Real life stories
In this section three blind and partially sighted mums talked to us about their experiences of pregnancy and becoming a new mum.
Phil talks about his experiences of becoming a new dad - "It took me a while to learn the art of nappy-changing."
Mary, mother of three children, shares her experiences as a parent with no sight. "Mum might be blind, but somehow she is able to see through walls."
Advice, Information, Advocacy & support
Disability Pregnancy and Parenting International
Information is available at Disability Pregnancy and Parenting International www.dppi.org.uk/viparenting.html which has a series of guides to support new parents. These are free to disabled parents.
DPN (Disabled Parents Network)
DPN is well worth checking www.disabledparentsnetwork.org.uk as they can provide information, advice, peer support and advocacy and an online forum. One of their volunteers, (Chair at the time of printing), Terri Balon can be contacted via the support service on 0300 3300 639 or by email supportserviceteam@disabledparentsnetwork.org.uk. She has a visual impairment herself and will be able to offer advice from those who have been through the stages of parenting.
Support groups
VIPAR (visually impaired parents and relatives)
Henshaws (www.henshaws.org.uk/) has a group called VIPAR (visually impaired parents and relatives), which they run in the North East and North West.
North East
Newcastle
Telephone: 0191 275 9417
Email: newcastle@henshaws.org.uk
Website: www.henshaws.org.uk/north-east/children-and-families/visually-impaired-parents.aspx).
North West
Manchester
Telephone: 0161 872 1234
Email: manchester@henshaws.org.uk
Website: www.henshaws.org.uk/north-west/children-and-families/visually-impaired-parents.aspx
Liverpool
Telephone: 0151 7087055
Email: liverpool@henshaws.org.uk
Website: www.henshaws.org.uk/north-west/children-and-families/visually-impaired-parents.aspx
Friends in focus
Telephone: 01670 545615
Email: j.roberts658@btinternet.com
Friends in focus is a support group for visually impaired people covering the whole of Northumberland, with expertise in visually impaired parenting. They meet monthly to offer support and advice.
National Blind Children's Society
Telephone: 01278 764 764
Email: enquiries@nbcs.org.uk
Website: www.nbcs.org.uk/
The National Blind Children's Society's mission is to enable blind and partially sighted children and young people to achieve their educational and recreational goals. They offer family support services.
Discussion groups
RNIB's Parents' Place
RNIB's Parents' Place www.rnib.org.uk/parentsplace has a section for parents with sight problems which has discussion groups and links to the You and Your Child magazine.
VI Mums
VI Mums groups.yahoo.com/group/Vi-Mums/ is an online support group for blind and partially sighted mums to chat and share information and advice. The majority of members live in the U.K, but any English speaking mum is welcome. They have members with children of all ages, from first-time mums and mums-to-be, to a group great-gran! Women who do a lot of childcare, for example looking after a niece or nephew, are also welcome to join, as well as women who are thinking about having children in the not-too-distant future. This is a private group, so only list members have access to emails, and all members have to be "approved" by the moderators before being subscribed. The group is for women only, and members must have a visual impairment.