residents outside of Philadelphia may qualify for assistance.
Sister Lisa Lettiere, Principal of St. Lucy's Day School stated, "Our families benefit from these classes in that they receive support from trained professionals who provide opportunities where they can talk about their challenges. ECP also helps our parents to understand child development stages, healthy ways to manage inappropriate behaviors, encourages positive self-esteem, and provides access to additional resources and services."
Anne Felten, Early Intervention and Outreach Specialist at Overbrook School for the Blind adds, "The partnership with ECP is beneficial because when parents are informed and supported they can best advocate for their children."
Like all parents everywhere, those impacted by visual impairment benefit from gathering with others who share similar concerns and challenges to learn new information from highly skilled instructors and from one another.
Sessions cover a variety of topics including; ages and stages of child development, positive discipline, effective communications, building and maintaining healthy relationships, the teen years, and strong parent-school partnerships.
To register or for more information about these sessions and other ECP classes and programs, please call 215-496-9780 or visit the website at www.ecparenting.org.
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